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Miriam Odegard, Real Estate Broker Serving Greater Indianapolis (United Real Estate Indianapolis )

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Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Virtually staging can work as long as it's done properly (items sized appropriately/etc) and as long as it is fully disclosed. Actual staging works even better!

Jun 03, 2022 04:54 AM
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I always virtually stage my vacant listings... it helps get attention to the properties on line and give prospective buyers an idea of what can be done with the space. Photos of vacant rooms are just "deadly." I use a company that charges me $10 a photo. That's money well spent.

Jun 03, 2022 05:32 AM
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Brenda Mayette
Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. - Glenville, NY
Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!

I'd say "it depends" (i.e. market time, type of house) but do know that the less a buyer has to think about things, the better the market response typically is. :)

Jun 03, 2022 05:52 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,134
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

If you can get it done for $10 a room, it is a small investment with few risks.

Jun 03, 2022 05:44 AM
Rainmaker
693,775
Ray Henson
eXp Realty of California, Inc. (lic. #01878277) - Elk Grove, CA
Realtor

I have never done it with any of my listing, but after hearing Nina Hollander, Broker's answer, I will consider it for my next vacant listing.

Jun 03, 2022 06:04 AM
Rainmaker
855,369
Peter den Boer
Atlanta Communities - Woodstock, GA
MBA,GRI, Associate Broker, Realtor

I like to virtually stage a vacant home. I blow up the staged picture and place it on an easel inside the room that is staged. Very effective.

Jun 03, 2022 05:20 AM
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Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I don't think I would virtually stage it.  When I have sellers that aren't willing to fully stage a vacant listing I will often lightly stage it with art on the wall, things on counters, etc.  Just to add a little bit of color throughout.  Kathy Streib is the expert though!

Jun 03, 2022 05:23 AM
Rainmaker
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Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

In your market place how long do houses stay on the market?
If the existing data and your experience suggest the house will be available no longer than one weekend, what is the value to the seller of virtual staging and a video tour? 
But, there is another dimension to be considered. What is the 'evergreen' value of virtual staging and a video tour for the agents business?
I would suggest, that creating more opportunities for GOOD FORTUNE, would involve virtual staging and a Chamber of Commerce video tour.
In the Tampa Florida market place, the house will sell in a fraction of the time required to create the collateral.
Four listing the past 4 weeks and the one made active yesterday is the only one not under contract. I have not created a video tour of a house in over a year. 
There is merit in doing the extra work simply to keep ones skills optimized.

 

Jun 03, 2022 05:23 AM
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Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Representation needs to be accurate and if not, a disclaimer that you virtually enhanced the product. As to whether to do or not do, your market speaks fluently on that. What is just as important too is cleanliness & the smell of "clean" (lemon-lysol). Add curb appeal and your DOM will be short

Jun 03, 2022 06:36 AM
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Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Virtual staging has come a long way since when I began staging and they seem to be more affordable. I'm all for it if done well AND if you fully disclose this. 

I would suggest photos in the actual rooms so that when it is being viewed potential buyers can see where furniture may be placed. 

At the rate homes are selling, this is a good alternative to having actual furniture placed in the rooms. 

I'd rather see a home left vacant than hit and miss pictures or items left on the counters. 

Jun 03, 2022 10:28 AM
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Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Thinking virtual staging is great, especially if the homeowner doesn't want furniture brought in and out of their home.

Jun 03, 2022 06:38 AM
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901,535
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

Depends on how well it is done. I prefer a real staged home. If it is a small house I might do some light staging myself. 

Jun 03, 2022 05:59 AM
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Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Well that depends on your market.  Personally I am a fan of virtual staging, at the very least.  It always makes the photos POP out and buyers can imagine what they can do with the space.  I do NOT like a gazillion photos with one virtual staged and the next one empty.  It is so confusing to clients and I've had them say this to me many times over the past 5 or 6 years.

Jun 03, 2022 10:42 AM
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Without causing damage with furniture brought in, virtual is a fantastic idea but must be done professionally. Of course, Kathy Streib and Sharon Tara come to mind. The best to you, Miriam.

Jun 03, 2022 08:16 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,291
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

I like the idea. I would also include photos without. Whatever makes the property look more enticing.

Jun 03, 2022 07:52 AM
Rainmaker
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John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

Our Team owns a staging company. We would stage the house as we offer to do for all of our listings.

I think you should stage your listing for real. Although it is not cheap, it will usually bring a faster, higher sale. Absent real staging, virtual staging is a good way to go. You should put a disclaimer in the mls re: virtual staging so that potential buyers who are attracted to your listing due to the mls photos will not be surprised when their in-person visit is to a house that is devoid of furniture.

Jun 04, 2022 12:45 PM
Rainmaker
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Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Never did it when I was active. That said, after reading the Nina Hollander, Broker comment I would do it if I were still active.

Jun 04, 2022 04:45 AM
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Don Baker
Lane Realty - Eatonton, GA
Lake Sinclair Specialist

It's not something I do.  

Jun 03, 2022 10:51 AM
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Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

99% of the ones I see look very fake.  If you do have it virtually done, then have the actual photos next to them (ie: Living Room followed by "Living Room - Virtually Staged").  If you want to be really cool about it, someone here once said they printed the photos out large on poster board and had them on an easel in the house.

 

Personally, I take almost only vacant listings.  If you have a difficult floorplan real staging is the best so people can figure out where things go.  Otherwise, it's not always necessary.

Jun 03, 2022 08:23 AM
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Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Most of my listings are vacant. I have never done virtual staging. I do light staging myself ... adding towels, shower curtains, and things on countertops. It works for me and all listings are selling fast over the list price. 

I prefer the marketing photos reflect what people see when they are at the home. 

Jun 03, 2022 08:05 AM
Rainmaker
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Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Depends on how fast your market is and if you have low inventory, if it is low, I would not.

 

Jun 03, 2022 07:43 AM
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Miriam Odegard
United Real Estate Indianapolis - Indianapolis, IN
Real Estate Broker Serving Greater Indianapolis

Good point.

Jun 03, 2022 06:08 AM
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Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Congrats on the new listing, staging whether virtual or actual will improve things if done well.

It is up to you to decide if it is worth it for individual listings, some do not justify the investment, others may look better as an open canvas.

Jun 04, 2022 12:40 AM
Rainmaker
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Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

The property has a quick occupancy for someone with a very loud clock ticking and a pocket full of cash. Instead of hopefully "staging' with their taste in mind (Good luck with that) push the move in ready, close ASAP. Real estate is no longer just the three locations repeated thrice.

It is timing, timing, timing and your properly priced vacant house listing should not be on the market long enough to justify "virtual staging".

Put the effort into aerial maps showing how close this home with immediate occupancy is to schools, Wally World, local parks and rec, recreational fun. Insert floor plans and plat maps... the works.

Do the open house on demand virtual tour real estate video.

Weave in the feature rich unique to this property information on where it is not just what it is into your video presentation. Then get ready to screw on a "sale pending / under contract" silent salesman sign rider Miriam Odegard !

Jun 03, 2022 04:27 PM
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763,883
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

I just would get a profession photographer and videographer.

Jun 16, 2022 10:54 PM
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Adam Feinberg
Elegran - Manhattan, NY
NYC Condo, Co-op, and Townhouse Advisor

While I would recommend the client pay for staging- not all clients are in the position do to so. That said- virtual staging is extremely common in my market. My firm provides for a marketing budget for our agents- so I don't see the costs- but I know it's pretty affordable- especially if you aren't using it for every picture.  Best practice here is to post the virtually staged picture on listing sites immediately followed by the unstaged photo. This allows you to put the listings best foot forward, while not trying to deceive anyone by having the unstaged photo next.

 

The quality of the pictures, both virtually staged and unstaged matters. Make sure the virtually staged pictures have items that "fit" the room in terms of style and proportion.

Jun 14, 2022 06:36 PM
Rainmaker
911,338
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

When market is strong, price is right, vacant listings in this area sell without any type of staging.

Jun 04, 2022 01:05 PM