Benefits of Virtual Staging
Few people realize just how important the first impression that a property makes really is. Marketing a property for sale extends far beyond newspaper article mentions and online advertising; selling a home has always been, and continues to be, about first impressions.
Bearing that in mind, sometimes a home requires a few tweaks (or a big boost!) to help spark the imaginations of potential buyers and inspire people to envision themselves living in a particular space, which is where home staging comes into play.
Home staging is the act of preparing a private residence for sale to appeal to prospective buyers. A good agent can walk into his or her client’s home and point things out, both large and small, that will make a home more universally appealing, and that will allow prospective buyers to focus on the space, rather than get distracted by the personal taste and design sensibility of whomever had been living there before. These adjustments can range from painting over a bright red living room wall with a more neutral color, to rearranging furniture, or even simply filing stacks of papers so that they’re out of sight. Sometimes, if they feel that it’s necessary in order to best showcase a space, an agent will rent entirely new furniture or art before placing a home on the market. Remember, it’s all about making the right first impression.
Today, with 85% of all homebuyers starting their searches on the internet, virtual home staging has emerged as one of the most common (and crucial!) practices amongst real estate agents. The latest computer technology allows you to fill a property with everything from art to furniture to new kitchen appliances, as well as paint walls and refinish floors, all without ever having to dial a general contractor. With the real estate world’s ever-increasing shift online, virtual home staging is becoming that much more important to a successful sale, and is uprooting more traditional home staging practices.
Replace outdated furniture and décor with newer, more visually appealing pieces and design elements
Modern technology allows you to easily replace old furniture with new in order to appeal to a younger generation of homebuyers that may not agree with your sense of style. Or, the opposite may be true. If your taste tends to be on the avant-garde side, you may want to tone things down so that you don’t rule out buyers who prefer the more traditional. Note: everyone prefers non-chipped paint and un-scuffed floors, regardless of your target demographic.
List as many photographs of the house (internal and external) as possible
Plain and simple, the more photos you provide, the better. Consumers want to gather as much information about a home as possible, especially when deciding whether or not it’s worth a visit in person, and photos offer a much clearer picture than even the most detailed of write-ups. Online photos take up little space on a webpage, and having a lot of them is always a plus. If you skimp out, people may think that you have something to hide.
Take photographs of all the main rooms
You want to make sure that you at the very least highlight the most important rooms of the house: kitchen, living room, dining room, master bedroom, master bathroom, etc. These are factors that every homebuyer considers before making a purchase.
Highlight building amenities if you live in an apartment or condo
If your building has amenities such as a pool, gym, children’s playroom, a great view, or deck, you should include photographs of these in your online picture portfolio.
Make sure to have relevant outdoor pictures
For some buyers, a home’s external beauty is just as important as its interior, so it’s always a good idea to post at least one outdoor photograph. Depending on the season in which these photos are taken, you may want to virtually stage the outside landscaping as well—a garden in bloom is infinitely more appealing than a barren tree.
Ask your real estate agent if they use professional photography !!!
Bearing that in mind, sometimes a home requires a few tweaks (or a big boost!) to help spark the imaginations of potential buyers and inspire people to envision themselves living in a particular space, which is where home staging comes into play.
Home staging is the act of preparing a private residence for sale to appeal to prospective buyers. A good agent can walk into his or her client’s home and point things out, both large and small, that will make a home more universally appealing, and that will allow prospective buyers to focus on the space, rather than get distracted by the personal taste and design sensibility of whomever had been living there before. These adjustments can range from painting over a bright red living room wall with a more neutral color, to rearranging furniture, or even simply filing stacks of papers so that they’re out of sight. Sometimes, if they feel that it’s necessary in order to best showcase a space, an agent will rent entirely new furniture or art before placing a home on the market. Remember, it’s all about making the right first impression.
Today, with 85% of all homebuyers starting their searches on the internet, virtual home staging has emerged as one of the most common (and crucial!) practices amongst real estate agents. The latest computer technology allows you to fill a property with everything from art to furniture to new kitchen appliances, as well as paint walls and refinish floors, all without ever having to dial a general contractor. With the real estate world’s ever-increasing shift online, virtual home staging is becoming that much more important to a successful sale, and is uprooting more traditional home staging practices.
Replace outdated furniture and décor with newer, more visually appealing pieces and design elements
Modern technology allows you to easily replace old furniture with new in order to appeal to a younger generation of homebuyers that may not agree with your sense of style. Or, the opposite may be true. If your taste tends to be on the avant-garde side, you may want to tone things down so that you don’t rule out buyers who prefer the more traditional. Note: everyone prefers non-chipped paint and un-scuffed floors, regardless of your target demographic.
List as many photographs of the house (internal and external) as possible
Plain and simple, the more photos you provide, the better. Consumers want to gather as much information about a home as possible, especially when deciding whether or not it’s worth a visit in person, and photos offer a much clearer picture than even the most detailed of write-ups. Online photos take up little space on a webpage, and having a lot of them is always a plus. If you skimp out, people may think that you have something to hide.
Take photographs of all the main rooms
You want to make sure that you at the very least highlight the most important rooms of the house: kitchen, living room, dining room, master bedroom, master bathroom, etc. These are factors that every homebuyer considers before making a purchase.
Highlight building amenities if you live in an apartment or condo
If your building has amenities such as a pool, gym, children’s playroom, a great view, or deck, you should include photographs of these in your online picture portfolio.
Make sure to have relevant outdoor pictures
For some buyers, a home’s external beauty is just as important as its interior, so it’s always a good idea to post at least one outdoor photograph. Depending on the season in which these photos are taken, you may want to virtually stage the outside landscaping as well—a garden in bloom is infinitely more appealing than a barren tree.
Ask your real estate agent if they use professional photography !!!