Boston Globe Article on Home Staging - Real vs Virtual Staging featuring IAHSP®

Recently a reporter from the Boston Globe reached out to IAHSP® Chairwoman, Jennie Norris, to get some information on Home Staging, and asked her specific questions related to Virtual Staging. Check out the article here.

Jennie provided information regarding virtual staging when asked about the % of homes virtually staged versus real staging. They used part of the content Jennie shared, which you will see in the article. It is always interesting to see what content a reporter will use when interviewing a person on a particular subject. While Jennie advocated for real staging, pointing out the disadvantages and failures experienced with virtual staging, the article leaned in favor virtual staging as a way to just get people in the door.

However, as Jennie pointed out, a Buyer should see what the house looks like online when they walk in the front door. Virtual staging is deceptive, and when Buyers are disappointed because the house is empty and does not look or feel the same as they saw online, they will start to pick apart the house and notice all the conditional issues and flaws.

A property recently staged in the Denver region sat on the market for 140 days with no offers. One week after REAL staging, the house was under contract and closed within 30 days! REAL STAGING WORKS! It creates the emotional appeal that creates the feeling for Buyers that compels them to make an offer. Virtual Staging does not provide the results Sellers want.

To see the full information shared with the reporter, please read on.

Thank you for reaching out and our statistics do not show the virtual staging versus real staging data as far as effectiveness.  

I can tell you that to virtual staging does not work well because I end up staging a lot of  houses with my personal staging company here in the Denver region that are virtually staged when they don't sell. And I know if I am staging these virtually staged properties that don't sell, other stagers are as well - all over the country. 

The industry does not have an idea of how many houses are virtually staged vs real staging, or how many of the virtual ones end up being staged for real. Agents are supposed to note in an MLS description and even with a watermark on a photo if they used virtual staging, but not all do that. 

It's a cheap alternative to real staging, and as a marketing tool it does not do anything except make photos look good. That may help for those scanning available properties online and may even help get a buyer in the door but that is where the positives end.

I share all the time, if selling a property were  only about photos, Real estate agents wouldn't be needed and neither would stagers because it would be all about the photographer. There is a small percentage of home buyers that only use photos and do not go in person to see the property, but those are usually investors, second-home buyers looking to put their money somewhere and not a buyer who is purchasing their home.  A home purchase is very personal, it is a huge investment and the largest asset most people own.  They don't leave a decision like that up to photos.  They go in person. 

The reality is when people walk in the door they should see what it looks like online and when they don't they feel duped. It's like false advertising.

Furthermore buying a house is an emotional decision and when there's nothing in the house to grab a buyer emotionally, they move on. Real staging helps grab their attention, it helps create a warm and inviting appearance, it triggers emotions in ways that a photograph cannot, and it gives them something to look at in a property that may not be in perfect shape, versus a vacant house where people just notice the flaws.  

I am happy to provide added information for your article if you would like. 

All the best,

Jennie Norris

Chairwoman, IAHSP, International Association of Home Staging Professionals