What is Virtual Staging Software?

Virtually Rendered with Virtual Staging AI

Virtual staging software is a tool that can virtually stage a space, remove and add furniture and decor, and change colors. Artificial intelligence (AI) often powers this technology and typically yields nearly instantaneous results.

Real estate agents use this type of tool to create images that give prospective buyers an idea of what a property could look like when it’s fully furnished and decorated.

The idea is that by creating these visuals, a property will sell more quickly. A fast sale appeals to most sellers since it helps them get paid faster.

Using virtual staging software is very easy. Users simply upload an image and indicate the room type. The AI does the rest.

Some more advanced staging tools also enable users to indicate stylistic preferences. If you’re not content with the first image the AI generates, simply rerun it with another click of a button to create more renditions of the staged room.

Virtual staging with AI is a more affordable alternative than virtual staging with a graphic designer’s help. It creates opportunities for quicker turnaround times and more significant returns on investment (ROIs).

We’ll dive into the similarities and differences of these methods later in this article.

Benefits of Using Virtual Staging Software

Virtual staging software offers many benefits. It’s the most cost-effective home staging solution with a speedy turnaround time. These benefits alone make it worth it for many real estate professionals.

This staging technique creates photo-realistic results and provides excellent flexibility, which is certainly a win-win.

With staging software like Virtual Staging AI, users can show multiple decor styles and room uses. These options come in handy if you want to quickly show a potential buyer how they can customize the space in their unique style.

Exploring virtual staging can also open doors to valuable remote job opportunities for those willing to learn the software. We’ll touch on these opportunities shortly.

Virtually Rendered with Virtual Staging AI

Regarding virtual staging, there are two approaches:

1. Do-it-yourself (DIY) virtual staging with software
2. Done-for-you (DFY) virtual staging with the help of a designer

The key differences between these two approaches are the technology used to support them and the need to outsource.

With that in mind, let’s explore the differences between virtual staging software and virtual staging services.

Experience Required

As we’ve covered, virtual staging software is a tool that’s easy for anybody to use — even if they have no proper staging, interior design, or graphic design experience. In reality, it’s accessible to just about any real estate professional.

On the other hand, virtual staging services offered by virtual staging companies or professional designers require the support of a tool like Adobe Photoshop.

Staging a home with Photoshop or a similar tool requires interior design knowledge and the technical know-how to use such tools. A graphic design background is crucial for this approach. Some realtors may have this experience, but most don’t. That makes outsourcing necessary.

Cost

There’s also a cost discrepancy between the two. Since virtual staging with AI allows you to DIY, it’s an extremely low-cost option. The software required for this is extremely inexpensive.

Virtual staging services from a graphic designer cost more than a DIY approach since you must hire a designer. You can expect to pay at least $30 per photo if you hire a virtual stager.

Turnaround Time

Using virtual staging software provides results in seconds. With that, if you aren’t happy with the first way the software stages a room, you can simply request another rendering in an equally short amount of time.

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However, virtual staging services take a bit longer. The turnaround time varies depending on the chosen service provider’s availability, so it could take days or weeks. Edit requests on staged images will extend this time even further.

Comparison to Traditional Staging

It’s worth noting that virtual staging, in general, is significantly more cost-effective and time-efficient than traditional staging. Traditional staging can be expensive since it requires designing the space and buying or renting furniture to bring the vision to life.

However, opting for virtual staging instead of traditional staging means that the home will be empty when prospective buyers go to tour it. This approach is typically fine for homes with lower asking prices, but it may be an issue for more expensive properties.

The Best Virtual Staging Solutions for Real Estate Professionals

Now that you’re more familiar with virtual staging software and why you might use it, let’s take a look at some of the best virtual staging solutions on the market.

1. Virtual Staging AI

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Virtual Staging AI (Virtual Staging AI) is a powerful staging tool for curating images for online property listings. This technology, developed at Harvard Innovation Labs, includes an easy-to-use browser-based AI virtual staging application, unlimited revisions, and different customer support options.

Virtual Staging AI allows users to create renderings for free, which is very valuable for those dipping their toes into virtual staging.

Features

• Premium Customer support (on Professional and Enterprise plans)
• Multiple furniture style options
• Images ready in 10 seconds
• Decluttering tool

Pros

• It’s easy to create multiple renderings
• Extremely competitive pricing
• Flexible staging options
• Free to get started
• Very easy to use

Cons

• Can’t edit specific elements of a rendering

Pricing

It’s free to get started with Virtual Staging AI, but users can upgrade to a paid plan if they’d like to download photos without watermarks or indicate the design styles of their renderings.

Virtual Staging AI’s paid plans are broken down as follows:

• Basic: $16/month for 6 photos
• Standard: $19/month for 25 photos and image storage forever
• Professional: $39/month for 100 photos and success manager
• Enterprise: $69/month for 250 photos and API access

2. Apply Design

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Apply Design is another DIY virtual staging software for realtors who need a quick and easy way to stage photos of their property.

Features

• Virtual staging that requires no design experience
• 15-minute turnaround time on staged images
• Multiple design style options
• Decluttering tool

Pros

• Realistic, high-quality results
• Easy to use

Cons

• More expensive than competitors for a comparable offer
• Slightly longer turnaround time than competitors
• Complex pricing

Pricing

Apply Design works with a coin system. Users can pay 1.5 coins for a 2D image and 2.5 coins for a 360 image. Coins cost:

• $10 per coin when you purchase up to 9 coins
• $9 per coin when you purchase 10 to 19 coins
• $7 per coin when you purchase 20+ coins

Virtual Staging Opportunities in Real Estate

There are plenty of opportunities available for individuals who want to learn virtual staging software. Beyond the basics of making your listings more marketable, shortening their time on the market, and (hopefully) improving selling prices, let’s look at some less obvious perks.

• Declutter but leave the furniture - if a seller has great furniture but too many personal items, use the software’s decluttering feature to clear the space and invite buyers in.
• Using just your smartphone and virtual staging software, you can list a pristine property the same day you see it, empty or not.
• Style and stage it according to buyers’ preferences - software provides various styles of furniture and decor so you can show your buyers what a space might look like in their personal style.

For many real estate professionals, learning how to use this tool unlocks the ability to easily stage online listings for themselves or other team members.

Are you sick of publishing messy listings filled with personal clutter? Want to hide old, damaged furniture, too? Virtual Staging AI can turn a cluttered living space into a blank canvas in seconds. Talk about an image enhancement.

Decluttered with Virtual Staging AI

You can improve your ROI on listings by using Virtual Staging AI since it has a lower cost and a shorter turnaround time. In other words, you’ll yield a shorter time on the market, faster sales, and more money in everyone’s pockets.

Another opportunity that comes with learning to use virtual staging software is the ability to offer it as a service to other real estate professionals who outsource marketing for their listings. This could be a great side hustle for someone who is trying to make connections in the industry.

Since virtual staging software is affordable, you can price these services at a fraction of the cost of traditional staging or virtual staging services with a designer, guaranteeing your clients a much higher ROI.

Learning to use virtual staging can also help real estate photographers create an easy upsell for their content creation services. This is possible by taking high-quality photos of properties and using Virtual Staging AI to create beautifully staged images for real estate agents.

Virtually Rendered with Virtual Staging AI

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How to Choose the Right Virtual Staging Option for You

Virtual staging software is an incredibly valuable tool for realtors who are eager to sell homes more efficiently with a more significant ROI. Taking advantage of free trials or free versions of different virtual staging tools is a great way to find the perfect fit.

If you’re looking to invest in this technology, we encourage you to research each option and compare these factors before deciding. Pay close attention to key features of each tool, including quality, convenience, turnaround time, price, and access to customer support.

Want to try virtual staging software for yourself to boost your real estate business? Go to Virtual Staging AI’s home page and upload an image of an empty room to try the technology for free.