Staging vs Virtual Staging: Cost, ROI, and What Buyers Really Notice

What is traditional home staging?

Traditional home staging is the art of physically preparing a house for sale by arranging furniture, decor, and accessories to make it look its best. A professional stager’s goal is to improve the home’s flow, eliminate clutter, and create a welcoming atmosphere that appeals to the broadest audience possible.

This hands-on approach can transform your home from a personal living space into a desirable, market-ready property — or, in other words, a product. The process typically involves:

• Consultation: A professional stager assesses your home and provides recommendations.
• Decluttering and depersonalizing: Removing personal items, excess furniture, and clutter.
• Furniture and decor changes: Bringing in stylish, neutral furniture and accessories that complement the home’s architecture.
• Arrangement: Strategically placing items to maximize space and highlight key features like fireplaces or large windows.

“Staging is imperative,” says Kim Daneault, a top agent in New Hampshire who sells homes nearly 80% quicker than the average agent in her Manchester market. “A staged house sells for more money and the [speed of] the sale is much faster, especially in today’s market.”

Experienced agents like Daneault often partner with staging professionals to give their clients options, presenting sellers with a list of recommendations for each room in the house. “My sellers can then look at that list and decide whether or not they want to hire that stager or stage [the home] themselves,” Daneault explains.

What is virtual staging?

Virtual staging is like creating an online dating profile for your home using digitally enhanced photographs that show the full potential of the house. Graphic designers use software or AI tools to virtually insert furniture, decor, and accessories into photos of empty or outdated rooms. This removes the logistics and expense of physically moving and placing furnishings and design elements.

It’s a cost-effective and fast way to help buyers visualize how an empty space can be used. The process involves:

• Professional photography: High-resolution photos are taken of the existing or vacant rooms.
• Digital enhancement: A virtual staging company or designer uses specialized software and/or AI to add realistic-looking furniture, art, and decor to the photos.
• Final images: The virtually staged photos are used for online listings on the MLS and other real estate websites.

Brian Pearl, a top-producing South Florida agent, says the primary reason virtual staging is gaining popularity is that it costs significantly less than traditional staging. “It’s all about the price; virtual staging offers a huge financial benefit that can literally save you thousands of dollars.”

But who is saving money? “As for staging and who pays for it — agent or seller — that’s all about the negotiation,” Pearl says. “A $500 one-time fee to virtually stage an entire home is definitely more appealing to the Realtor if we are covering the cost, but also the seller if they’re covering it.”

The virtually staged listing photos are then posted on the MLS and other marketing platforms. “We usually put the virtual photo [first], and following that, we’ll put the photo of the vacant/empty room,” Pearl says.

You can see examples of virtual staging on sites like Styldod, BoxBrownie, Stuccco, and collov.ai. There are also many easy-to-use virtual staging software apps that can be installed on mobile devices.

Staging vs. virtual staging: A head-to-head comparison

When deciding between virtual staging vs. staging, the obvious differences are expense, time, and effort, which can impact your ROI and selling timeline. But the less obvious differences fall under buyer perception. We’ll provide some comparisons below, but the pivotal factor in your home sale may be the demographics and expectations of buyers in your market.

Cost comparison

The most significant difference between the two methods is the cost.

• Traditional staging cost: According to HomeGuide, the average cost of professional staging ranges from $1,500 to $4,000 for the first month. Each additional month can cost between $150 and $1,200. The actual price depends on the size of the home, the number of rooms staged, and the duration of the furniture rental.
• Virtual staging cost: Virtual staging is significantly more affordable. Companies offer a wide range of options. For example, some services charge per photo, which can range from $20 to $50 each. Others offer AI tools with unlimited regeneration at monthly rates ranging from $20 to more than $100. The monthly fee depends on the level of enhancements or editing capabilities needed, from standard virtual staging to virtual renovation.

Return on investment (ROI)

Both staging methods offer a return on investment, but they achieve it in different ways.

• Traditional staging ROI: As our table above illustrates, staged homes can sell for a higher price. Using a 5% estimate, you could earn an extra $20,000 on a $400,000 home. Even if it costs you $4,000 to have the home professionally staged, you could still walk away with an additional $16,000. Staged homes also tend to spend less time on the market, saving you money on mortgage payments and other carrying costs.
• Virtual staging ROI: The ROI for virtual staging is primarily seen in increased online traffic and a faster sale. A beautifully furnished online listing attracts more clicks, views, and showing requests. However, multiple offers might spark a bidding war, which can lead to higher proceeds. But even if virtual staging doesn’t add much to the final sale price, its low initial cost yields a favorable return by getting your home sold faster.

Buyer perception and impact

How buyers perceive your home online versus in person is perhaps the biggest difference when comparing virtual staging and real staging.

• Online impact: Both methods create beautiful online listings. Virtual staging is particularly effective at capturing initial attention and demonstrating a vacant or outdated home’s full potential. It helps answer buyers’ questions about space and layout before they even visit.
• In-person impact: Traditional staging has a clear advantage during showings. When buyers walk into a physically staged home, the positive impression from the photos is reinforced. They can experience the home’s ambiance and flow. Conversely, a home that was virtually staged will be empty or less impressive in person. This can create a disconnect or let-down feeling for some buyers.

If you’re concerned that buyers will struggle to connect with the vacant space or less-appealing decor after seeing it beautifully furnished online, Pearl advises his clients to enlarge the virtually staged photos and display them during showings and open houses.

“Put [the enlarged photos] on art boards and put them in the actual room in the house so people can see ‘Oh, this is the room I saw the picture of, and this is how it’s going to look.’ That way, [the buyers] don’t have to pull their phone up and look at the picture and see where they are — it reminds them.”

Many agents who use virtual staging will carry an iPad with the staged photos readily available to show clients as they tour the home. It’s also important that your agent clearly labels virtually staged photos to set accurate expectations.

Process and timeline

Your selling timeline can also influence your comparison of virtual staging vs. real staging.

• Traditional staging timeline: This process is obviously more involved. It requires scheduling a consultation, decluttering, and coordinating movers and furniture delivery. The entire process can take anywhere from a few days to over a week to complete.
• Virtual staging timeline: This is where virtual staging truly shines. You can get a virtually-staged photo in a very short time, ranging from a few seconds to 48 hours, depending on whether you use instant AI software or a professional service with human designers.

Whether you opt for virtual staging, agent-assisted soft staging, or take a DIY route, Daneault says you still need to apply the basics of pre-sale home preparation. “Cleaning shows buyers that you’ve cared for your home. If your home is covered in dust and clutter, it makes buyers wonder what other maintenance you’ve neglected. Either get rid of your excess stuff or stash it in a storage unit.”

When is traditional staging the better choice?

Traditional staging is the best option when you want to make the maximum impact on buyers, especially for higher-end homes or houses with unique layouts.

“Spaces with an odd shape or no defined purpose can really benefit from staging; it helps buyers see the area as an asset instead of a waste of space they’ll have to figure out how to use,” Daneault says.

Consider traditional staging if:

• You have a luxury or high-value property: Buyers in this price range generally expect a premium, move-in ready experience.
• Your home has an unusual floor plan: Staging can define unique or awkward spaces and show buyers how to use them more effectively.
• You’re in a competitive market: A beautifully staged home will stand out from the competition and leave a lasting impression during open houses and tours.
• You want to justify a higher asking price: The tangible quality of physical staging helps buyers see (and feel) the value you’re asking for.

When is virtual staging a smarter move?

Virtual staging is a budget-friendly choice when your primary goal is to enhance your online marketing presence, especially if you have a vacant or less appealing home. It can be an ideal solution for sellers who need a fast and affordable way to showcase their home’s potential without the logistical challenges and time delays of physical staging.

Consider virtual staging if:

• Your home is vacant: It’s an excellent way to furnish empty rooms in photos so buyers can understand the scale and possibilities.
• You’re on a tight budget: Virtual staging delivers a powerful visual impact for a fraction of the cost of traditional staging.
• You need a quick turnaround: If you need to get your home listed fast, virtual staging can be completed in one to two days, or even hours, with the right tools in the right hands.
• You want to show alternate room uses: You can order multiple versions of a staged photo to show a spare room as a home office, a nursery, a fitness room, or illustrate a finished basement or room above a garage.

The hybrid approach: Can you do both?

A hybrid approach that combines both methods can offer the best of both worlds. This strategy involves physically staging the most important areas of the home — such as the living room, kitchen, and primary bedroom — while using the more affordable virtual staging process for secondary bedrooms, basements, or bonus rooms.

With a hybrid option, you can control costs while still providing the in-person experience and buyer connection of a staged home. It ensures your online listing is compelling and your physical showings are impressive, all while staying within a more manageable budget.

A top real estate agent can guide your staging decision

Ultimately, the choice between virtual staging vs. real staging depends on your property, budget, and local market conditions. Answering the question, “Should I stage my home?” is much easier with expert guidance. A top real estate agent can offer real-world insights, local market knowledge, and provide you with a local network of trusted professionals.

HomeLight uses millions of real estate transactions and thousands of reviews to identify top-performing agents who consistently sell homes faster and for more money. These agents understand what local buyers are looking for and what strategies will work best to present your home in the best possible light, both online and in person.

Ready to make a data-driven decision for your home sale? Find a top agent in your area today.

You’ll find more helpful tips and guides in HomeLight’s Seller Resource Center.

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