{"id":185307,"date":"2025-10-22T12:58:59","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T18:58:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/?p=185307"},"modified":"2025-10-22T12:59:02","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T18:59:02","slug":"improvements-to-virtual-staging-tech-makes-it-a-huge-boon-for-investors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/improvements-to-virtual-staging-tech-makes-it-a-huge-boon-for-investors","title":{"rendered":"Virtual Staging Tech is So Good Now That It&#8217;s Earning Flippers and Investors More Money"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Virtual staging, once a real estate novelty, has unfurled like a magic carpet over the investment landscape, beckoning us all to an imaginary world of HGTV-design make-believe.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">On a practical level, the advantages of replacing the cost of transporting furniture, assembling it, and renting it for weeks on end with a few clicks of a mouse can\u2019t <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">be overstated<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> is a game-changer for <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/guides\/how-to-flip-houses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">flippers<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> and landlords, <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">aware that most houses<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> are <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">viewed online first by<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> 43% of those polled by the <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nar.realtor\/research-and-statistics\/research-reports\/highlights-from-the-profile-of-home-buyers-and-sellers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">National Association of Realtors<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> (NAR) in 2024, with 41% looking at photos first.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> And <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.housingwire.com\/articles\/virtual-staging-companies-apps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">HousingWire<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> reports that 81% of buyers surveyed by NAR said that virtual staging helped them visualize living in a home.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Artificial intelligence (AI) has only supersized virtual staging\u2019s capabilities. There used to be a time when the phrase \u201cseeing is believing\u201d held some weight<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. No<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> more.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">These days, it\u2019s hard to trust what you see, at least online, whether it\u2019s otherworldly sea creatures with almost-human faces or famous actors appearing in movies they never made. Equally in real estate, renderings using new AI-powered technology are now so lifelike that it seems impossible to think that a skilled photographer with a lighting and staging crew didn\u2019t shoot them.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The good news is that <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">these lifelike renderings can be created<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> in hours, not days, and cost a fraction of hiring a stager and photographer. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> means investors can start the marketing process of houses and apartments while construction is still underway.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Staging Apps<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reimaginehome.ai\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">REimagine Home<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> won <\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">HousingWire<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u2019s best overall AI-based virtual staging app and <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">is widely used<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> by the real estate industry. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It was founded in 2023 by Styldod, a pioneer in the art of virtual staging, and it starts at only $14\/month (increasing depending on <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">the<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> usage <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">amount<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">)\u2014a huge money saver on the cost of actual staging.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Like its competitors, REimagine Home can remove furniture, adjust lighting, and <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">be used<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> for indoor and outdoor settings. It can also create large volumes of realistic online photos and alter the color palette.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Other notable staging apps include:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Collov AI<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Trolto (specifically designed for social media staging)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">ApplyDesign<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">AI Home Design<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Practical Uses for Landlords and Flippers<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Off-market listings and social media<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Virtual staging minimizes vacancy time by allowing an apartment to be listed to garner interest while it is still <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">being prepared<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> for the next tenants. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For flippers, high-quality images <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">allow<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> sellers to market their properties on private social media without incurring agents\u2019 fees or <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">facing competition from<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> other houses crowding <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">listings<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> platforms.<\/span> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> works when the seller is not in a rush to sell and can market their home passively, waiting for the right offer.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cNew technology is greatly improving access to the off-market,\u201d Samuel Pro, CTO of <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/unlistedhomes.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">UNLISTED<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, a platform dedicated to off-market real estate, told<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/press-releases\/residential-real-estate-turns-to-off-market-sales-to-meet-market-demands-2025-01-10\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Reuters<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. \u201cBoth buyers and homeowners are discovering opportunities they didn\u2019t know existed previously. More options result in better outcomes for everyone.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Listings platforms<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">AI-driven tools can work seamlessly with property management systems and listings platforms. Most VS apps are compatible with major listings platforms like Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, and Airbnb, allowing investors of any size to compete with well-financed brokerages with tech teams.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Virtual reality<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The race is also on amongst listing platforms to create believable virtual reality walk-throughs of properties. Homes.com owns <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/matterport.com\/releases\/2025-winter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Matterport<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, which used to rely on actual photos of a property\u2019s interior <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">to view it<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, but has now augmented it with AI and virtual reality.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/investors.zillowgroup.com\/investors\/news-and-events\/news\/news-details\/2025\/Zillow-brings-AI-powered-Virtual-Staging-to-Showcase-listings\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Zillow\u2019s Showcase<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> does similar things. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Both platforms allow <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">a homeowner<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> to <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">load<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> their <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">own<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> virtual staging photos to their listing sites or generate <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">their own<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> AI virtual staged images using the platform\u2019s AI tech.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Josh Weisberg, senior vice president of AI at Zillow, said in a statement:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cVirtual Staging is the latest example of how we\u2019re bringing our AI strategy to life for consumers and agents. From the Zestimate to personalized search and now to dynamic listing experiences, AI has long been part of Zillow\u2019s DNA. Virtual Staging applies the AI field of computer vision to restyle listing photos in real time to help shoppers see a home\u2019s potential and give agents a time-saving way to stand out.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Race to Keep Up With Staging Tech<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Virtual staging has evolved from simply placing couches in empty rooms by integrating with AI models to understand local design, trends, and user behavior. However, the advancement of AI staging means that conventionally presented properties, or those shown in person, run the risk of looking tame by comparison.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cThere\u2019s no relation to reality. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">And now that person has<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> a <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">high <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">expectation from<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> the virtual staging when they get there.<\/span> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">And that expectation <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">just<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> goes straight down,\u201d Jason Saft, founder of Staged to Sell Home, told<\/span> <em><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/johnwalkup\/2025\/03\/31\/real-estate-staging-can-slash-days-on-market-and-boost-sale-price-in-new-york\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Forbes<\/span><\/a><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Saft recommends asking yourself a few questions about your property before investing in virtual staging. It makes sense to use the tech if the property is vacant or poorly furnished, and comparable staged units have enjoyed quick sales. Also, if you\u2019ve priced your property at the top of the market, it will demand a high-end presentation.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, in a tight market with bidding wars, staging probably isn\u2019t necessary. Equally, if the home is already in showhouse condition after being prepped for an open house, additional virtual staging likely isn\u2019t needed.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Final Thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For landlords and flippers, virtual staging will become an increasingly vital tool in their marketing arsenal. However, as glossier and fancier images pervade the real estate space, investors must draw a line to show where reality stops and virtual reality starts; otherwise\u2014as is what\u2019s happening on social media now\u2014it\u2019s hard to know whether what you are seeing is real or not.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As listings tech gets more advanced, the need for renters and buyers to visit properties in person before transacting will become more pronounced. Buying sight unseen will be a risky move. Equally, investors need to be honest in their depictions\u2014making sure to show an \u201cas-is\u201d or \u201cnon-AI\u201d image for comparison, or adding a note that the property <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">is virtually staged<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Virtual staging, once a real estate novelty, has unfurled like a magic carpet over the investment landscape, beckoning us all to an imaginary world of HGTV-design make-believe. On a practical [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":613725,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-185307","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-real-estate-trends"],"acf":[],"comment_count":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185307","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/613725"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=185307"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185307\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=185307"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=185307"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=185307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}