One of the most important aspects in selling your property – or in renting it out, for that matter is showing how good will be under their management. That is what virtual staging can do for you. No matter if you have an empty room or a messy space that is not well suited to everyone, virtual staging can turn those pictures into something really appealing. But the thing is, virtual staging comes in two flavors: traditional (what we’re used to) and AI virtual staging which takes things a step further with all that modern technology.
Thus the question is; which one to go with? So, let’s dissect the question and figure out what works for you!
Table of Contents
What Exactly is Virtual Staging?
For those unfamiliar with the concept, let us start this side by side comparison talking about what is actually virtual staging and why need virtual staging in real estate.
In other words, Virtual Staging is the act of adding furniture and sometimes walls/floors to a photo. This technique is used most often in real estate to make a house or apartment look more attractive for potential buyers/renters. When it is great, it can drastically affect the speed at which they sell a house and how many people buy.
Alright, so now that we have learned the basics let us move on to two high-level types of virtual staging: regular virtual staging and AI virtual staging.
Normal Virtual Staging: The Human Touch
Normal Virtual Staging aka “Traditional ” virtual staging for ages. It is the way most of you know, where a real person for example (a graphic designer) adds furniture and etc. to any photos using software like photoshop or such software.
How Does It Work?
Take for instance an entirely unoccupied living space. A professional designer would then take that image, put it through their own software and begin adding in virtual furniture, rugs,, lighting along with all the other bits of decor you need. They will select styles that reflect the architecture of the property and who you are selling or renting it to. It’s as though an interior designer came and styled your spot without laying a finger on any of the furniture.
The Pros of Normal Virtual Staging
If any of the top advantages with traditional virtual staging are there then customization is one of it. Every detail is customizable for your exact needs given that it will be done by a human being. From a mid-century modern aesthetic? No problem. Want something a little less busy? Done. Every little detail can be modified by the designer as per your vision.
The great thing again is, you are buying the creativity and experience of a designer. Professionals of this caliber have an eye for layout and color, as well as furnishings that will lend themselves to mass appeal from the buying public.
The Downsides of Normal Virtual Staging
As great as it is to get the human touch, there are costs associated with this – literally! Standard virtual staging has another drawback — it tends to be quite expensive due to the extensive manual labor involved in creating a realistic rendering. You pay for the time they spend working on your images, and of course that can mount up quickly depending how much detail you are after.
Another downside is time. Because this is all manual it can take from a few days to a week (or more) for you staged photos back, especially if the designer has been busy or there have been multiple revisions.
AI Virtual Staging: The Future of Real Estate?
Well, the new kid in town – AI virtual staging. Rather than a person staging your home, artificial intelligence does all the work. It is starting to sound like the future, isn’t it?
How Does It Work?
AI Virtual staging: In AI virtual staging, you just need to upload your property photos on some platform that uses an artificial intelligence engine which will automatically stage them. The technology will map out the area, figure out where walls and windows are located, and place furniture or furnishing pieces accordingly instead. Descriptive AI that simulates the style of the home and adjusts furniture styles to match
The Pros of AI Virtual Staging
The biggest advantage here is speed. AI never sleeps or takes breaks, within minutes to hours you can have your staged photos ready instead of days. If you are operating under a timeline (i.e. selling ASAP), this is game-changing material!
Another advantage though is that generally, AI staging will cost a lot less than traditional virtual staging. It is a cheaper way to get beautiful pictures of your property taken (if you have thousands or evens 10´s dollar) than with traditional real estate photography, because the whole process from taking picture until receiving ready processed final files takes maximum few minutes and no human labor involved.
The Downsides of AI Virtual Staging
AI virtual staging is easy and cheap, but it has its drawbacks. However, the thing with these sites is that they are very uncreative and not at all customizable. AI can create based on some guidelines and form, but is unable to (as of yet) understand all the intricacies of design that a man could. It is having top chef cooked food compared with a robot prepared meal. The robot may cook, but it is almost certain to do us ill.
Additionally, AI may not be able to handle high dimensional spaces So, if you have one room that’s a weird shape or just kind of difficult across the board to arrange furniture for (we all know those), AI won’t be much help. The results can thus sometimes end up with a touch of the generic-looking or mis-matched.
Normal Virtual Staging vs. AI Virtual Staging: What’s the Difference?
Now that you know there are two types of virtual staging, let me show a comparison with both to determine which is the best option for you.
1. Time Efficiency
- AI Virtual Staging: Speed While there is no other clear winner, in terms of speed AI VS wins by a large margin. Assuming you need your shot-staged rather than natural, this is a speedy alternative.
- Normal Virtual Staging will take longer because an actual human has to do the work. Sometimes this takes a few days, because even though ten cents was cheap as hell in the 90s we could probably afford to do like one revision.
2. Cost
- AI Virtual Staging: This type of virtual staging is often the most affordable as no work hours are required. Where to Turn for Savings: if You Want Your Money Back Save with AI
- Normal Virtual Staging: its tends to be more expensive because you’re paying for the designer’s time and expertise.
3. Customization and Detail
- Normal Virtual Staging wins hands down when it comes to customization. A human designer can adjust every little detail to fit the property’s style and the preferences of potential buyers.
- AI Virtual Staging, while quick, lacks that level of customization. The designs are often based on templates, and the AI might not get everything perfect, especially in unusual spaces.
4. Scalability
- If you have multiple properties that need to be staged quickly, AI Virtual Staging is super scalable. You can stage dozens of homes in a short amount of time without overworking a designer.
- Normal Virtual Staging is less scalable because it requires a designer’s individual attention for each property, which can slow things down.
5. Creativity
- With Normal Virtual Staging, you’re getting a designer’s creativity and artistic touch, which can make a big difference in how a space feels.
- AI Virtual Staging can’t quite match that yet. It’s more functional than creative, so the results may look nice but lack the “wow” factor.
When Should You Use Normal Virtual Staging?
There are certain situations where normal virtual staging is definitely the better option:
- High-end properties: If you’re selling a luxury home, you’ll probably want the extra creativity and detail that comes with human staging.
- Customization needs: If you or your clients have specific design preferences, a human designer can tailor the staging to fit those needs perfectly.
- Complex spaces: For rooms with unusual layouts or architectural details, a human designer will have a better eye for what works best.
When Should You Use AI Virtual Staging?
AI virtual staging works great in situations where speed and cost are the main priorities:
- Tight deadlines: If you need the photos fast, AI staging can have them ready in a flash.
- Lower budgets: If you’re trying to minimize costs, AI is much more affordable than traditional staging.
- Multiple listings: For agents or sellers who have a lot of properties to stage, AI can save tons of time and money.
The Future of Virtual Staging: A Blend of AI and Human Creativity
While AI virtual staging is amazing for speed and cost, and traditional staging shines in creativity and customization, the future might be a mix of both. We’re already seeing platforms that combine AI with human designers to get the best of both worlds. The AI can handle the bulk of the work, and a human can step in for the final touches, ensuring both efficiency and a personal touch.
As AI gets better at understanding design, we may even see it become more creative. But for now, there’s still a big difference between what a human can do and what AI can offer.
Conclusion
So, which type of virtual staging is right for you? It really depends on your needs. If you’re working on a high-end project that requires a lot of customization and creativity, normal virtual staging is probably your best bet. On the other hand, if you’re working with a tight budget or need quick results, AI virtual staging can get the job done without breaking the bank.
Both methods have their strengths, and in the end, the choice comes down to what’s most important for your project—speed and cost or creativity and detail. Whatever you choose, virtual staging is a fantastic tool that can make your property shine!