Traditional staging vs AR: which sells faster?

Written by Kelly Edwards.

Most buyers are browsing properties from their mobile devices. They might be at work, out with friends, or on the sofa in their pajamas after a long day. 

Wherever they are, one thing’s for certain: they are making real estate decisions based on visuals. And you don’t have long to grab your potential buyer’s attention.

So, what works well and what’s just not cutting it?

In this article, we will explore the differences between traditional property staging and Augmented Reality (AR) and discuss the importance of home staging in real estate success, whether you’re a realtor looking to list your portfolio or a seller preparing your home to sell.

Property staging is meant to make a property look and feel “lived in.” This means adding furniture, rugs, accessories, lighting, and more into a space to help potential buyers see it as a home and be able to easily visualise themselves living there. 

According to research carried out by The National Association of Realtors, “Eighty-three percent of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualise the property as a future home.” And many people selling their homes secure higher prices and faster sales by taking the time to stage their property first.

Staging creates an emotional connection, ensures a property is remembered, and helps sell a property faster. Because when buyers can see themselves living on a property, they are more likely to make a purchase.

Whether you’re a realtor or a seller, there are two ways to stage a property: traditional and augmented reality. Let’s take a look at the differences between traditional staging and augmented reality staging so that realtors and sellers alike can understand the pros and cons of each in more detail.

According to Tim Brickle, CEO & Founder at 3D Walkabout, “Thanks to augmented and virtual reality, customers can now view properties from the comfort of their own homes […] technology is being developed that allows customers to visualise their own possessions in a space, as well as get a real feel for how their new premises will feel to live and/or work in.” 

For those marketing or listing a property, augmented reality is a huge time saver when it comes to staging properties. You start by taking photos of the empty rooms and then fill everything else in digitally. From furniture and lighting to wall art and decor, the end result is a digitally designed space that looks and feels like a real home.

Pros

• Far more affordable than traditional staging.
• More accessible to sellers looking for a cost-effective staging solution.
• Time-efficient for realtors with large property portfolios.
• Ideal for promoting properties across social media and in digital brochures.
• Perfect for new builds and vacant homes.
• Endless styling choices.
• Fast turnaround – typically 24 to 48 hours.

Cons

• Buyers can’t tour the staged property in person.
• It requires high-quality original photos to create a realistic feel.
• The photos don’t look realistic which can lead to buyers feeling misled.

According to a U.S. News & World Report article, “home staging in the United States was popularized in 1972 […] In its simplest form, staging was born to strategically enhance a home’s appearance to make it more attractive to potential buyers, resulting in faster sales for higher prices.” 

Traditional property staging means physically bringing furniture and accessories into a space. The goal is to create a welcoming feel and show what can be achieved, visually, with the property.

Benefits of Traditional Staging

• Potential buyers can explore the physical space.
• It creates a sense of emotional connection during showings.
• It’s ideal for buyers who value in-person walk-throughs.
• It is helpful for standing out in highly competitive locations and markets.

Cons of Traditional Staging

• Traditional staging is very expensive, often costing thousands.
• It can take time to organize, schedule, and deliver.
• It can be a drain on resources (staff, budgets, and time).
• You are limited to one design choice.
• It isn’t always feasible when you have a portfolio of properties to advertise.
• Usually less practical and affordable for individual sellers (especially on a tight budget).

Both types of property staging come with their unique pros and cons, which is why there are certain situations where you might consider traditional staging and others when augmented reality is more feasible and appropriate.

Traditional staging works best for properties that must be shown in-person to secure buyers. Here’s what it looks like:

Luxury Properties

If you’re selling luxury or high-end properties, you might consider investing in traditional staging. This is because most buyers want to view luxury properties in-person. Therefore, having a traditionally staged home will help show off its best features.

In-person Showings

Perhaps you have a new-build development underway and you’re expecting a lot of in-person showings. Traditionally, staging a property creates a showhome experience for potential buyers before the rest of the properties have been built.

Augmented reality staging is a great way to offer convenience to buyers, showcase an abundance of properties with ease, and design properties to fit the tastes and preferences of individual buyers. Here’s when you might invest in augmented reality property staging:

Budget Constraints

Sometimes, estate agents or sellers simply don’t have the budget for traditional staging. Augmented reality offers an affordable and time-saving solution. Both sellers and realtors can stage their property in 24 to 48 hours and realtors can work their way through their portfolios readying a whole host of marketable properties for advertising.

Under Construction

For houses under construction, augmented reality is a great way to showcase what the final result could look like; highlighting the property’s best features and providing interior design inspiration to buyers.

Online Marketing 

Augmented reality marketing is the most effective way to advertise properties online. You can advertise with ease and to a wide audience. This helps drum up interest and attract buyers fast.

Professional property staging is a powerful and influential tool in the world of real estate and property sales, often leading to higher prices, increased buyer interest, and faster sales. Let’s take a look at the benefits in more detail:

Faster Property Sales

Staging a property can lead to faster sales. It achieves this by enhancing a property’s visual appeal. People often ask, “Do empty homes sell faster?” And the answer is, no they don’t. 

If you want faster property sales, you need to showcase the best elements of your property up front. Staging helps you achieve this, ensuring you put your best foot forward.

Emotional Appeal

Potential buyers need to feel an emotional connection to a property before making a purchase. Professional staging creates a homely, welcoming environment that connects with buyers and helps increase emotional appeal.

Higher Sale Prices

When a property is beautifully staged, buyers are willing to pay more to secure it. Research shows that the majority of realtors believe home staging increases a property’s saleable value by 1 to 10%.

Whether you’re a realtor preparing a property portfolio for the market or a homeowner preparing to sell, choosing the right property staging option can have a big impact on your sale success. Whether you choose traditional or virtual reality staging often comes down to budget, time constraints, and the properties you hope to sell.