December 10, 2024
How to Do Virtual Staging to Maximize Property Appeal
To sell a luxury property in a high-stakes market it needs to stand out, and these days, rather than employing expensive interior design companies to traditionally stage a property, more real estate agents and homeowners are turning to virtual staging services.
Virtual staging uses high-resolution photo editing software to generate customized furniture and decor for an existing room or an empty space. This can show prospective clients the potential of a property, while allowing them to visualize themselves living there.
Virtually staged photos can also increase luxury property sales while reducing workloads and minimizing costs for developers, estate agents and sellers. In this article we will look at how to do virtual staging to maximize property appeal, while discovering some of the best tips and techniques used by real estate professionals to bring high-end properties to life.
What Is Virtual Staging, and Why Luxury Properties Need It
Virtual staging software provides a unique approach to marketing luxury properties. For high-net-worth home buyers, it’s important to see exceptional quality and attention to detail and virtual staging apps can cater to this need.
By using photo realistic imagery, even an empty space can appear polished, personalized and stylish, really highlighting the potential of a high-value investment.
Each room has an opportunity to be tailored to the buyer's preferences - from color palettes and designs to accessories and layout, thus allowing each space to be presented in a way that appeals to the target audience.
This process is incredibly flexible and interiors can be edited or changed according to each demographic and property. A main benefit is that the visuals allow overseas buyers to truly resonate with the property and see themselves in each space without attending a physical viewing.
How to Do Virtual Staging for Maximum Luxury Appeal
If you’re wondering how to do virtual staging to maximize luxury appeal, there are a number of techniques and processes that you can follow as shown below.
Step 1: Choosing Premium Staging Services
When marketing luxury properties to high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) it is paramount to choose a company that aligns with your needs. Look for organizations that are experts in virtual staging services. They should offer premium staged images, available with a quick turnaround time, while being cost effective too.
Palazzo.ai is a globally recognized virtual staging company that places focus on the luxury real estate market. They use advanced AI technology to help transform the way that high-value properties are showcased to potential buyers. Their AI-powered staging a home tool allows real estate agents to upload property photos and customize interiors to suit the tastes of high-end prospects.
Palazzo also has an Aesthetic DNA Quiz on their app. This helpful tool analyzes buyer preferences to suggest home designs that they will love, making it easier for them to resonate with the property, even from afar.
Step 2: High-End Furniture and Decor Selection
Another key to sales success is selecting furniture and decor that will appeal to high-end buyers. Most modern luxury apartments and villas benefit from minimalistic elegant designs or an opulent vintage approach, accompanied by thought-provoking artwork and curated accessories. In contrast, a historic period property may look great when virtually staged with antique pieces, statement chandelier lighting and heritage tone feature walls.
As a general rule for any property, keeping the decor and primary furnishings upscale and neutral in tone has broader audience appeal, then hints of color can be added to rugs, wall decorations and textiles. This also allows the buyer to imagine the space filled with their own furniture items.
If the property is already occupied, it’s a good idea to have any clutter removed from the staged photographs to de-personalize the space. Additionally, if building work is being undertaken, virtual renovation images can allow buyers to envisage every stage of the property’s journey, until the transformation is complete.
Step 3: Tailoring Design Style to the Property and Buyer
Ultimately, choosing the right design style comes down to the architecture and period of the property. Is the luxury home historic and stately, a high-rise penthouse constructed from glass or is it a modern beach villa?
The virtual furnishings and decor should always reflect the style and personality of the property and resonate with the audience that you’re targeting.
For example, a largely millennial market interested in eco-conscious design properties, might resonate with natural, sustainable elements, greenery and organic textures in the virtual space. Whereas buyers seeking a state-of-the-art luxury 3D printed home may enjoy seeing smart technology and undulating features that align with the futuristic ambience. Alternatively, an exclusive beachfront hideaway targeted at wealthy retirees can look great with modern, clean lines and natural blue tones of the ocean outside, blending with the soft furnishing colors inside.
Step 4: Quality Control and Image Realism
One of the key aspects to virtual staging offered is high-quality imagery. When focusing marketing efforts on the ultra-wealthy, the staged space should always look authentic and realistic, and the furniture should be scaled accurately to the room size to avoid misleading the audience.
Imagery that captures light and shadows can add elements of depth and dimension to any virtual space, In fact, lighting that is not set up correctly can often ruin the dynamic of the room by making it look dull and uninviting.
The objective of virtual staging is to create an emotional connection between potential buyers and the property itself. By curating an authentic space, buyers can see themselves in the property and this can increase the value and desirability, often resulting in sales.
Benefits of Virtual Staging for High-End Real Estate
There are many ways that staged images can attract serious property purchasers. Using high-resolution graphics in empty rooms or even new-build homes can showcase a multitude of possibilities for HNWI (high-net-worth individuals).
Proven Partners real estate marketing uses virtual staging in luxury off plan developments to help buyers accurately visualize the properties that they showcase online. In a recent luxury villa project in Zanzibar, they showcased modern homes as fully furnished to give clients an idea of the potential of the properties once completed.
Virtual staging also allows developers and estate agents to experiment with different looks and ideas while also catering to a variety of buyer preferences.
In addition, the staging services are more sustainable to use, reducing environmental and financial impact. There are no transport costs, as there is no physical furniture to move and virtual photos are more cost effective as there is no need to hire an interior design consultant.
The quick turnaround times are also key to keeping clients interested in a specific luxury property - often high-resolution virtual images can be delivered in as little as 48 hours.
Choosing a Virtual Staging Partner
As we move forward into an accelerated era of enhanced AI experiences and services, choosing the right partner to showcase your luxury project is key. The Palazzo.ai blog offers advice and tips for selecting virtual staging software services, these include finding a company that can provide:
Ultra-realistic 3D models
Augmented reality options
Personalized furnishing recommendations
Flexibility in editing
Fast turnaround
Data driven insights
Practical Tips to Enhance Virtual Staging Results
When considering how to do virtual staging to enhance results, always try to focus on unique selling points that make the home stand-out from others listed on the high-end market.
Virtually stage the areas around infinity pools by enhancing the space with luxury sun loungers and botanicals, highlight cinema rooms with opulent fabrics or make the most of a beautiful kitchen by accessorizing the countertops with flowers, crystal wine glasses and a bottle of expensive wine.
Another area to concentrate on is lighting. Accurate lighting and fittings always help to accentuate a room and it creates a realistic ambience that resonates with high-end buyers.
Use advanced features to create realism, such as textiles, plants and paintings. Alternatively, if the property is already furnished or inhabited, utilize a virtual staging app to remove or replace any clutter. By removing personal items such as heirlooms and family photographs you can expand your appeal to a wider audience.
Always use virtual staging as a way to convey a sense of exclusivity, and use AI generated data insights whenever possible to match the spaces to your target audience.
Key Takeaways
There are numerous reasons as to why real estate agents and luxury property developers should use virtual staging, some of which include:
Flexibility and convenience
Ultra-realistic images
Cost effective
Fast turnaround times
Enhanced marketing opportunities
Improved visualization for buyers
Better sales results
To gain greater insight as to how virtual staging software can help your real estate marketing campaigns, take a look at the example images and extensive portfolio of services on Palazzo.ai for further inspiration.
About the Author
Colin Hannan is the Principal of Proven Partners, a real estate marketing agency that bridges commercial and creative expertise to bring luxury real estate projects to life. Colin helps businesses in the real estate industry to create impactful brands and meaningful concepts to drive sales, partnering with progressive hospitality brands and independent developers to build projects that truly stand out.
