Introduction
Virtual home staging has (arguably) changed the real estate marketing industry more than any other new technology over the last five years. With limitless options, ultimate flexibility and speedy delivery - adding virtual staging to your listing photos helps show clients your resourcefulness as their agent. A key factor separating virtual from traditional home staging is --of course-- price. Read on to learn more about the essential virtual staging cost differences between the top virtual staging companies.
We’ll overview the top five services, which are:
We’ll compare the cost-per-photo, which is the standard pricing model for virtual home staging. We’ll go over what that includes with each company, and whether that makes a stronger case for one service over the others.
*Prices accurate as of 9/2024
What is Virtual Staging?
Virtual Staging is the process of adding furniture, plants, art and decor to photos typically used for real estate listings. The photos start out vacant and the items are digitally put in place by skilled interior designers and graphic editors. If the property is not vacant and there’s already furniture in the images, most virtual staging services can digitally “remove” everything for an additional fee.
The role of virtual staging in real estate marketing is to enhance a property’s visuals and improve both web and foot traffic to the listing. It does this by making sure each photo is styled its absolute best. When comparing virtual staging with traditional staging, the price difference is the number one factor. Traditional (or “live”) staging can cost upwards of $5,000.00 or more each month. Digital staging is a one-time fee, and usually less than $500 total.
Key Cost Factors in Virtual Staging
Quality
When comparing the top virtual staging companies, it’s really important to visit their galleries and gauge the quality of their work. While high-end or luxury virtual staging can make a listing stand out amongst the competition; low-quality staging can really detract from a listing. There is bad virtual staging out there (I’m sure you’ve seen some!). The goal is for the virtual staging to be nearly indistinguishable from “actual” home staging. If you can’t tell the difference, than that’s good digital staging.
You’ll notice when we reach our virtual staging service comparison section that one or two of the top companies are quite a bit cheaper than their counterparts. In this sector, the least expensive is not necessarily what you want to go for. Paying a bit more per photo means your stagers have a little bit of financial breathing room to spend more time on your photos. It’s not just a “volume + production” company.
Turnaround Time
To stay competitive in a crowded marketplace, virtual staging firms have had to really bump up their turnaround times. This is great news for realtors and home sellers, as the real estate industry in so many areas is really fast-paced. The last thing you want is to be waiting around for staged photos before you can list the property.
Turnaround times range from 12 hours to 72 hours or more. Industry standard is typically around 24 hours. Keep in mind that if you request revisions to your staged photos, the clock starts again. So if you choose a company with a 72 hour turnaround, and then you need revisions (even something small), you could end up waiting an additional 72 hours. That’s a long process just for virtual staging.
Consider if these time-to-delivery restrictions are factored into the price. Does the lowest-cost staging company also have some of the slowest turnaround times? That may not be ideal in a fast-moving market. Consider paying a few bucks more for a quicker delivery. Lower stress will be worth it.
Revisions Included
If you’ve ever had virtual staging done for one of your listings before, you might know that revisions are occasionally part of the process. There’s a delicate balance between virtually staged photos that please your seller, and that will also improve sales price and time on the market. Finding this balance can require a round or two of revisions, so it’s important to verify with the staging company you choose that revisions are included in the price-per-photo. This is industry-standard with the bigger companies included in this list, but if you choose a smaller firm or an individual it’s helpful to double-check.
Customer Reviews
As with nearly every service-related industry, client feedback plays a big role. You can find detailed reviews and feedback for several of the companies we list here:
Luxury Staging Pro Trustpilot
Padstyler Trustpilot
Boxbrownie Trustpilot
Virtual Staging Solutions (no Trustpilot review page)
Virtually Staging Properties (no Trustpilot review page)
Overall, look for a rating above 4.0 or 4 stars. This indicated that most clients were really satisfied with the final product, the ordering process, the revision process and the communication.
Virtual Staging Companies and Their Costs
Now, let's discuss the different virtual staging companies and their prices.
Luxury Staging Pro
Luxury Staging Pro has been offering virtual staging since 2019, and they own the unique niche of “luxury virtual staging,” although they do stage homes at every price-point. They charge $39 USD per photo. They also advertise enterprise rates and monthly billing for larger clients. When looking at their website and associated galleries the quality appears very high with nearly every staged home over $1 MM and up to $18MM.
They also offer a user-friendly interface with easy-to-use online ordering. You can also reach an actual human by phone during standard business hours of the US West Coast (Pacific Time).
PadStyler
PadStyler currently charges $34 USD per staged image, and that includes 24 hour turnaround and free revisions, if required. Padstyler has been around for some time, and their gallery showcases mostly mid-range style homes and furniture. They have good client reviews.
BoxBrownie
BoxBrownie does the highest volume virtual staging of any of the included companies. They charge $24 USD per image. According to their reviews and their online galleries, the quality of their work is a bit inconsistent, which could make working with them more challenging. They also take 48 hours to deliver staged images, while most other companies take 12-24 hours.
Virtual Staging Solutions
Virtual Staging Solutions charges the highest of the included virtual staging companies at $75 USD per photo. Since they don’t have a Trustpilot page, you’ll have to dig deeper to find out if the extra costs are worth it for your project. Their turnaround time is 24 hours, which is great. The staged images on their gallery are also high-quality.
Virtually Staging Properties
Virtually Staging Properties charges $60 per staged photo, and has a 48 hour turnaround time. Since they don’t have reviews, it can be tough to tell what the level of client satisfaction is. Have a good look around their website, and reach out to one of their customer service reps if you have questions. Once you have a good idea of how their communication stacks up and how their image quality lines up to your vision; you’ll have a better idea of if this virtual staging company is the right one for you.
How to Choose the Right Virtual Staging Service
If you’re committed to finding the best virtual staging company for your listings, there’s no doubt that you’ll find one that’s:
- Within your budget
- Has style and design quality that you like
- Has good communication regarding your vision, and any revision needs
A great way to figure out what’s the best fit is for you and your team is to have several top companies stage the same photo. Yes, it’s a bit of a cost overrun, but you’ll end up with a handful of completely different staged images. With these, you’ll be able to tell right away which one you like best.
Conclusion
Choosing the right virtual staging company involves careful consideration of several critical factors, including quality, turnaround time, revisions, customer reviews, and cost. Quality remains paramount; high-end virtual staging can significantly enhance a property’s appeal, while subpar staging may detract from it. It's crucial to select a company whose work is almost indistinguishable from traditional home staging, ensuring the most realistic representation of the property.
Considering turnaround time is also vital, particularly in the fast-paced real estate market. While some companies offer quicker delivery, it is essential to weigh this against the potential need for revisions, which can extend the timeline. Paying slightly more for quicker turnaround can alleviate stress and expedite the listing process.
Revisions are another important aspect to consider. They ensure that the final product meets the seller's expectations while optimizing the property's market performance. Larger companies typically include revisions in the price-per-photo, but verify this with smaller firms to avoid unexpected costs.
Customer reviews offer additional insights into a company’s reliability and quality of service. Ratings above 4.0 or four stars generally indicate a satisfactory client experience, covering all aspects from the ordering process to final delivery.
Finally, cost is an important consideration, but it should not be the sole determining factor. While price differences exist among companies like Luxury Staging Pro, PadStyler, and BoxBrownie, the cheapest option may not always be the best. A balance between cost and quality often yields the best results.
Ultimately, the right virtual staging company will provide high-quality images, timely delivery, and excellent customer service. By assessing these factors, real estate professionals can make informed decisions that enhance property presentations and attract potential buyers effectively.
