Real Estate Industry Turns To New Trend For Selling Vacant Homes In Tough Market

Oct. 27, 2011 - PRLog -- Virtually Staging Properties SM http://www.virtuallystagingproperties.com, the business Krisztina and her husband, Jay, founded has been featured for its work in Realtor Magazine, The New York Times, ABC News Affiliates, Dallas Morning News, San Francisco Chronicle, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and Bay State Realtor, as home owners and real estate professionals turn to the new process of virtual staging as one the most cost-effective measures to help sell vacant homes. This new technique generates strong buyer traffic, at a fraction of the cost of traditional home staging, long recognized as one of the most effective means of marketing a property.

Virtually Staging Properties SM  uses its patent-pending process to transform vacant listing photos into professionally-designed interiors using a proprietary library of attractive real furnishings, accessories and artwork.  The resulting images are almost indistinguishable from traditionally decorated rooms, with a realism and authenticity unmatched by CAD style techniques.

For an investment of as little as $225, the seller or agent can have their “empty box” listing photos transformed into a warm and inviting on-line home. Photos can be placed at the property so that when buyers arrive, the “staged” photographs provide the needed vision and inspiration.  

“With 90 percent of buyers using the Internet to search for their next home, vacant homes are at a
distinct disadvantage,” says Jay Bell. “And 85 percent of those buyers say the photos are
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the most important factor when deciding to view a home in person. A vacant property needs to stand out among the thousands of ‘for sale’ homes listed on a real estate website for some reason other than having the lowest price,” he explains.

NEW REAL ESTATE TREND: VIRTUAL STAGING

Virtual staging ensures that buyers immediately recognize the rooms pictured, remember the property among the hundreds they preview on-line, envision themselves living in the home and, most importantly, want to go visit the property.  In accordance with sound business ethics, Virtually Staging Properties SM does not utilize its design service to hide flaws or misrepresent the subject property.  Further, the company requires its customers to inform potential buyers that the property has been virtually staged.  The service is available in packages of three to five staged photographs, with prices ranging from $225 to $325.

Agents and homeowners around the country have used Virtually Staging Properties SM  to drive buyer traffic to their vacant properties.  According to Eric, a home seller in Alexandria, Virginia, his vacant townhome had been on the market for four months with little buyer interest.  “ The original photographs appeared cold and unappealing” he explains, “The property was ideal for a young market that perhaps was not experienced enough to visualize the townhouse decorated, so we engaged with Virtually Staging Properties and found the new, staged photos to be quite realistic and the townhouse had a contract within 2 weeks!”

Catie Morales, a Top Agent with Long & Foster says “We work with investors who renovate homes and having the vacant photos of the property virtually staged really helps sell the home fast and adds to our investors' return on investment…a double positive for everybody!”.

Sue Miller, a Broker and Agent with Re/Max of Naperville (Chicago suburb) owned a condo she listed in a community where 60+ condos were already on the market.  "My condo was vacant and I had 3 virtually staged photos done by VSP, which I added to my virtual tour." She says.  "Within 5 days, the condo was under contract, beating out all others that were in the same price range!"

“While there will always be strong demand for traditional home staging, this virtual technique is an affordable solution for cash-strapped sellers who want to turn listing views into real buyer traffic,” explains Krisztina Bell. “It’s a perfect example of how new technology can help sell homes, even in today’s difficult market.”

To view a company video and before and after examples, go to http://www.virtuallystagingproperties.com or call 877-949-9797.
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Tips on hiring a virtual staging service:

•   Work with a qualified professional, as results can range from amateurish and awkward CAD style to stunningly realistic.  
•   Check credentials and before and after examples.  For best results, a virtual staging company should not only have excellent graphic design and computer skills, but extensive expertise in decorating and home staging with emphasis on staging vacant homes.
•   Keep it Ethical:  The technique is NOT meant to deceive or hide needed repairs, but to help the majority of buyers who have difficulty visualizing the size of the rooms and how furniture can fit. Virtual stagers should require the seller to disclose that the photos have been virtually staged.

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