Virtual staging is a really cool and surprisingly easy to learn technique. But the best part is that you don’t need to study the intricacies of light, depth of field, perspective and camera angles all at once. You can simply take it one step at a time with the help of an experienced teacher. That’s exactly what we aim to do in this article: show you how learning virtual staging is not as hard or intimidating as it seems! Frankie’s great interior design challenge is to paint a room that he wants to keep for years without ever having to make a single change.
Frankie has recently moved into a new home and she wants to add some extra value to it by staging the interior. However, she is not too confident about her ability to do this alone. That’s why she has decided to hire a virtual staging company, Virtual Staging Solutions. Anyone who knows the importance of props in real estate staging will tell you that the aesthetics of a property are largely dependent on the use of well-chosen props. It’s just like when trying on clothes: The right combination can make you look thinner or younger than your years.
Learning Virtual Staging Is Not Difficult At All! You Just Need A Great Teacher!
1. How Does Virtual Staging Work?
The first thing you need to know is that there are two sides to virtual staging: the virtual (or computer) and the physical. While props located in the physical world will be influenced by lighting, shadows and weather, props located in the virtual world will be controlled through artificial lighting and special effects. This way, props can be added or removed without changing their physical location.
2. What Are The Advantages of Virtual Staging?
Virtual staging is fast and efficient, which means it can be done without much in the way of budget or disruption. In addition, you get to bring all the neat special effects and props together for a seamless result.
3. What Type Of Equipment Do You Need?
All you need are smartphones or tablets to take photos of your property and create a mood board that shows the changes you’d like to make. The mood board will be sent out to different vendors that specialize in virtual staging services for quotations. From there on, your task is simple: choose a vendor whose style matches your own! (Ask them for samples of their work so you can see if it’s a good fit. The samples should show the general style and the effects that are popular in that particular niche.)
4. How Long Does Virtual Staging Take?
In some cases, two weeks to three months can be needed to complete virtual staging. That’s because vendors will source props for your property and digitize them by using specialized software.
5. Who Is The Ideal Candidate for Virtual Staging?
For starters, a real estate agent or a buyer requires virtual staging due to the fact that they need pictures of their properties to send out to potential buyers. Also, if you’re not familiar with interior design and styling yourself, this task might be too complicated for you alone. Before you start staging your property, it’s advisable to have a close look at the process and learn strategies that work for others. Or else, you will come up short!
6. What Types of Virtual Staging Are There?
There are three types for virtual staging: image-based staging (which uses photos in the physical world), video-based staging (which utilizes video taken in the physical world) and augmented reality or AR staging (which utilizes artificial lighting and effects from the virtual and physical worlds). The last two are going to be beneficial to many people and can be an excellent fit for those with little knowledge about interior design.
7. How Do You Know If Virtual Staging Is Working For You?
It’s going to be easier to visualize your property once you see it in person and compare it with the one that has been staged. Once you do this, you’ll be able to tell if the results are on target or if they need a second look.
If you’re not sure about something, don’t hesitate to call up the virtual staging contractor for an answer – or maybe even some help! The beauty of working with professionals is that they will be able to give you advice on how your home or office can be improved.
8. Is Virtual Staging a Good Investment?
Virtual staging is essentially an investment. It can come with a price tag that’s anywhere between $1,500 and $6,000; and the time that’s needed to complete it might get to be as long as six weeks. However, with proper care and good quality of the results, your investment will be worth it in the long run!
