Yes, for most empty or dated listings virtual staging is worth it, because it costs very little and affects the first thing buyers see: the photos. In the National Association of REALTORS® 2025 Profile of Home Staging, 83% of buyers’ agents said staging makes it easier for buyers to picture the property as their future home. It is less useful when the rooms already look good, or when buyers will mostly judge the home at a viewing.
What does the research say about staging?
The best public data is NAR’s 2025 Profile of Home Staging, a survey of 1,266 REALTORS®. It measures staging in general, not virtual staging specifically, so read it as evidence for what staged rooms do to buyers’ perception.
| Finding (NAR 2025) | Result |
|---|---|
| Buyers’ agents who say staging helps buyers visualise the home | 83% |
| Buyers’ agents who say staging affects most buyers’ view of the home | 26% (60% say some buyers) |
| Sellers’ agents who saw a 1%–5% higher offer on staged homes | 19% |
| Sellers’ agents who saw a 6%–10% higher offer | 10% |
| Sellers’ agents who saw a slight drop in time on market | 30% |
| Buyers’ agents who said staging had no effect on the offer | 41% |
| Most important rooms to stage | Living room (37%), main bedroom (34%), kitchen (23%) |
Two honest readings follow. Staging clearly helps buyers understand and like a space. Its effect on price is real for some homes but far from guaranteed: four in ten buyers’ agents saw no change in the offer.
Why virtual staging changes the maths
The question is rarely “does staging work?” but “is it worth what it costs?”. Physical staging had a median cost of $1,500 in the same survey, so it needs to lift the price or speed up the sale to pay back. Virtual staging costs from under $1 to about $39 a photo, so the bar is much lower.
On a £300,000 home, a 1% better offer is £3,000. Staging six photos with AI costs a few pounds; even with a human designer it is under £300. If staging nudges even a small share of buyers to book a viewing, the return is large. See the full breakdown in how much virtual staging costs.
When is virtual staging worth it?
- The property is empty. Bare rooms look smaller and colder in photos, and buyers struggle to judge scale. This is the strongest case.
- The furniture is dated or personal. Replacing a tired sofa or a child’s bedroom with neutral furniture helps more buyers see themselves there.
- The room has an unclear purpose. A box room, loft or conservatory can be shown as a home office, nursery or guest room.
- The listing is online-first. Rentals, out-of-town buyers and investors often decide from photos and video before visiting.
- You need content for social media. Staged rooms make better reels and posts than empty ones, and the same images can become a listing video.
When is it not worth it?
- The rooms are already well furnished. Light editing and good photography will do more.
- The property has a real defect. Staging must not hide damp, cracks or poor condition. Buyers who feel misled at the viewing often walk away.
- Viewings decide the sale. At an open house buyers see the empty rooms. If most of your buyers decide in person, consider physical staging for the main living space and virtual staging for the rest.
- It is overdone. Luxury furniture in a modest flat sets the wrong expectation. Match the style to the likely buyer.
How do you get the most from virtual staging?
- Stage the rooms buyers care about first: living room, main bedroom and kitchen.
- Keep the furniture to scale and leave walkways clear, so the room does not look bigger than it is.
- Show the original photo next to the staged one. It builds trust and, in California and many MLSs, it is now required. See how to label staged photos.
- Use the staged images everywhere: portal listing, social posts, a short video and the property page.
- Watch the results. Compare enquiries and viewing requests with similar listings you did not stage.
Quick answers
Does virtual staging help sell a house faster?
It can. 30% of sellers’ agents in NAR’s survey saw a slight drop in time on market with staging and 19% a significant one. Results depend on the home, its price and the market.
Do buyers mind virtually staged photos?
Buyers tend to mind when staging is hidden or misleading, not when it is labelled. Always disclose it and show the original.
Is virtual staging better than physical staging?
It is far cheaper and faster for photos and video. Physical staging is better for in-person viewings. Compare them side by side.
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