Is There Such a Thing as Good Virtual Staging? A Guide
I saw this question posed by a real estate professional on Reddit recently: "Is there any good virtual staging out there?" As an owner and operator of a virtual staging company, I hate hearing that some folks feel as if there aren't any good options. Of course, I am biased, but the answer is an emphatic "Yes." The problem is that the market has become flooded with options of varying quality. It’s easy to run into bad providers, which has polluted the industry's reputation. My company, Stuccco, has been virtually staging properties since 2019. Based on my experience, I categorize the entire industry into three distinct "buckets." Knowing the pros, cons, and costs of each will help you avoid that dreaded cartoonish look. The "Fast Food" of Staging The Good: You get instant results for cheap. The Bad: My Verdict: AI is a decent tool if you need quick visualizations for a renovation project or for a low-priced listing where quality is not the priority. The "Factory Line" Approach The Good: These are affordable (usually $10-$20/photo). The Bad: My Verdict: These are acceptable for standard rental listings or volume flipping where "good enough" is fine. The Professional Standard These companies use professional interior designers and 3D artists. They pay attention to lighting, shadows, and reflections. The furniture looks like it actually belongs in the room, and the style syncs across multiple photos. The Trade-off: It is more expensive and takes longer than AI (12-48 hours). My Verdict: These are best for mid- to high-value listings where photo quality directly impacts the sale price, or for agents who want to protect their brand reputation. Before you buy, run their portfolio through this quick test: Full Disclosure: I run Stuccco. We focus heavily on the design aspect so it doesn't look fake or misleading. If you want to test the waters, I’d recommend looking for services that offer free revisions—that’s usually a sign they stand behind the realism of their work. Like most things, there's good and there's bad. Some people swear by virtual staging, others don't. Most who don't have been burned by AI or cheap options and assumed the whole industry operates that way. It's well-documented how helpful good staging is—physical or virtual—to buyers. It helps them understand the potential of a space. Bad virtual staging hurts, but good virtual staging sells. Don't settle for floating furniture or melting sofas.
The 3 Types of Virtual Staging Services
Bucket 1: AI Generators ($)
Bucket 2: Volume/Budget Services ($$)
Bucket 3: Design-First/High-End ($$$)
How to Spot a "Good" Company (A Checklist)
Final Thoughts
Pro Tip: If using virtual staging, definitely include the unedited photo alongside the edited photo so nobody feels misled when they arrive at the property.
Ready to see what "Good" staging looks like?
