When a potential buyer walks into your home, the experience might be reminiscent of a first date arranged online. The buyer is meeting the home in person for the first time. But what if their online profile doesn’t match what they see? This question is fueling a growing debate when listing a home for sale: virtual staging vs. real staging.

There is no question that a well-presented home allows buyers to envision themselves living there, turning a simple property viewing into an emotional connection. But can your home achieve that connection with virtual staging — teasing buyers with AI-generated or digitally-altered listing photos?

This guide can help you decide what’s best for your home sale, comparing traditional and virtual staging in terms of cost, return on investment (ROI), and what buyers actually notice.

Should I stage my home to sell?

Numerous studies have shown that staged homes can sell faster and for more money. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 83% of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as their future home. Furthermore, 17% of agents reported that staging increased the dollar value offered between 1% to 5%.

In a separate HomeLight survey, top agents estimated your increase in offer price could be even higher — up to 13% — if you hire a professional staging company.

To give you an idea of what these additional proceeds might look like, we’ve applied some estimates to the following set of home prices:

The possibility of earning higher proceeds and selling sooner makes home staging an attractive option for many sellers. A top real estate agent can connect you with professional stagers and advise on the most impactful changes for your specific market. To estimate your potential sale profits, try our Seller Closing Cost and Proceeds Calculator.