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Transforming Bathroom Spaces with AI-Powered Interior Design Solutions

by Tan Tason March 3, 2025

written by Tan Tason

Interior design’s evolving at an unprecedented pace, and nowhere is this transformation more apparent than in bathroom remodeling. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has unlocked new possibilities, allowing designers to craft personalized, visually stunning spaces with remarkable precision.

From optimizing layouts to generating intricate designs and detailed blueprints, AI-powered tools are reshaping the way we approach home renovation. One area where this technology truly shines is in bathroom tile design—blending innovation with artistry to create breathtaking interiors. Let’s explore how AI is redefining bathroom remodeling and elevating design possibilities like never before.

The Importance of Walls in Bathroom Aesthetics

Walls play a pivotal role in defining a bathroom’s overall character. As a backdrop for high-quality tiles and sophisticated finishes, walls set the tone for the entire space. Modern bathroom wall tile options provide diverse textures, patterns, and colors that enhance visual appeal while offering durability in moisture-prone environments.

Striking Visuals: High-quality tile patterns create an impactful focal point that enhances the room’s aesthetic appeal.
Enhanced Durability: Innovative materials offer superior moisture resistance and longevity, which are crucial in bathroom remodeling.
Customized Designs: AI-assisted planning facilitates the precise matching of textures and colors, resulting in a cohesive and well-balanced look.

The Future of Bathroom Remodeling with AI

Today, advanced platforms offer realistic visualizations and data-driven insights that allow for the precise planning of every detail, including the optimal placement of bathroom wall tiles. By analyzing design trends and using state-of-the-art technology, these systems generate tailored proposals that harmonize layout, fixtures, and finishes.

Traditional design approaches often involve lengthy processes and uncertainty in outcomes. In contrast, AI interior design platforms streamline the planning phase by integrating machine learning and advanced imaging technologies. These tools generate personalized design proposals based on thorough spatial analysis and preset style parameters, ensuring that aesthetic and practical considerations inform every decision.

Advanced AI tools enable digital experimentation with finishes and layouts, ensuring that the final choice meets design expectations. The result is a space where each element contributes to a luxurious and efficient environment, marking a clear departure from conventional design methods.

Innovative tools at fingertips

Advanced software solutions now bring real-time visualizations to the design process, allowing users to explore multiple options in a dynamic virtual environment. With intuitive interfaces, homeowners and designers alike can effortlessly adjust layouts, experiment with color schemes, and fine-tune fixture placements with precision.

These digital renderings provide highly realistic previews, eliminating uncertainties and ensuring that every decision is well-informed before any physical changes take place. This not only streamlines the planning phase but also fosters a more creative and confident design experience.

Moreover, AI-powered interior design tools are becoming increasingly user-friendly and accessible, making high-end remodeling expertise available to a broader audience. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a homeowner with no prior design experience, these platforms simplify the process, offering smart recommendations and seamless navigation to turn ideas into reality with ease.

AI wall change: Virtual renovations for bathroom walls

One of the most transformative applications of AI in bathroom remodeling is the capability to simulate wall renovations virtually. Digital tools now offer the ability to preview how different wall finishes, tile patterns, and textures will appear once installed. This process minimizes the risks associated with traditional renovation methods by providing a realistic, interactive preview of the final result.

Virtual renovation technologies simulate the interplay of light, texture, and color, allowing designers and homeowners to assess various options without commitment. This digital experimentation inspires creativity and instils confidence in the chosen design, ensuring that every change enhances the space’s beauty and functionality.

Harmonizing design elements with AI

Achieving a balanced and cohesive design requires the integration of multiple elements, including tiles, fixtures, and lighting. AI systems analyze each component and propose combinations that elevate the overall aesthetic. By simulating natural and artificial lighting, these platforms assist in determining optimal placements and selections, ensuring that all elements work in unison to create an inviting atmosphere.

Every detail—from the subtle texture of a tile to the placement of ambient lighting—plays a significant role in the overall design. AI’s precision ensures that each component complements the others, resulting in a bathroom that’s as practical as it’s visually stunning.

Increased time- and cost-efficiency with AI

Beyond enhancing visual appeal, AI-powered design solutions offer significant cost and time savings. Digital simulations allow for accurate planning, reducing the likelihood of expensive errors and unnecessary material purchases.

Precise insights ensure that every design decision is economically and aesthetically sound, streamlining the renovation process from concept to completion.

Lowered Expenses: Digital simulations provide clear previews of design choices, reducing the potential for costly mistakes.
Accelerated Renovations: Streamlined planning processes lead to quicker project completions, facilitating faster transformations.
Optimized Resource Use: Accurate material planning minimizes waste and ensures efficient resource allocation throughout the renovation.

Integrating AI into bathroom remodeling, including the intelligent selection and placement of bathroom wall tiles, signifies a remarkable shift in the approach to home renovation. Advanced tools provide realistic visualizations and precise planning, transforming every aspect of the design process.

Premium tile selections, innovative virtual renovation techniques, and harmonized design elements converge to create functional and visually compelling spaces. Technological advances in AI reduce costs and save time while enabling a level of customization that traditional methods struggle to achieve.

March 3, 2025 0 comment

Services

What is Item Removal in Real Estate?

by Tan Tason November 14, 2024

written by Tan Tason

Item removal in real estate photography is a crucial part of the editing process. This step eliminates unnecessary and distracting objects using digital tools. There are two primary reasons for this:

It helps clients focus on what truly matters; and,
It influences the emotions clients experience when viewing the photo.

We all know that professional real estate photography can be challenging and expensive. However, if you decide not to hire a pro, you must invest time and effort into editing. Using unedited, raw photos in your listings can drive potential customers away by not meeting their needs.

Two Key Points Overlooked in Item Removal Tutorials

Fortunately, various tools and resources are available for item removal in real estate photography. From computer programs to mobile apps to AI services, you have a wide range of options. Also, numerous online tutorials can help you learn how to use these tools effectively.

However, two key points are often overlooked in item removal in real estate.

First, it’s essential to understand what defects may appear when removing distracting items, and, more importantly, how you can go about fixing them. Secondly, identifying which objects to remove is crucial to help clients see the property as a solution for their needs. Next, we will explore these two and other important points in detail when you wish to go about item removal in real estate.

Overcoming Challenges in Real Estate Photo Editing

As mentioned, many tutorials are available for teaching item removal in real estate photos. At AI HomeDesign, you can find a suitable tutorial that covers simple retouching techniques, such as noise reduction, imperfection fixing, and spot removal.

In this tutorial, we’ve explained various image retouching techniques aimed at optimizing your listings. We’ve also emphasized that the more photos you retouch, the more professional your listings will appear.

But no matter how professional you are, difficulties will come up along the way. It’s crucial to address any challenges you might face, so let’s discuss those in detail.

Let’s explore the main problems you might encounter and their solutions. If you’re in a hurry to edit your images, why not give our AI Item Removal tool a try? Don’t forget to utilize the six free credits we’ve provided in our professional AI tool.

Visible artifacts

If item removal in real estate photos isn’t done correctly, noticeable artifacts may remain, distracting viewers. To overcome this challenge, you need to master a tool often referred to as the healing brush.

To spot artifacts, zoom out or use a different monitor after editing. If you see any extra artifacts, go back and refine your edits using the healing brush or clone tool.

Maintaining consistency while removing items

Ensuring that edited areas match the surrounding texture and color can be tricky, as inconsistent edits often create noticeable spots that subtly discourage viewers. Clients inevitably judge the quality of your work based on the integrity of your property photos. When manually removing items from real estate images, it’s important to use the clone stamp tool with care to sample nearby textures.

Take your time to adjust colors and lighting, ensuring that the edited areas blend seamlessly with their surroundings. Poorly executed item removal can result in an unnatural look, distracting viewers from the property instead of enhancing the image.

To overcome this, focus on making subtle edits. If an area appears unnatural, undo the edit and adjust only a specific portion, blending it with the surrounding areas for a more organic appearance.

Precision during item removal in real estate

Achieving precision in item removal can be challenging. It’s easy to accidentally remove parts of the intended image or create unwanted artifacts around the edited area.

To enhance your precision, zoom in while editing to get a closer look. In editing tools like Adobe Photoshop, you can use feathering or soft edges to blend the removed areas seamlessly with the surrounding pixels.

Layer management

Managing layers effectively can indeed feel overwhelming, especially for those new to photo editing. If you don’t fully understand how layers work, you risk making unintentional edits that can compromise your entire project.

To streamline your layer management and enhance your workflow, it’s crucial to label each layer clearly and descriptively, indicating its purpose. Whether it’s for background elements, adjustments, or specific edits, consider color-coding layers or grouping similar layers together for even better organization.

This way, you can easily navigate through your edits, allowing you to make changes without inadvertently affecting the entire image. A well-organized layer structure not only saves time but also empowers you to experiment freely, knowing that you can revert to previous states without hassle.

Over-editing

Beware of the temptation to over-edit, as it can lead to an unnatural look. Removing too much may make your image feel flat or unrealistic. Always question whether your edit enhances the image. Step back frequently to assess the photo as a whole, and avoid the dangerous pitfalls of over-correction.

Removing too much or the wrong part of an image can cause you to lose essential visual elements that tell the property’s story. To combat this risk, always keep a backup of the original photo when you’re practicing item removal in real estate. If you accidentally remove something important, you can easily revert to the original file.

Wasted time and effort

If your initial edit doesn’t meet your standards, you’ll have to redo the work. This leads to wasted time and potential frustration. To prevent this, develop a systematic editing approach. Create a checklist of steps to follow so you know exactly what to do, helping you avoid unnecessary re-edits.

Don’t stress about the time you’ll invest in creating a checklist. Tools like checklists that enhance your self-learning process are anything but a waste of time; they actually save you time during your projects. Over time, you’ll find that your ability to create checklists improves, your skills will develop, and eventually, you might not even need to rely on them anymore.

Strategies for Item Removal in Real Estate Images

By following the tips above, you can easily tackle challenges in removing unwanted items from real estate photos. Another key challenge is figuring out which objects to remove. This is important for helping clients see the property as the perfect living space.

Start by identifying and understanding which listing you’re showing to each customer. You may want to create different edited versions of each image, removing different items in each version. Use other real estate photo editing techniques to highlight other important features of the property as well.

To do this effectively, understand the common items found in real estate photos and what each item communicates to your audience.

In the end, deciding what to keep and what to remove depends on your audience’s needs. Observe how different items impact viewers and take note of your clients’ preferences.

The importance of providing a white canvas

In capturing professional images of properties, the absence of objects can be just as important as their presence. While you can influence the audience’s emotions by strategically placing objects in an image, remember that potential buyers want to envision themselves living in a given house. Therefore, understanding your client’s aspirations is crucial before undertaking item removal in real estate photography.

One effective way to create a white canvas is to highlight the home’s flooring. Buyers are eager to see the type, condition, and quality of your hardwood floors or tiles. By keeping the space clear, clients can freely envision themselves living in their dream homes.

Do personal items play a role in real estate images?

It’s essential to remove personal belongings and clutter from communal areas of the home. Personal items only contribute to real estate images if they’re highly iconic. Items such as toothbrushes, combs, and clothes have no place in property photos. However, keeping some personal items in a box can be beneficial.

For example, displaying a table with photo frames can create a warm and inviting atmosphere for clients.

remove personal items in real estate photos

Showing pet-friendliness or risk concerning clients?

Whether to track pets during item removal in real estate photos depends on local culture and your target audience. Many people prefer to remove any signs of pets from the images. Pet footprints can raise concerns about tidiness or potential damage.

However, sometimes showcasing a pet’s presence can highlight that a property is pet-friendly.

Decide in the moment

Based on our discussion about items in property photos, it’s sometimes essential to decide on the spot whether to keep or remove each item.

For example, if you know your images will be shown during special occasions like Christmas, adding seasonal items can enhance the mood. A festive touch can indeed complement a white canvas.

However, avoid keeping these decorations in photos outside of relevant seasons. If a listing remains on the market for an extended period, your images may become outdated as seasons change.

Final Thoughts

In this article, we’ve shared everything you need to know about item removal in real estate photos and how to implement it effortlessly.

With the guidance provided, you’ll find that no technical challenge is beyond your reach. With a bit of practice, you can easily master the art of object removal using editing software like Photoshop and confidently tackle larger items.

Moreover, when you understand your customers’ needs clearly, deciding which items to keep or remove will feel like a breeze!

If you still feel you’re not quite ready yet, you can also transform your photos by easily removing unwanted objects and distractions with our amazing AI Item Removal tool. Our advanced AI technology swiftly identifies and eliminates clutter, leaving you with clean, focused, and visually stunning images!

FAQs

What are the common mistakes made during item removal?

Common mistakes include leaving artifacts and inconsistent textures, resulting in unnatural photos. Use the healing brush and clone stamp carefully for seamless edits.

What should I consider when deciding which items to remove from photos?

Consider your audience’s preferences and the desired emotions. Identify the listing, create different versions, and understand which items impact potential buyers to ensure the space feels inviting.

November 14, 2024 0 comment

Services

The Great Home Makeover: AI Home Design vs. Virtual Staging AI—Which One Sparks Joy?

by Dario Rinaldi November 10, 2024

written by Dario Rinaldi

Gone are the days when virtual staging was seen as a gimmick that might deter buyers. With rising physical staging costs and major breakthroughs in virtual staging, more agents are embracing this powerful technology.

About a decade ago, virtual staging emerged as a faster, more affordable alternative to physical staging, though some agents were hesitant to switch. Now, thanks to AI integration, virtual staging is so efficient that agents no longer debate whether to use it—only which service to choose.

This blog aims to answer that very question and will pit Virtual Staging AI vs. AI HomeDesign to help you decide.

Virtual Staging AI vs. AI HomeDesign

So… Virtual Staging AI vs. AI HomeDesign: Both companies are real estate photo editing service providers that help real estate agents with various visual marketing and property listing needs. For this purpose, they both leverage the power of AI and thus, have much in common.

However, among all the commonalities, there are notable differences in pricing models, user interface, additional features, and complementary services that set them apart.

To begin with, let’s see how user-friendly each platform is.

Ease of use: AI virtual staging in action

Using both platforms is quite straightforward: The user uploads a photo, selects the room type, chooses a design style, and clicks ‘generate’ or ‘process photo.’

However, with AI HomeDesign, you need to create an account before using the service. In contrast, Virtual Staging AI allows you to generate photos without signing up, though an account is required if you wish to download the image without a watermark or unlock certain features.

Both services offer you a free trial. When using free credits on AI HomeDesign, users are free to fully explore all services, including AI virtual staging, and try out all available room types and design styles.

However, with Virtual Staging AI, free stagings are restricted to bedrooms and living rooms, as other room types are locked. So, if a user wants to see how Virtual Staging AI handles a home office or kids’ room, they’ve no other option but to purchase a plan first.

Turnaround: How much time do they take?

Virtual staging done by humans takes 1-2 hours per photo, but, thanks to the head-spinning power of AI, these two platforms do the job in less than 30 seconds! Yep, that’s about two sips of coffee or a few stretches behind the desk.

Not only that, they both generate not just one but three different results for every virtual staging request. So, as far as turnaround time is concerned, the two platforms are equally matched and highly reliable in delivering rapid results.

Pricing: Considering the necessary budget

Considering Virtual Staging AI vs. AI HomeDesign in terms of service prices, both platforms offer monthly and yearly subscription plans with the latter being more affordable.

Virtual Staging AI offers four different pricing plans from which the users can choose depending on their needs. These plans include:

Basic;
Standard;
Professional; and,
Enterprise.

Similarly, AI HomeDesign has four different pricing plans which are:

Standard;
Pro;
Pro Plus; and,
Enterprise.

Nevertheless, the difference in pricing becomes quite distinct when you consider the costs for each single virtually staged photo:

To stage one room using AI HomeDesign, one has to pay something around $0.24 – $2.50 depending on the chosen plan. Staging the very same room with Virtual Staging AI, however, will cost you anywhere around $0.46 – $4.17. That’s double the price offered by AI HomeDesign.

So, for active users like real estate agents who’ll be generating hundreds of photos in a year–including different rooms using various staging styles and from different angles–there is a tangible difference in choosing AI HomeDesign as the more affordable option. When talking budget-wise about Virtual Staging AI vs. AI HomeDesign, the latter offers a more cost-effective solution.

Consider both companies’ pricing plans below for yourself.

AI HomeDesign’s pricing plan vs Virtual Staging AI’s pricing plan

Styles and room types

Regarding room types, AI HomeDesign’s virtual staging gives you complete control over staging:

living rooms;
dining rooms;
single bedrooms;
double bedrooms;
home offices;
foyers; and,
outdoor spaces.

Virtual Staging AI will allow users to stage:

living rooms;
dining rooms;
bedrooms;
bathrooms;
kitchens;
home offices;
kids’ rooms; and,
outdoor spaces.

Though staging kitchens and bathrooms are additional options in Virtual Staging AI, it’s important to note that, when listing a property, most agents typically tend to declutter rather than stage the bathrooms and kitchens. Contrary to living rooms and bedrooms, house buyers usually prefer to perceive the spaciousness of these two areas rather than their being filled with items.

As for staging kids’ rooms, AI HomeDesign offers that under the “AI Interior Design” section. So, except for the slight variation in how certain areas are categorized, there isn’t much difference between the two platforms regarding space types.

As for design styles, AI HomeDesign offers the following:

Modern;
contemporary;
Scandinavian;
industrial;
farmhouse;
Hampton; and,
traditional.

Virtual staging AI claims–quite boldly, shall we say–to offer “+50 styles” but when you actually want to use their service, the design styles available are:

standard;
modern;
Scandinavian;
industrial;
midcentury;
luxury;
costal; and,
farmhouse.

So, when it comes to staging styles regarding Virtual Staging AI vs. AI HomeDesign, both platforms share four styles, with each offering a few unique ones: Standard, midcentury, luxury, and coastal for Virtual Staging AI, and contemporary, traditional, and Hampton for AI HomeDesign.

Photo quality: How well do they fare?

Another key consideration for agents is how well each tool furnishes a space. To assess this, we staged a few rooms using both platforms to see if the results met the expectations. To avoid any bias, we used Virtual Staging AI’s gallery to find the original photos, which include a variety of staged and unstaged rooms.

To compare the output image quality of Virtual Staging AI vs. AI HomeDesign, we selected three room types: A living room, a bedroom, and a dining room. We then staged them using AI HomeDesign and Virtual Staging AI.

Scroll below to see the results.

living room

One of the main concerns real estate agents have when using AI virtual staging tools is ensuring the dimensions are accurate. As shown here, both AI HomeDesign and Virtual Staging AI demonstrate a good understanding of room dimensions and select appropriately sized furniture.

Additionally, in both cases, no extra fixtures were added nor the available ones were removed. Moreover, the view beyond the windows remained unchanged.

The only issue with the photo generated by Virtual Staging AI is that the carpet pattern appears on the lounge chair to the left.

bedroom

Next is a bedroom designed once by Virtual Staging AI and again by AI Homedesign. Coming up with favorable results, both tools have done a good job of staging this space as well. Nightstands, dressers, rugs, and the artwork are all in the right place, contributing to a nice charming decor.

dining room

Down below is a dining room staged in a traditional style using both platforms.

AI HomeDesign’s virtual staging service managed to come up with another satisfactory image. The image produced by Virtual Staging AI, though, has a few minor issues. For example, the number of chairs placed on either side of the table is not equal, and one on the right seems to be missing a backrest.

In such cases, generating a few more samples might resolve the problem, but when dealing with low-quality photos, rooms with unusual layouts, or a persisting generation error, human intervention could be the solution.

In such cases, you can easily rely on AI HomeDesign’s Human Virtual Staging service, which takes a little more time but is bound to deliver %100, perfectly accurate results.

Complementary services: What else is in the box?

Agents and other real estate players take and stage property photos to use on online multiple listing services (MLS), where house hunters search for homes. The intention behind standard AI virtual staging services, thus, is to create MLS-ready photos in one click.

However, a perfect virtual staging platform is one that also helps agents with other tasks such as:

In some of the examples provided above, removing one item or replacing it with another would add to the overall look and charm of the place. That’s why, apart from virtual staging, AI HomeDesign offers the following complementary services to ensure that agents have everything they need.

In contrast, the only other service offered by Virtual Staging AI is furniture removal.

AI Photo Editing Toolbox: Which One Offers a More Complete Package?

While Virtual Staging AI does a good job of furnishing empty spaces, compared to AI HomeDesign, it lags behind in certain aspects. As we just mentioned, Virtual Staging AI doesn’t offer other necessary services such as AI day-to-dusk, AI photo enhancement, or furniture restyle. What’s missing most in Virtual Staging AI is item-by-item item removal, which is an essential feature for creating MLS-ready photos.

What’s more, in cases where photos originally have low quality or certain items in a photo are misplaced, Virtual Staging AI can’t be of much use to agents. AI HomeDesign, however, has a team of professional virtual stagers available to help agents with those pesky, persistent errors or modifications where automated tools fall short.

Lastly, AI HomeDesign is much more affordable, and this goes beyond the $0.22 price difference of a single photo. For large-scale projects, where agents or photographers need to edit hundreds of photos and the costs can painfully add up, using AI HomeDesign’s virtual staging service will make a dramatic difference.

Imagine an agent using AI HomeDesign to enhance the quality of a photo, stage a space, remove a few items, and finally restyle the furniture all within the same image. Technically, they’d be using four different services, but in practice, they’ll only pay for one.

The reason is that, unlike Virtual Staging AI and similar tools, AI HomeDesign charges per photo, not per service. So, no matter how many services the user applies to a single photo, they’ll only use one single credit and nothing more! Now that’s a sweet deal you can’t pass…

Virtual Staging AI vs. AI Homedesign: Which Is It Then?

Perfect AI virtual staging requires using the perfect service provider that has a rich database and is well-trained for all room types and design styles. Moreover, such a tool must have complementary features that are very often needed when virtually staging a space. Finally, a reliable AI service provider must have a robust support system; a group of professionals who could assist agents with staging unique spaces or poorly captured photos.

While Virtual Staging AI seems to meet the first criteria, it falls short in the second and third. It lacks the complementary features needed for fine-tuning images and doesn’t offer the professional support required for more complex projects or low-quality photos.

FAQs

Is virtual staging expensive?

Virtual staging is generally more affordable than traditional staging. Costs vary depending on the service provider and the number of rooms staged, but platforms like AI HomeDesign offer single photos for as low as $0.24. This makes virtual staging an economical choice, especially for agents who need to stage multiple properties quickly.

What is virtual staging in real estate?

Virtual staging is a technology-driven method of digitally furnishing empty rooms to help buyers visualize the potential of a space. Using AI, virtual staging platforms can add realistic furniture, decor, and other elements to photos of empty rooms, making them more appealing for online listings and enabling buyers to see how the space might look furnished.

Can we use Canva for virtual staging?

While Canva can be used for basic graphic design, it lacks the specialized tools and AI technology needed for effective virtual staging. Dedicated virtual staging platforms like AI HomeDesign offer advanced features like room-specific furnishings, multiple design styles, and realistic renderings tailored specifically for the real estate industry and property listings.

What other services does AI HomeDesign offer?

Apart from AI virtual staging, AI item removal, AI photo enhancement, and AI day-to-dusk, AI HomeDesign offers:

AI interior design;
AI furniture restyle;
AI floor change;
AI wall change;
AI ceiling change;
AI backsplash change; and,
AI under-construction (showing the final look of an under-construction site).

Which businesses can benefit from AI HomeDesign’s services?

Real estate agents, real estate photographers, brokers, platforms for short-term rentals, interior designers, real estate associations, and construction companies will find our services helpful to their business.

November 10, 2024 0 comment

Box Brownie virtual staging vs. AI HomeDesign

Services

Staging Showdown: AI HomeDesign vs. BoxBrownie-A Deep Dive into Virtual Home Transformation

by Tan Tason October 20, 2024

written by Tan Tason

Virtual staging is gaining more popularity among real estate agents for its cost-effectiveness, quick turnaround time, and ability to showcase properties in a visually appealing way.

The technique indeed has its pros and cons, which we’ve discussed earlier in our comparison of virtual staging vs. physical staging. In this blog, we’re pitting two virtual staging heavyweights against one another. To this end, we’ll compare BoxBrownie virtual staging vs. AI HomeDesign’s similar service to see which you should choose for your next listing.

BoxBrownie vs. AI HomeDesign

BoxBrownie is regarded as one of the most experienced real estate photo editing companies in the world. This Australia-based real estate photo editing company was established back in 2014, and, since then, it has been providing real estate agents with top-notch real estate photo editing services.

AI HomeDesign, on the other hand, is a relatively young real estate photo editing company founded in Vancouver, BC, in 2023. Impressively, however, within only a year, AI HomeDesign has managed to establish itself as a competitive player in the industry, providing fast and affordable photo editing services to real estate professionals.

The primary distinction between the two companies lies in their approach to real estate photo editing. While the former relies heavily on human photo editors, the latter employs state-of-the-art technology to provide those services. As a result, when comparing BoxBrownie virtual staging vs. AI HomeDesign’s AI virtual staging, notable differences emerge in areas such as turnaround time, pricing, service variety and creativity, and quality.

The process: How do the two services work?

Let us begin by looking at how these platforms operate. As expected, they both require users to sign up before placing an order. Similarly, both platforms offer some free generations to those who do so.

The main difference regarding this free trial, however, is that BoxBrownie’s free generations can only be used for Day-to-Dusk and Image Enhancement services, whereas AI HomeDesign doesn’t restrict users regarding how they should use their free credits.

Additionally, BoxBrownie demands users to provide extra details such as their phone number, company name, country, industry, and how they found the platform. Unlike BB, AI HomeDesign doesn’t require such extra information, making the process a tad smoother.

Design styles: Comparing the aesthetics

Offering a variety of design styles in real estate photo editing provides agents with the flexibility to tailor property visuals to both the architecture and the preferences of their target audience.

For instance, an old house in a rural area might be better showcased with a traditional farmhouse design, appealing to potential buyers seeking such visuals.

BoxBrownie: BB offers virtual staging with nine design styles, namely:

Modern
Mid-Century Modern
Contemporary
Industrial
Scandinavian
Farmhouse
Hampton
Traditional, and
Commercial

The commercial style is of two types: Office, and Non-Office. As you would expect, this style is more suitable for commercial real estate.

AI HomeDesign: In comparison, AI HomeDesign offers seven design styles that agents can try for their listings. They are:

Modern
Contemporary
Scandinavian
Industrial
Farmhouse
Hampton, and
Traditional

AI HomeDesign shares nearly all the design styles provided by BoxBrownie, with the exception of Mid-Century Modern, which is quite similar to the Modern style, and Commercial.

Turnaround time: What’s the wait for each company?

BoxBrownie: Regarding turnaround time, BoxBrownie’s service relies on human digital stagers. Thus, it requires 48 hours to deliver results. If clients wish to make changes in their virtually staged photos, they have a 2-month window to demand modifications free of charge. Such changes, too, will take time. So, if speed is what you’re looking for, well, BoxBrownie can make things challenging.

AI HomeDesign: On the contrary, each time you use AI HomeDesign’s virtual staging service, you will get 3 virtually staged photos of the same room in under 30 seconds! What’s more, if you’re in any way not happy with the results, you can endlessly regenerate that same photo for free until you’re satisfied. Users can also remove an item or replace it with another one the very moment they receive their results.

Verdict: So, while one agent might be still busy filling out the sign-up form on BoxBrownie and then waiting 48 hours for their photos, their colleague could be staging a complete house and have the final images ready in no time using AI HomeDesign.

Pricing: How much does each virtual staging service cost?

One of the main reasons why many agents are shifting to virtual staging is the high costs of physical staging which can quite easily pass $2,000.

BoxBrownie: Staging a single photo by BoxBrownie costs $24. So, To virtually stage a small apartment with a bedroom, living room, dining room, and guest room–four spaces in total–BoxBrownie will charge you $92.

AI HomeDesign: AI HomeDesign offers four different pricing plans on monthly and yearly subscriptions. The cost of virtual staging depends on the type of subscription and the plan selected. With a monthly Standard Plan, for example, you can stage 10 rooms for $25! With a yearly Enterprise Plan, though, you can stage 200 photos for only $45; that’s $0.24 per photo!

Here’s a look at AI HomeDesign’s pricing plans.

Verdict: Now, think of the four spaces you wanted to give to BoxBrwonie. Staging those same four rooms with AI HomeDesign would cost $0.92 to $10.

Also, it’s important to note that staging a room with BoxBrownie will give you a single result for every single room. In contrast, with AI HomeDesign, users can explore all seven styles for the same room using just one credit!

Quality of service: Which service has more appeal?

What about the quality of BoxBrownie’s virtual staging vs. AI HomeDesign’s? Do these companies provide similar results, or does one offer more realistic and customizable staging options than the other?

You can find a dozen samples in BoxBrownie’s virtual staging gallery showcasing various spaces such as:

Bedrooms
Livingrooms
Dining rooms
Kitchens
Patios
Offices, and
Gyms

At the moment, AI HomeDesign doesn’t offer virtual staging for kitchens and gyms. As for BoxBrownie, it doesn’t provide staging for foyers.

Therefore, to make a suitable comparison, we first randomly selected a bedroom, living room, dining room, patio, and home office that had been staged by BoxBrownie’s professionals. Then, we had AI HomeDesign stage them again to compare the results. Read on to see the results.

bedrooms

The photo below shows an empty bedroom. Below this photo, you can see two furnished versions of it. One was staged by BoxBrownie, and the other was furnished by AI HomeDesign.

The view outside the window remains consistent in both photos, and the structure and fixtures are untouched. When it comes to the style, though, we’ll leave that judgment to you!

It’s worth mentioning that for bedroom staging, AI HomeDesign provides options for single and double bedrooms. If the bed appears too large or too small for your room, you can simply adjust the bedroom type to achieve the right fit

living room

Here’s a living room, first staged by BoxBrownie and then staged by AI HomeDesign. Both variations are fairly neat and realistic.

BoxBrownie’s version has left the original furniture intact. While that’s a good point, this piece doesn’t go well with the other items!

AI HomeDesign, however, has taken the liberty of removing the old furniture. This undertaking ensures that the resulting item set sports a completely consistent and precise style.

dining room

Next, we compared two furnished dining rooms. As you can see, in BoxBrownie’s final result, the furniture looks somewhat artificial, especially considering the two chairs to the left. The dining room furnished by AI HomeDesign, however, is more realistic and blends perfectly well with the space.

patio

And down below’s a patio staged in two distinct styles. In both versions, the color harmony between the furniture and its surroundings is evident, and both virtual staging platforms do a good job for putting items in place regarding patios.

home office

Finally, let’s take a look at the staging of the following home office and see how the two versions stack up.

One of the most crucial MLS specifications for property listing is that no fixture should be added or removed during virtual staging. This is to ensure that the original structural elements of the property remain unchanged in the images to avoid misleading customers and, in turn, steer clear of legal consequences.

AI HomeDesign’s AI-based virtual staging has suitably adhered to this principle without adding or removing any fixtures. In BoxBrownie’s version, though, we see two pendant lights added to the ceiling!

As you can see, AI HomeDesign’s virtual staging delivers results comparable to those of BoxBrownie’s professionals. We can go so far to claim that a cursory look at these photos can show that AI HomeDesign is even superior when it comes to photo quality and attention to detail.

BoxBrownie Virtual Staging vs. AI HomeDesign: Which One to Choose?

Weighing all aspects, it’s evident that AI HomeDesign leads BoxBrownie in virtual staging. Within a year, this AI-powered platform has crafted a model that can stage any space in seven different styles, all with impressive quality and precision.

While BoxBrownie takes 48 hours to stage a single room, AI HomeDesign does that in less than 30 seconds! What’s more, regenerating further editions of the same photo is free of charge. In terms of costs, AI HomeDesign has far more affordable pricing plans than BoxBrownie.

Our AI model is updated every other month, and with each update, it becomes more accurate and versatile, delivering even more realistic and tailored staging results to meet the needs of our users.

New users might notice that some generated photos don’t align with their expectations, most often due to not following the requirements concerning original photos. To ensure the best results, be sure to review our photo guide. Plus, since regenerations are free, feel free to experiment with different design styles to achieve the most desirable impressions.

FAQs

Does AI HomeDesign offer human virtual staging?

AI HomeDesign employs AI technology to perform virtual staging. But it also has a professional team of human virtual stagers who can handle more intricate customization requests. The aim is to provide a personal touch and ensure that each staged room meets the clients’ specific visions.

What makes AI HomeDesign a better choice than BoxBrownie?

Fast and listing-ready results, lower pricing, and a continuously improving database that adapts to market trends and user feedback, ensuring high-quality and up-to-date staging options for every property.

October 20, 2024 0 comment

Services

Top 10 Virtual Staging Software for Real Estate Photo Editing

by Dario Rinaldi September 17, 2024

written by Dario Rinaldi

As a real estate agent, chances are that you have already found yourself in need of photo editing software to furnish a few rooms so that they look better on property listings. Just Google a phrase like “virtual staging software,” and you’ll find numerous tools. However, while giving you many choices, the abundance of such tools makes it difficult to pick the right one, especially if you are new to the field.

That’s why we have prepared the ultimate list of the top 10 virtual staging tools that you should stick somewhere in plain sight so that the next time a property comes across your desk, you don’t find yourself scratching your head.

Let’s start by putting these software next to one another and take a look at their main features and pricing.

AI HomeDesign

If you want an easy-to-navigate virtual staging software that can stage any room in any style and comes with fair pricing, AI HomeDesign is the tool you’re looking for. Virtual staging with AI HomeDesign means:

No manipulation of house fixtures;
Multiple designs for all room types;
Rendering done in under 30 seconds; and,
Only $0.24 per photo!

Each rendering generates three furnishings so that the user can explore different design options. Plus, regenerations are free and unlimited! If you’re not satisfied, push the AI as many times as you want to get the photo you’re looking for.

But that’s not all!

A perfect virtual staging software must have other features that you might need when preparing your photos for listing. Such features include item removal, photo enhancement, day-to-dusk, etc. If you virtually stage one room with AI HomeDesign, you can apply all the following changes to the same photo for free:

Apart from real estate agents, interior designers, architects, and builders will find our tool useful for their projects. AI HomeDesign has a whole different set of features that enable one to:

See a house/room with different wall types;
Change the floor of a room;
Experiment with different ceilings;
Change the backsplash; and,
See the final look of an under-construction building.

Last but not least, AI HomeDesign has a team of professional virtual stagers that you can rely on for staging unusual spaces, uniquely shaped rooms, or those luxury properties that just need that little extra oomph!

Virtual Staging Ai

Virtual Staging AI is a user-friendly virtual staging software that instantly furnishes vacant spaces. You can test this tool by staging a bedroom or living room for free, but you need to purchase a plan to see how it stages other room types. Like AI HomeDesign, it provides three different furnishings in a single render. You can also use Virtual Staging Ai to declutter your spaces.

REimagineHome

Another virtual staging tool that has proven reliable is REimagineHome. The quality is outstanding, but with each rendering, you get only one furnishing.

However, there are two minor issues with REimagine. First, it does not stage outdoor areas such as patios or decks. That can potentially leave your listing visuals wanting more. Second, it occasionally changes the color of the walls or removes appliances, which, if not called for, can be rather frustrating. But, overall, if your photo is well-lit, you can achieve excellent results with just three or four renders.

Room Planner

Room Planner is available for iPhone, Android, Mac, and Windows. On their website, you can learn a great deal about the tool and its different applications but to test it, you must purchase the app and install it on your device. A free trial of just a few photos certainly wouldn’t go amiss.

With Room Planner you can:

Design floor plans;
Furnish vacant spaces;
Create 360 panorama;
Create 3D walkthroughs;
Arrange furniture; and,
Restyle your place.

Overall, Room Planner does a good job of furnishing empty rooms but the fact that there is no free trial may deter certain users from trying it out while alternatives exist!

Apply Design

Apply Design has certain features that distinguish it from other virtual staging tools in our list. Regarding room types, like some of the other tools in our list, it can stage all types of rooms. However, what astonishes the user is the variety of styles that Apply Design offers!

Depending on the room type you choose, Apply Design presents you with a dozen styles that you may have never heard of! To give you a glimpse, here are some of the living room styles:

Clybourn
Maxwell
Nova
Theo
Lydia
Hedda

With this virtual staging software, the same kind of design variety can be found for other room types as well. Another thing you might find interesting about Apply Design is its “Preferences” feature that enables one to decide on the inclusion/exclusion of certain elements such as curtains, tabletops, plants, or TVs. These two features provide users with greater flexibility, allowing for more customized and refined designs.

While it’s commendable that Apply Design considers so much customization and freedom for users, there are two significant drawbacks to consider.

First, the cost is quite high: $10 bucks per photo! This rate is definitely not affordable for everyone, especially if you’re dealing with more than a few properties at a time. Secondly, the app takes 9 to 15 minutes (sometimes much longer) to render a single image. When factoring in the time required to select styles and additional features, a real estate agent may have to spend several hours preparing photos for just one listing!

Stager AI

Stager AI offers two types of virtual staging. The Auto-Staging option, as the name implies, doesn’t require much from the users. All they need to do is upload a photo of the space and select the style. The rest is done by the system.

The Add Element option allows the user to choose the layout and add the furniture items one by one. You can also mask separate items and remove or replace them with other objects. Other services you might find useful on Stager AI include:

Floor Replacer;
Wall Painter;
Lawn Replacement; and,
Sky Replacement.

Overall, Stager AI is a good virtual staging software but, after a few try-outs, we can say that its Add Element feature doesn’t seem to function very well; it sometimes fails to place the items in the selected spots.

VisualStager

While certain virtual staging tools are merely copying other ones, VisualStager is among the very few that have developed unique features toward greater user freedom.

Instead of immediately furnishing the space, VisualStager enables the user to adjust the lines, calibrate the brightness, select the lighting source and direction, and then stage the place.

This software has its weaknesses, too. In addition to rather steep prices and charging an additional amount for removing the watermark on the rendered photos – which is a real metaphorical punch to the gut – VisualStager has been criticized for having a rather disorganized furniture catalog. Also, furniture items on VisualStager look a bit too unrealistic.

RoomGPT

Sign in to RoomGPT with your Google account, and it will give you three credits, meaning you can stage three rooms for free. You can design all types of rooms, and for that matter, in the most common design styles. It takes a minute or so for the app to furnish your place, so time-wise, RoomGPT does a good job.

One thing that you should remember about RoomGPT is that it sometimes makes drastic changes in the structure of the place, especially if the photo is of low quality. With high-resolution photos, users usually get satisfactory results.

The tools introduced above allow one to stage various spaces. The two software in the following, namely HomeStyler and Foyr, help users learn to sketch floor plans and then furnish them in a digital space. Thus, these two virtual staging software offer a different type of experience that, unlike real estate agents, interior designers and architects are more interested in.

HomeStyler

Though virtual staging is not the main service provided by HomeStyler, it does offer some features for creating and visualizing staged spaces within its broader suite of design tools. As a matter of fact, HomeStyler has several design features that help one plan and refine interior layouts, experiment with different furniture arrangements, and visualize decor choices in a realistic 3D environment.

Using HomeStyler, an interior designer responsible for designing a newly-built apartment, for example, could create a 3D model of the place and try various designs on it to come up with the most functional one.

Similarly, architects can use HomeStyler to draft detailed floor plans and visualize how different architectural elements and materials will look in a space. This helps them refine their designs, present ideas to clients more effectively, and make informed decisions about structural and aesthetic changes.

Foyr

Like HomeStyler, Foyr equips users with a bunch of design tools that allow individuals to simulate a 3D model of any space and create the best design possible. The Foyr Neo feature helps you create floor plans and organize design elements easily. Unlike tools such as AutoCAD and CAM, Foyr Neo has a simple interface and requires no previous knowledge.

Please keep in mind that, with large projects that have multiple floors, Foyr may not give you the best result. Some also argue that it does not integrate well with other CAD packages! But as long as you’re concerned with designing ordinary average-sized spaces, it might work just fine!

Now’s High Time You Used Virtual Staging!

When searching for virtual staging software, you’ll encounter numerous tools, each offering a variety of features. Depending on your use, one tool may prove more beneficial than others. For instance, a real estate agent might find AI HomeDesign or Virtual Staging Ai particularly useful, as these options require minimal effort and save time.

On the other hand, an interior designer may prefer HomeStyler or Room Planner, as these tools cater to their specific needs. It all boils down to your needs, budget, and goals, as well as the features offered by different virtual staging software. Consult this product review whenever you’re stuck between several choices.

FAQs

How can I do virtual staging myself?

Virtual staging is a complicated technique that needs some training and lots of practice. If you don’t want to use automated tools, like the ones in our list, you have to take some training courses or watch quite a few tutorials before creating your first project. The thing is, virtual staging, especially if based on artificial intelligence, costs very little, so if you’re not looking to become a virtual stager, you’d be better off using time-tested virtual staging services.

What is the best software for learning virtual staging?

There are quite a few photo editing software that can put you on the right track but the most reliable ones are Adobe Photoshop, Luminar Neo, and Blender.

September 17, 2024 0 comment

Services

Why Virtual Staging is a Game-Changer for Real Estate Agents

by Tan Tason August 4, 2024

written by Tan Tason

Why Stage Your Home Before Selling It?

A house must look appealing to attract buyers. It must be neatly furnished so that buyers can visualize themselves living in the place. But physically staging your home presents a few challenges. For one thing, it’s costly (at least a few thousand dollars). For another, it’s time-consuming (3-7 days). And more importantly, it involves lots of comings and goings. How can you circumvent these problems and yet utilize the benefits of staging?

“Virtual Staging.” A technology-reliant practice that enables one to furnish any space in a digital environment. Today we will review some of the benefits of virtual staging for real estate agents that give them the edge in their sales and marketing efforts!

The Benefits of Virtual Staging

Virtual staging saves agents’ time and money

As a real estate agent, you’d probably agree that listing a property tomorrow rather than today means that the sale of your property might be delayed 10 or more days!

New virtual staging methods are done in seconds! This means that if an agent signs a contract with a seller in the morning, he can list it in less than two hours. The agent just has to take a few good shots from the property and then stage the rooms using a reliable AI staging tool.

How long does it take? 30 seconds per photo! How much does it cost? $0.24 per photo! Compare that with days of waiting and two or three thousand dollars including the monthly rental fee of staging companies!

Virtual staging generates more interest

Showcasing a property in its furnished version can draw more attention on online listings as it enables the buyer to connect with the place more meaningfully.

They can see themselves relaxing in the chair, cooking in the kitchen, or reading next to the warm fireplace!

This kind of connection piques the interest of buyers, triggering a desire in them to visit the place and take a closer look.

Virtual staging shows the property’s versatility

While most buyers prefer to see the bare bones of the property, to make sure there are no hidden damages, they want to know how it will feel when the rooms are furnished. Virtual staging will help them appreciate the potential of the place, while at the same time, they can examine all corners for cracks, holes, or stains!

Virtual staging enables you to customize the space

Another benefit of virtual staging is that it’s highly customizable. Suppose buyers don’t find your listing interesting. You can’t do much if your place is physically staged. With virtual staging service, however, you can go for a new design style, change the furniture set, or play with colors.

If a new type of sofa becomes trendy or a new brand of coffee table gains sudden popularity, you can include them in your staging in no time. Then you can replace the previous photos with the new ones to see the effect.

Virtual staging is safe

This is one of the benefits of virtual staging that many miss. When there is furniture in your place, you constantly have to worry as visitors might damage some of the items unintentionally! At other times, when you hire a staging company, you’d have to worry about people damaging themselves when moving around those items. You don’t have these with virtual staging as everything happens in a digital space.

How to Do Virtual Staging on AI HomeDesign

If you haven’t yet tried virtual staging, you might want to try it on AI HomeDesign as it is currently the most budget-friendly tool for AI virtual staging. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1: Choose your service

AI HomeDesign offers a bunch of photo editing services including real estate virtual staging, item removal, photo enhancement, day-to-dusk, interior design, and much more. You can see the term “virtual staging” next to the logo.

Step 2: Upload a photo

Remember. For the best effect, there should be no furniture in the photo. If there are any, you can first use our item removal service and then upload the photo.

Step 3: Select the room type

When the photo is uploaded, our system asks you to select the room type. Just let our system know you want to stage a living room, a bedroom, a dining home, or a home office.

Step 4: Select your preferred style

Next, you should select the design style for your space. The styles that AI HomeDesign currently offers are; Modern, Contemporary, Scandinavian, Industrial, Farmhouse, Hampton, and Traditional.

Step 5: Wait for 30 seconds

It’s almost done! You just need to wait for 30 seconds for your room to be staged. Our system will give three samples to choose from. Remember, if you don’t like the result for any reason, you can generate more results for free. So, with one credit, you can try all room types and styles!

Final Considerations

AI virtual staging works best with standard-size places. In rare cases, you might want to stage an awkward space with irregular angles. In such cases, you can use our human virtual staging. Our expert virtual stagers will stage your space according to your specific demands. You will get your order back within 8-24 hours.

FAQs

How much does it cost to virtually stage an entire house/apartment?

Depends on the number of rooms in your place. With AI HomeDesign, you can stage a single room for $0.24! So, even if there are 10 rooms in your home, you can stage all of them for around $24.

Is virtual staging legal?

Virtual staging is legal as long as the tool you’re using doesn’t manipulate the house fixtures. Any virtual staging manipulating fixtures should be avoided. Also, when listing the property, you should mention that the photos are virtually staged.

August 4, 2024 0 comment

Services

Transform Your Space: 31 Before and After Virtual Staging Examples

by Tan Tason July 31, 2024

written by Tan Tason

Virtual staging has become a game-changer in real estate marketing, offering a cost-effective and efficient way to showcase properties at their full potential. By digitally furnishing and decorating empty or outdated spaces, virtual staging helps buyers visualize the possibilities. In this blog, we present 31 striking before and after virtual staging examples that highlight the transformative power of this technology.

Try Virtual Staging for Free!

July 31, 2024 0 comment

Services

Virtual Twilight: The Secret Weapon to Boost Your Real Estate Listing

by Dario Rinaldi July 22, 2024

written by Dario Rinaldi

Virtual Twilight: The First Hook on Your Listing

If you ask house hunters to list the things they consider important when visiting real estate listings, you’ll notice that the area surrounding the house is among their top priorities. That is to say; it matters to them how the property looks from the outside. Sadly, this is usually underestimated or, simply ignored, by many agents. Checking any real estate listing, you’ll notice lots of listed properties with uninviting photos of poorly maintained exteriors, cluttered yards, or messy streetscapes. One way to compensate for the mess around the house is to apply the so-called virtual twilight effect, which we will discuss today.

What Is the Virtual Twilight Effect?

As the name suggests, virtual twilight is a photo editing technique that recreates twilight’s atmospheric effect, adding a dreamy soft glow to the image. Such an effect evokes viewers’ emotions to your benefit making them want to see the property and take a closer look.

Before proceeding any further, we should mention that adding virtual twilight to your real estate photos is a legal practice as it doesn’t manipulate the property’s physical structure or features. No buyer can complain that the sky over your property doesn’t look the same as in the photo for that is something out of your control! With that being said, let’s take a look at the advantages of virtual twilight for real estate listings.

Conceals the mess around the house!

Before shooting the property, you should do your best to improve your house’s curb appeal. But that comes with a cost that many can’t, or don’t want to incur. Also, you can’t do anything about the mess around your neighbors’ houses that spoil the look of your place. Giving that virtual twilight touch to your photo makes viewers overlook pity details such as cluttered yards or unkempt surroundings.

Your listing will get more clicks

The front door shot with the twilight effect will be the first pic that house hunters see in your listing. Because of that magical touch, your listing will attract more attention than other properties. Though this does not mean that your property will sell faster, as there are other factors involved, your click-through rates will definitely be higher than other listings. What’s the implication? A higher number of house hunters will go through your listing and, most probably, book a visit.

How to Add a Virtual Twilight Effect to Your Photos

DIY virtual twilight

To add virtual twilight to your photos you can use Luminar or similar software. Of course, you need to spend some time learning how to work with the app. Plus, your few first attempts may not be that satisfactory! But, for selling your property, you don’t need to learn how to edit your photos. There are other two options that you can opt for.

Hiring a professional editor

Another way to give that magical touch to your photo is to find an experienced real estate photo editor and ask them to do the job. But, keep in mind that not many professionals are willing to edit only one photo, and if they do, you’d probably have to wait for a day and pay $5-$15.

Add the virtual twilight effect with AI

Here’s the good news: the sky is no longer the limit! To save time and costs, you can add the virtual twilight effect to your photos with the help of AI. Platforms such as AI HomeDesign give that magical touch to your photos in a few seconds for a measly $0.30! Contrary to other AI real estate photo editing tools that don’t leave any room for customization, AI HomeDesign enables you to choose between the following options:

Twilight with clouds
Twilight without clouds
Dusk with clouds
Dusk without clouds

Also, you can remove the shadows in the original photo or let them be. Keep in mind that, as long as you’re editing the same photo, you don’t need to pay any extra amount. In other words, regenerations on our platform are completely free.

In Conclusion

There are lots of factors affecting how a property is perceived and appreciated by a potential buyer. Strong online representation is a pivotal factor. As the first picture of your property, the front door shot with a virtual twilight effect will indeed draw viewers’ attention making them willing to visit the place. However, if you don’t edit the other photos, they might change their thoughts and move on to the next listing. If you notice that some of the photos need enhancement, in terms of light improvement or noise removal, make sure to edit them to leave a lasting first impression. It’s also, important to declutter and clean up to give your space a more pleasing vibe!

FAQ

Is the Virtual Twilight effect illegal?

No. Giving a touch of twilight to your real estate photo is completely legal. In fact, any type of photo editing practice that doesn’t involve adding or removing ‘fixtures” is legal.

How much does it cost to add the virtual twilight effect to my photo?

Depends on how you do it. Freelance photo editors usually charge $10-$15 to add this effect to your photos. You might find certain AI-powered tools that give this effect to your photos for $3-$5. If you use AI HomeDesign’s day-to-dusk service, you don’t have to pay more than $0.30 to add the virtual twilight effect to your photo. Plus, you will be able to regenerate results as many times as you wish, completely free!

Is twilight the same as dusk?

Not exactly. Twilight is the time when the sun has sat but there is still light in the sky. Dusk, on the other hand, is the time when the sky is not completely dark but there is no more light in the sky.

July 22, 2024 0 comment

Services

Virtual Staging vs. Real Staging: Which One to Choose?

by Dario Rinaldi July 2, 2024

written by Dario Rinaldi

As a real estate agent, you live and breathe for the interest of potential buyers! To get there, however, your property must leave a good enough first impression on the visitors! Numbers have shown that house hunters make up their minds on whether or not to proceed the very moment they first set eyes on a property. And where do they see a property first? That’s right! Almost always on a property listing platform.

If you take a look at listed properties on websites such as Zillow or Redfin, you’ll immediately spot lots of photos that only scare visitors off! Poor-quality photos of empty lifeless rooms, exteriors that show no sign of hope or happiness, and random outdated furniture tastelessly sprawled around here and there!

For a lasting positive first impression on house hunters, you should help them appreciate the full potential of your place, which means the rooms should be purposefully staged and the photos should be of great quality. To understand this, you need not look further than NAR’s profile of home staging 2023.

For those who want to stick to the stats and do the right thing, there are two paths to choose. You can go about it traditionally or opt for a more advanced solution! This blog compares virtual staging vs. real staging to help real estate agents choose the most suitable option.

Real Home Staging: In the Thick of It All!

Let us begin the debate with real home staging introduced by Barb Schwarz in 1927. The idea was simple but costly. Sellers were encouraged to rent new furniture and furnish their homes so that visitors could appreciate the full potential of the property. Many liked the idea and soon enough, staging companies came into play. Let’s take a look at the two main advantages of real staging.

Advantages of real home staging: No need for coulds or shoulds

Authentic look

The main advantage of physically-staged homes is their authentic and tangible look. House hunters don’t need to imagine anything as they can see and feel everything going from one room to another. This real, first-hand experience increases the chances of visitors forming an emotional bond with the property, a feeling that’s difficult to shake off.

Clarity and trust

In a furnished home, the rooms are exactly as shown in the photos. So, no last-minute surprises! This consistency between what the applicants see on the listing and what they experience in their visit creates a sense of trust, which is essential in closing any deal.

Disadvantages of real home staging: Is it worth the effort?

It’s costly

Though real staging is still a common practice, the main problem with this approach is its high costs as the owner has to pay for the furniture, the initial design, as well as the agreed-upon rent for each day that the house lingers on the market, not to mention all the labor costs!
The latest report on home staging costs reveals that, for staging a 2,000-square-foot property, one has to pay something around $2,000- $2,400 per month! Keep in mind that, for various reasons, some properties linger in the market for several months! This makes physical staging a risky, if not less favorite, option among real estate agents.

It’s time-consuming

In real estate marketing, even hours count. Agents prefer to list properties as soon as possible so that they don’t lose any potential buyers. On the other hand, physical staging is a rather time-consuming process. It might take a few days before you can find a reliable staging company and a few more days before they furnish your place. In dormant markets where good buyers are unicorns, those are precious days you’ll never get back!

It’s limited

A staging company has a limited set of furniture to put in your house, but not all of them may align well with visitors’ preferences! If they don’t like the furniture or the design style of the place, they might lose interest and move on to the next property.

It’s risky

Real home staging involves lots of comings and goings whereby a piece of furniture might break or a stager might accidentally damage a wall, a floor, or even themselves! Moreover, there is always the possibility of items being damaged or stolen during a house visit!

The spread of Covid-19, during which visiting a listed property was a real risk, was the final blow, and that made realtors look for other alternatives. That was the shining hour of virtual staging service.

Virtual Staging: The Digital Alternative

Virtual staging came as an alternative to real home staging that does not suffer the above difficulties. First, let’s have a look at the advantages of this phenomenon of the digital age.

Advantages of virtual staging: Doubled output for much less

It’s cost-effective

Compared to real home staging, virtual staging is a truly cost-effective alternative as it cuts costs by eliminating the need for physical furniture and the labor involved. Companies offering this service charge $10-$50 per photo. So, even if 20 photos are attached to the listing, the finished cost would be $200-$1,000, which is a truly considerable reduction in costs.

However, keep in mind that for each new design, you have to pay separately. So, staging the same room in five different styles or with five different furniture sets means that you should pay for five photos instead of one! However, if you use an AI virtual staging tool like AI HomeDesign, you don’t need to pay that extra amount! Restyling a room as many times as you like is free of charge!

It’s less time-consuming

Professional virtual staging companies deliver the orders within 24-48 hours. Though this is still a considerable amount of time spent on preparing a couple of photos, it is arguably a good improvement in comparison to the previous method. Add artificial intelligence to the mix, and the turnaround time comes down to less than a minute! But more on that later!

It’s flexible

Unlike real home staging which allows for only one design style at a time, virtual staging allows for several, to say the least. That is to say, you can stage the same room with various furniture sets and different styles to appeal to a much wider range of buyers.

But let’s face the facts: Like real staging, virtual staging has its own unique pitfalls. Let’s take a look.

Disadvantages of virtual staging: Better tread carefully…

Lack of physical appeal

Many have criticized virtual staging on the grounds that it has no physical appeal, and it’s only fair to give them a mark on this topic. The argument is that when clients see a virtually staged home on a listing, they’re faced with too perfect a visual, running the risk of disappointment upon their actual visit to the place. Some might even consider this an act of cheating.
But we shouldn’t forget two things here: One, if you virtually stage a property, you MUST state that in your listing so that buyers know in advance that the actual place might somewhat differ from the photos. Two, virtual staging is a completely legal practice as long as home features are not manipulated. This brings us to the second argument.

Misrepresenting the space

Others complain that virtual staging tools don’t reflect the real features (e.g., size, height, and depth) of the place, hence misrepresenting it. For instance, a bedroom furnished in a virtual space may look bigger than it really is.

While many companies and freelancers provide this service, some of them use AI-driven tools for this, we can’t assume that they all deliver quality results! However, by using the right tool, you can virtually stage any room with as close a resemblance as possible to the real deal without worrying about misrepresenting them.

The table below summarizes what we’ve been discussing up to here.

	Real Staging	Virtual Staging
Advantages	It’s authentic It creates trust between the buyer and the seller	It’s cost-effective It’s quick It’s flexible It’s customizable
Disadvantages	It’s costly It’s time-consuming It’s limited It’s risky	Some find it unappealing Not everyone can do it right

The Right Choice? A Hybrid Approach

When comparing virtual staging vs. real staging, you should consider various factors such as time, costs, clients’ expectations, and market trends. Whether to go for one or the other mainly depends on your marketing budget, which is settled between you and your agent. Anyone willing to pay the costs who doesn’t mind the wait can opt for real staging. But when you’re on a tight budget or want to list your property as soon as possible, virtual staging might be a better choice. Whichever way you go, just keep in mind that empty rooms on listings don’t provoke emotional connections!

Complementing real staging with virtual staging

But it doesn’t always have to be about choosing one approach over the other. It can be about mixing the two for better results. One way of doing this is to physically stage one or two rooms (so that buyers don’t call you names when they visit!), and digitally stage other rooms (so that your listings look more attractive).

Another option is to go for virtual staging with big spaces, like duplexes, and opt for real staging for small properties with fewer rooms, like an apartment that has only three or four rooms.

At other times, you can choose your strategy based on buyers’ behavior. If you notice that, on a listing for a certain state or city, there are lots of virtually staged properties, you can conclude that relevant house hunters are used to seeing virtually staged homes, and you can do it, too. But if you notice that traditionally staged homes get more attention there, you should prioritize the more traditional approach.

In most cases, a hybrid approach can be used, where real staging complements virtual staging to eventually deliver a seamless and captivating experience. While virtual staging addresses the challenges of cost, time, and design flexibility, real staging can step in to offer the authenticity and emotional connection that some buyers so desperately seek. This is, without a doubt, the safest and wisest approach as it allows you to make the best use of two popular real estate marketing techniques. One increases the chances for faster sales and the other promises higher ROI.

Virtual staging as the main marketing strategy

By considering all the advantages and disadvantages that each method has, one can see why virtual staging should be used as part, if not the whole, of agents’ marketing arsenal. By using virtual staging, you can:

Reduce the costs;
Eliminate manual labor;
Save time by days and weeks;
Attract more attention on listings;
Stage occupied rooms;
Market several properties on the same day; and,
Cater to a variety of tastes.

Try It Both Ways!

The idea of replacing the old with the new can always spark controversy, even more so when discussing an industry-sensitive topic like “virtual staging vs. real staging.” Since any new experience comes with certain fears and doubts, most people usually tend to stay on the safe side and stick to the old. But a look at innovations made throughout history reveals that change cannot be avoided, and societies gradually embrace the new.

This blog highlighted the benefits of virtual staging as a new, albeit widely used, practice while not overlooking the advantages of real, physical staging as a well-rooted marketing technique in real estate. Adopting a hybrid approach can be good for starters since trying both for a while will reveal the obstacles and potentials specific to your unique business situation. That way, by pitting virtual staging vs. real staging, you can decide where or when you should go for one or the other!

FAQ

In what cases should real staging be the first choice?

As a rule of thumb, real staging should be practiced with properties that have certain unique features. With luxury homes, for example, real staging is preferred as such properties offer unique architectural details and high-end finishes that might not be properly reflected by virtual staging.

Are virtual staging and 3D rendering the same thing?

No, as far as real estate and architecture are concerned, rendering refers to creating realistic images and animations of built, under-construction, or to-be-built properties using computer graphics. Virtual staging, on the other hand, refers to staging or furnishing vacant spaces using rendering or AI-driven tools. As a matter of fact, 3D rendering has a wider range of applications that go beyond staging properties.

Who might use virtual staging?

Anyone trying to furnish their home can use this service. So, the short answer is EVERYBODY! However, as the main application of virtual staging is in real estate marketing, real estate agents may use it more than others. Interior designers can also use virtual staging to get ideas for their projects. Last but not least, homeowners who want to go for a new design style, can try virtual staging for ideation.

July 2, 2024 0 comment

Services

Maximizing Property Appeal: The Gift of Virtual Staging for Realtors

by Tan Tason March 4, 2024

written by Tan Tason

Who would ever say no to a service that’s been made more affordable, accessible, and rapid? It’s a no-brainer, isn’t it? Well, that’s how virtual staging found its way into the real estate industry and exactly how it has become a common practice in real estate visual marketing.

But bringing you quick services that are available at all times for reasonable prices can go so far. It falls on you as the user to use an efficient service like virtual staging to its full potential. In the following, we’ll brush up on three crucial notions you need to observe when using real estate virtual staging for your properties.

Going Virtual: The Alternative to Home Staging

It was at the turn of the century – when photo editing and 3D imaging had just taken root – that virtual staging was born. The idea was simple: To shoot vacant properties and stage them in a digital space. What was in virtual staging for realtors? Well, it was way cheaper and quite fast, and it allowed potential customers to see the property in multiple designs at the same time.

1. Improvements in an instant: Time to trust AI

Just as more and more realtors were beginning to appreciate the value of home staging via digital and virtual means, artificial intelligence (AI) was injected into every business around the world. The outcome? Virtual staging that traditionally used to take up to 2 hours per room, was now done by AI in 30 seconds! Thrilling news for realtors, indeed! But there are things to consider here, too. Add AI to the mix, and the most considerable advantages of ai virtual staging for realtors will be:

Time-efficiency
Cost-efficiency
High level of variety
Enhanced appeal

It may be discouraging for a lot of people to trust AI with their daily tasks, but the truth is AI has witnessed great developments in recent years, and it’s capable of delivering quality work.

If you are a realtor, you’re definitely aware of how virtual staging, or its energized AI version, works, but you still need to try it once or twice and assess its true value.

2. Look for the best tool

A cursory look on the internet will tell you that there are hundreds of companies that offer virtual staging services. So, you can’t just dive into the first one you come across.

Take your time and make a list of the best virtual staging platforms you can find and test them one by one. Keep in mind to check their virtual staging pricing and refund policy, too.

With a thorough search, you’ll soon find a good platform that designs your rooms with amazing precision for a fair price. While there are considerable advantages in virtual staging for realtors, there are also important parameters they should observe to get the best results.

3. Be and stay honest

When listing the advantages of virtual staging, we mentioned “enhanced appeal” as one of the benefits. Those images on listing sites draw buyers’ attention and give them every reason to visit the property in person.

However, it’s best that you let potential buyers know the rooms are virtually staged. Regardless of using AI or not, customers need to know they’re looking at an image of a possibility and not the real thing. Otherwise, they can even sue you for misleading them or fraud.

If you’re open and honest with clients, when they visit the property, they know that they’re not gonna see the exact same design. Virtual staging is a legal practice allowed in all states as long as you, as the agent or seller, inform house hunters that the rooms are digitally decorated.

Home Staging: Merits and Drawbacks

In 1972, Barb Schwarz coined the term “home staging,” and that concept has been around, in one form or another, ever since. Like any other human invention, there are two sides to home staging, too. You need to swallow the good with the bad; the beautiful with the ugly.

So now that we’ve discussed the paths you should take for utilizing virtual staging as a realtor, let’s take a look at its merits and drawbacks.

Advantages of virtual staging for realtors

Reveals the full potential

Empty rooms blur one’s imagination somehow while a well-staged home lets potential buyers appreciate the true potential of the property. This makes a world of difference in how many visitors a property has each day and, for that matter, how long it’s going to linger in the market.

Sells faster

Perhaps it cannot be said about each and every staged house but in general, staged homes sell faster than the unstaged ones. Why is it so? Well, house hunters visualize themselves in the staged property and feel more connected to the property compared to when it is vacant. That’s why staged properties don’t linger much in the market.

Justifies the price

Staged homes sell for a rather higher price than unstaged ones. Letting potential buyers get a better picture of the property is not the only reason that realtors prefer staged homes. That’s just what we see on the surface. To understand the other reason, an analogy might help here.

Encourages the buyer

If you want to buy yourself a T-shirt, you would probably want to try it on in the fitting room first. When you do so, you know how much you’re willing to pay for it. That small room in the corner of the shop is the magic box that turns you from a bypasser into a buyer.
A staged room serves the same purpose as the fitting room. Only, it’s bigger! When buyers step into the property, they immediately decide whether they want it, and the price does not scare them off that easily.

Drawbacks of virtual staging for realtors

But as the metal band Poison said, “Every rose has its thorn.” Despite all its merits, home staging in the traditional form has been criticized on several grounds. Here are the main criticisms:

It’s costly

One disadvantage of home staging concerns its high costs. Basically, realtors must rent the furniture from a staging company. They remain in the house as long as the property is waiting to be sold and this might last for months sometimes. When the house is finally sold, the price for renting the stuff is calculated which could range from $1,500 to $4,000!
This is a considerable amount that not many realtors are willing to pay. But, that’s not all. We haven’t yet talked about the risks involved.

It’s risky

What would happen if some of the rented stuff is damaged? What if there is a robbery or housefire? Clearly, under such circumstances, the realtor is the one who must pay for the loss. So there is always a constant risk involved in traditional home staging. One that can turn a seemingly lucrative deal into a disastrous one.

It’s restrictive

Another drawback of traditional home staging is the restriction it brings along. Each home can be staged in just one style and potential buyers can see it in that one style only. This means that some visitors may not like the property, merely because they don’t like the way it has been designed/decorated.

Final Thoughts

The drawbacks discussed above lead the stakeholders to seek other alternatives. Something that has the same merits, but is clear of all those issues. Virtual staging has dominated the field, and it has been on the rise for the past few years. Now that AI has joined the game, it will probably gain more popularity among realtors. The limited statistics on virtual staging tell us that it is the future of home staging, and we have every reason to believe so.

FAQs

Does virtual staging change the color of the walls?

No. Changing the color of the walls is a practice of interior design. Virtual staging is solely concerned with the layout of the furniture and the view beyond the windows.

What home styles are possible in virtual staging?

Typically, all common styles are possible in virtual staging. These include styles such as modern, contemporary, traditional, farmhouse, Scandinavian, Hampton, etc.

Can I decide what furniture to include in my room?

In virtual staging done by humans, you can decide which furniture to include, but currently, AI virtual staging does not allow this. It might be AI’s next little surprise for the next year!

March 4, 2024 0 comment

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