The legality of virtual staging solutions: should you doubt it?
Every industry tries to keep up with trends and offer customers the best services. The real estate sphere isn't an exception. Earlier, it was a norm to come to the offices of popular brokerage companies, look through the properties offered by them, visit them personally, and make decision about their suitability. Currently, there's no need to leave the comfort of your home to look through the listings and even visit them virtually.
No wonder real estate professionals have come to the conclusion that every listing should be enhanced to attract more attention. One of the ways to do that is virtual staging solutions applied to photographs. But is it legal to change real property photos? Let's find out more about virtual staging and why there are doubts about its legality.
A brief definition of virtual staging
A process of furniture and decor arrangement made on the photo of a property with the help of professional computer software is known as virtual or digital staging. It is a tool used in advertising and promoting listings of the predominantly vacant estates since it looks less appealing to potential buyers. In some cases, designers may replace existing furniture pieces with new ones and enhance a general impression of a home. These improved photos are more likely to be spotted online and speed up the property sale.
Why is it so popular in the real estate business?
One of the main reasons why virtual staging has received such great success in the real estate sphere is its possibility to make listings outstanding. Adorable photographs with stylish interiors are viewed more often. Furthermore, it's a great chance to show the room potential too. It's almost impossible to visualize how a staged room will look like on the basis of room measurements or photos of empty walls. However, virtually staged photos make it clear what pieces can be arranged there and in what way. Other reasons why virtual staging is often used in real estate look as follows:
- It's a time-savvy and more affordable way of speeding up sales;
- It allows decluttering and depersonalizing space too;
- There's no need to attend traditional showings and keep social distancing;
- Staged photos can be used for creating an immersive experience in virtual home tours;
- Direct targeting of special customer groups;
- Flexibility and adaptability.
Is virtual staging legal?
The main question that interests customers thinking of ordering virtual staging services is their legality. Not everyone considers it lawful to change real photographs and showcase newly created images in the listings. It's connected with possible property misrepresentation caused by this decision. Some people may take a photo added to the listing as a real one and believe that a home looks as follows too. However, it will happen only in one case - if you don't mark a virtually staged photo with a special label. The absence of this sign may be considered wishful thinking or even a desire to cheat potential buyers. In this case, virtual staging may go beyond legal frames and lose its legal character.
At the same time, it won't take much effort to avoid any issues with the law when you order virtual staging solutions. How to do that? Consider the hints described in the next paragraph.
3 steps to make digital staging solutions ethical
The main task of every real estate agent who benefits from virtual staging solutions is to remain honest with potential buyers. It allows sticking to the legislation and prevent any troubles, questions, or doubts.
If you want to be sure you aren't breaking the law or misleading anyone changing estate photographs digitally, consider the following methods and make use of them to protect yourself.
Every photo staged virtually must be marked
No matter where you use a digitally staged photo, on an MSL or real estate portal, it should have a label "Virtually staged". Viewers should have a clear understanding that this image isn't a true-to-life photo and was changed prior to being posted. In most cases, this sign is applied by the company that performs an order. However, if you receive a final product without a mark, it is important to ask for revision.
Show both a staged and non-staged photo
Experts advise including a "before" and "after" photo in the listing to prevent viewers from feeling deceived. There are examples when a staged image was laid in the foreground of the empty room photograph. It's a great way to show the room potential and prevent misunderstandings.
Tell about virtual staging solutions in the listing description
Sometimes it isn't enough to provide a watermark in the image. Legal advisers also suggest mentioning the use of digital staging solutions in the property description. Naturally, you should explain why they were included: for example, to showcase a property potential or its intended use.
Customer impressions about virtual staging
Virtual staging has reached amazing popularity with both home buyers and sellers. Real estate professionals who deal with vacant and luxury properties take advantage of this service on a regular basis since it allows estates to spend less time in the market and costs not much. The number of companies that began to offer this solution to brokers and realtors has tripled for several recent years, while the creativity of designers seems to have no limits.
Do buyers consider virtual staging misleading? The percentage of people who do is quite small. Vice versa, buyers don't waste time on showings of properties that don't meet their requirements and get amazing ideas of how to arrange furniture in the properties they plan to buy. There are even situations when virtual staging led to competition between buyers and increased the original price of the property.
