Truth: not all staging is created equal.
In Toronto real estate, where you’re up against dozens of listings and buyers with TikTok-level attention spans, cutting corners on staging isn’t just risky—it’s expensive.
You’ve probably heard the pitch: “We offer staging.” But what does that actually mean? A professional staging consult? A few pillows from HomeSense? Some virtual furniture photoshopped into your vacant condo?
Let’s cut through the noise.
Real Staging vs. Virtual Staging: What’s the Difference?
Professional staging involves bringing actual humans bringing actual furniture into your space, along with art, lighting, and accessories that create a unique vibe. One that buyers feel the moment they walk in.
Virtual staging is like Photoshop – it’s just a graphic designer (or virtual staging app) that adds furniture into a digital photo. It looks slick online… right up until a buyer walks in and hears their footsteps echo. Or notices that the furniture in the photos isn’t to scale and wouldn’t actually fit in the room.
When Each Approach Makes Sense
There’s a time and place for both professional staging and virtual staging – but they’re not interchangeable.
Use Professional Staging When:
- Your home is vacant or your furniture doesn’t show well
- You want to wow both online shoppers and in-person viewers
- You’re selling in a competitive price point (read: anywhere in Toronto)
- You’re serious about maximizing your sale price
Consider Virtual Staging When:
- Tenants live in the home and won’t/can’t declutter
- You need listing photos yesterday and staging access is tight
- You’re supplementing real staging (e.g., showing a potential reno or layout)
What Staging Actually Costs in Toronto
Staging is one of the few real estate marketing expenses that always pays for itself (and then some).
Professional Staging Averages:
- 2-bedroom condo: $3,000–$5,000
- 3-bedroom home: $4,500–$7,000
- 4+ bedroom home: $6,000–$12,000+
At BREL, full, professional staging costs our sellers $0 extra. Our team of in-house stagers and designers handles all the heavy lifting (literally) – and it’s included in our commission. Note: our staging services are exclusive to BREL clients.
Related: All About Staging at BREL
Virtual Staging Averages:
- Per room: $150–$400
- Full home: $1,200–$3,000 (and that’s just for the photos)
According to the Real Estate Staging Association, staged homes sell for 6%+ more than their unstaged counterparts. Even on the low end, that’s tens of thousands of dollars.
What Bad Staging Looks Like (And Why It Costs You)
We often see, what I like to call, home staging theatre. That’s when:
- Your agent uses the same sad furniture in every listing (usually taken from their own living room)
- The “decor” still has price tags hanging off it (so it can be returned)
- Only one or two rooms are staged because “that’s all the budget allows”
- The dining room is ‘staged’ with a folding table, there are 3 books on the bookshelf and a fake orchid on the counter
- Your agent can’t tell you exactly what’s included
And when it comes to virtual staging, it’s important to remember that it can’t:
- Show scale and flow
- Mask weird layouts
- Enhance the great features of your home
- Help buyers imagine themselves living there
- Trigger that gut-level, emotional connection
That disconnect? It leads to one thing: disappointment. And disappointed buyers don’t make strong offers.
Why We Include Full Staging at BREL
Because it works.
Because your home deserves to look incredible.
Because we’ve seen what happens when agents cheap out.
Our staging services include:
- A staging consultation and tailored design plan
- Full furniture and decor install
- Pre-listing cleaning and prep coordination
- Inventory from our staging warehouse filled with modern, stylish, not-from-IKEA pieces
This isn’t charity. It’s strategy.
Homes we stage:
- Get more online views
- Show better in person
- Attract more serious buyers
- Sell faster
- Sell for more money
The BREL Bottom Line
Virtual staging has its place. But it’s not a strategy—and it’s definitely not a substitute for the real thing.When buyers step into a professionally staged home, they don’t just see furniture. They see lifestyle. They feel possibility. They fall in love. And that’s what sells homes.
