You can use virtual staging as a live demonstration during your valuation pitch to show vendors exactly how their empty property will look on Rightmove — before you've even been awarded the instruction. Done well, it turns a standard valuation presentation into a memorable moment that most competing agents simply cannot match, and it gives vendors a concrete, visual reason to choose you.
Why bring virtual staging into the valuation at all?
Most agents show up to a valuation with a comparable evidence pack, a fee structure, and a promise to market the property well. That's table stakes. Vendors have usually heard it from two or three agents in the same week. The pitch that wins the instruction tends to be the one that shows rather than tells.
Empty rooms are one of the most common reasons a listing underperforms on the portals. According to the NAR's 2023 Profile of Home Staging, 83% of buyers' agents say staging helps buyers picture a home as their own, 49% of sellers' agents reported that staging cut time on the market, and 29% saw offers come in 1–10% higher. When you can put that context in front of a vendor — alongside a visual of their own property already staged — you've made the abstract concrete.
Tip
The goal isn't to promise a specific outcome. It's to show vendors you have a plan for their specific property, not a generic one. A staged image of their actual living room does that better than any slide deck.
Step-by-step: using virtual staging to win the instruction
- Book or request access photos before the valuation appointment. If the vendor has sent you listing photos, or if you're revisiting a property you've seen before, you already have what you need. If not, ask the vendor to share a few snaps of the main rooms via WhatsApp before you arrive. Frame it as helping you prepare a tailored presentation — most vendors are happy to oblige.
- Submit the empty room photos to 24staged before you leave for the appointment. Same working day turnaround means that if you send images in the morning, you can have staged results back before or during an afternoon valuation. Check the current turnaround commitment on the 24staged website, and use a room that will make the strongest first impression — typically the main reception room or the kitchen-diner.
- Prepare a simple before/after visual for the pitch. Print a side-by-side comparison or pull it up on a tablet. The before image is the empty room the vendor sees every day; the after is how it will appear to a buyer scrolling Rightmove at 9pm. That contrast is your most powerful selling point. Every virtually staged image is clearly labelled 'virtually staged', so you can show vendors exactly what buyers will see — no hidden surprises, fully compliant with portal and ASA guidance.
- Open the conversation with the portal reality, not with your fees. Lead with the question: 'When a buyer searches on Rightmove, which properties do they click?' Most vendors instinctively know the answer. Then show them the before/after. You're not criticising their home — you're showing them what professional marketing looks like and why it matters for the price they achieve.
- Explain the process in plain terms. Vendors often worry about anything that alters photos — they've read about misleading listings and they don't want to be caught out. Reassure them that virtually staged images are clearly labelled on every portal and in every listing, that the layout and features of the property are never altered, and that no furniture is hidden or removed — you're simply furnishing an empty space digitally. This transparency usually turns a concern into a confidence-builder.
- Link staging to the asking price conversation. If you're recommending a strong asking price, you need equally strong marketing to justify it. A professionally staged listing gives you a credible reason to hold firm on price: the photography will attract the right buyers, generate more viewings, and reduce the pressure to reduce. Frame staging as part of your pricing strategy, not a cosmetic add-on.
- Close with a clear next step tied to staging. Rather than ending with 'we'll be in touch', end with something specific: 'If you go ahead with us, we can have staged images ready the same day we photograph the property, so the listing goes live looking its absolute best from day one.' That's a concrete, time-bound commitment that most agents in the room simply can't match.
What to do if you don't have photos before the appointment
Not every valuation gives you lead time. If you're walking in cold, you can still use virtual staging as a concept pitch rather than a live demonstration. Bring a portfolio of before/after examples from previous listings — ideally a range of property types and room styles — and walk the vendor through the transformation. You're showing the capability rather than their specific property, but the principle lands the same way.
An even stronger move: offer to stage one room as a free sample after the appointment. Tell the vendor you'll send them a staged image of their living room within the same working day, no commitment required. That follow-up message, arriving in their inbox that evening with their own home looking buyer-ready, is often what tips the decision your way.
Handling common vendor objections
| Vendor objection | How to handle it |
|---|---|
| 'Isn't that misleading buyers?' | Every image is clearly labelled 'virtually staged' on the portal and in the listing. Buyers know exactly what they're looking at. It's fully compliant with Rightmove, Zoopla, OnTheMarket, and ASA guidance. |
| 'Our property isn't empty — we still have furniture.' | Virtual staging is most impactful for vacant or near-empty rooms. For occupied properties, professional photography and decluttering advice is usually the right call instead. |
| 'How much does it add to your fees?' | Staging is typically a straightforward add-on. See the 24staged pricing page for current costs — it's usually a fraction of what physical staging would run to, and there's no logistics involved. |
| 'Will it look fake?' | Show them the before/after from your portfolio. Modern virtual staging is photorealistic and designed to complement the actual space — not clash with it. The room proportions and natural light are preserved exactly. |
| 'Other agents haven't mentioned this.' | That's worth noting. It means your listing launches with a meaningful advantage on the portals from day one. |
Making it part of every valuation, not a one-off
The agents who win instructions consistently are the ones with a repeatable system. Virtual staging works best when it's a standard part of your valuation preparation — not something you think of for certain properties. Build it into your pre-appointment checklist: request photos, submit for staging, arrive with the before/after ready. Over time, this becomes part of your personal brand as an agent.
A dashboard that lets you reorder with one tap and tracks your previous staged images means there's no admin overhead once you're set up. The time investment at the valuation stage is minimal; the impression it creates is not.
Info
Want to see how your next listing would look staged before you commit? Request a free staged sample at 24staged.com and have it back the same working day.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use virtual staging in a valuation pitch even if the property isn't vacant?
Virtual staging works best for empty or near-empty rooms. If the property is fully furnished, the staging pitch is less relevant — focus instead on professional photography and presentation advice. That said, you can still bring before/after examples from other listings to demonstrate your marketing approach.
Is it compliant to use virtually staged images on Rightmove and Zoopla?
Yes, provided every virtually staged image is clearly labelled as such. Rightmove, Zoopla, OnTheMarket, and the ASA all expect disclosure when listing photos have been digitally enhanced or altered. With 24staged, every image is labelled 'virtually staged' as standard, so you and the vendor are fully covered.
How quickly can I get staged images back for a valuation pitch?
24staged offers same working day turnaround, with a money-back guarantee. If you submit photos in the morning, you can have staged results ready for an afternoon appointment. Check the 24staged website for the current turnaround commitment and any cut-off times.
What if a vendor thinks virtual staging is dishonest?
It's a fair question and worth addressing directly. Virtual staging furnishes empty rooms digitally — it doesn't remove features, alter layouts, or conceal anything. All images are labelled 'virtually staged' so buyers know exactly what they're seeing. Framing it this way usually turns the concern into a positive: it shows you prioritise honest, compliant marketing.
How do I use the before/after comparison most effectively in the room?
A tablet works well — you can zoom in and hand it to the vendor. A printed A4 or A3 side-by-side is also effective and doesn't rely on Wi-Fi. The key is putting the empty room and the staged version next to each other so the contrast is immediate. Let the vendor sit with it for a moment before you explain — the image does most of the work.