Not All Home Staging Is Equal: What Toronto Sellers Need to Know

By Steve Bulatovic | AskSteve Realty

Truth: not all staging is created equal.

In the Toronto real estate market, you’re not just competing with the house down the street — you’re competing with every listing a buyer scrolls past on their phone, plus their shrinking attention span.

When it comes to selling for top dollar, cutting corners on staging isn’t just risky — it’s expensive.

Many sellers are told, “Don’t worry, staging is included.”
But here’s the real question you should be asking:

What kind of staging are we actually talking about?

Real Staging vs. Virtual Staging: What’s the Difference?

Professional staging means real furniture, real art, real lighting — physically brought into your home by professionals who understand layout, scale, and buyer psychology.

Buyers don’t just see it.
They feel it the moment they walk in.

Virtual staging, on the other hand, is purely digital. Furniture is added to listing photos using software. It can look great online — until buyers step inside and realize:

• The home feels empty

• The rooms don’t flow the way they expected

• The furniture from the photos wouldn’t actually fit

That disconnect matters — a lot.

When Each Approach Makes Sense

There is a place for both professional and virtual staging — but they are not interchangeable.

Professional Staging Makes Sense When:

• The home is vacant or the current furniture doesn’t show well

• You want strong online photos and strong in-person showings

• You’re selling in a competitive price range (which is most of Toronto)

• You’re serious about maximizing your sale price

Virtual Staging Can Make Sense When:

• Tenants live in the property and won’t or can’t declutter

• You need listing photos immediately

• You’re supplementing real staging (for example, showing renovation potential)

Virtual staging should support a selling strategy — not replace one.

What Home Staging Actually Costs in Toronto

Staging is one of the few marketing expenses that consistently pays for itself.

Typical Professional Staging Costs:

• 2-bedroom condo: $3,000–$5,000

• 3-bedroom home: $4,500–$7,000

• 4+ bedroom home: $6,000–$12,000+

Virtual Staging Costs:

• Per room: $150–$400

• Full home photos: $1,200–$3,000
  (photos only — no in-person impact)

Industry data consistently shows staged homes sell for 6% or more compared to unstaged homes. In Toronto, that difference can easily mean tens of thousands of dollars.

What Bad Staging Looks Like (And Why Buyers Notice)

[INSERT IMAGE GALLERY – Poor staging examples / empty rooms]
Suggested images: echoing empty rooms, mismatched furniture, minimal decor.

I see what I call “staging theatre” far too often:

• The same tired furniture used in every listing

• Decor with price tags still attached

• Only one or two rooms staged “to save money”

• Folding tables pretending to be dining rooms

• A few books and a fake plant doing all the heavy lifting

With virtual staging, it’s also important to understand what it can’t do:

• Show true scale and flow

• Fix awkward layouts

• Highlight architectural strengths

• Create emotional connection

• Help buyers imagine their daily life in the home

That gap between expectation and reality leads to one thing:
disappointed buyers — and disappointed buyers don’t make strong offers.

How I Approach Staging at AskSteve Realty

I include proper staging because it works.

Not because it’s trendy.
Not because it “looks nice.”
But because I’ve seen — repeatedly — what happens when sellers invest in presentation versus when they don’t.

My approach includes:

• A professional staging consultation and tailored plan

• Furniture, art, lighting, and accessories selected specifically for your home

• Coordination of cleaning and pre-listing prep

• Modern, neutral inventory designed to appeal to today’s buyers

This isn’t generosity.
It’s strategy.

Homes that are properly staged:

• Get more online views

• Show better in person

• Attract more serious buyers

• Sell faster

• Sell for more money

The AskSteve Bottom Line

Virtual staging has its place — but it’s not a full strategy, and it’s not a substitute for the real thing.

When buyers walk into a professionally staged home, they don’t just see furniture.
They see lifestyle.
They feel possibility.
They imagine themselves living there.

And that emotional connection is what sells homes — for top dollar.

Thinking of Selling?

If you’re wondering whether professional staging makes sense for your home, I’m happy to walk you through it.

👉 Book a no-pressure home selling consultation at AskSteve.ca