3D Rendering vs Virtual Staging in Real Estate: Know the Differences

With many 3D visualization options, including CGI and architectural rendering services, it’s always difficult for newbies to choose the right service offering. They often use 3D rendering and virtual staging real estate interchangeably; however, they’re distinct in many ways. You’re not alone in that league; most property owners, real estate professionals, and designers misinterpret these concepts and observe them as synonymous.

This blog differentiates virtual staging and interior and exterior 3D rendering for real estate proposals, presentations, and marketing.

What is Virtual Staging in Real Estate?

Virtual or digital staging is an advanced rendering technique that imparts visual interest to empty spaces. Property owners, remodeling firms, interior designers, and real estate marketers may opt for virtual staging services to get real-world visuals of fully furnished and renovated homes.

Virtual staging augments the physical space with 3D models of interior decor and redesigned elements, in contrast to staging the room with authentic furniture and lights. You can consider virtual staging services if the prime objective of the real estate project is:

• To showcase how a dull or outdated property will appear post-renovation with decorative interiors, furniture, and other visual elements for home remodeling projects.

• To get mind-blowing visual presentations of the existing property to impress potential buyers with multiple versions of interior designs for real estate marketing projects.

The virtual staging process requires a photograph of the room and 3D models of the objects you desire to insert into the view. Experts further stage the final picture with 3D objects such as furniture, decorations, and other design elements that are not physically present.

What is 3D Rendering or Visualization in Real Estate?

CGI or Computer-Generated Imagery technique needs no introduction to real estate marketers, contractors, architects, and designers collaborating with a trusted 3D rendering company in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada for years.

Unlike virtual staging, the benefits of 3D rendering go beyond visual presentations for small home renovations and property listings. Urban planners, stakeholders, subcontractors, architects, and interior designers seek highly photorealistic 3D renders, walkthroughs or 360-degree virtual tours, and interactive floor plans of large-scale construction projects for approval.

From a technical perspective, 3D visualizations differ from virtual staging because they are digital. Everything about them, including rooms, objects, designs, colors, and lights, is entirely virtual.

These 3D scenes are computer-generated visuals that appear realistic and emphasize the design intent before construction begins. Hence, most realtors, interior designers, and project planners hire 3D rendering specialists over virtual staging companies for easy approvals and design feedback.

Here are the reasons why we recommend detailed 3D architectural visualizations rather than virtual staging real estate:

• They’re more realistic and, hence, more convincing than bare staged pictures of property. Scenic visual effects such as lighting, colors, shadows, textures, and materials stimulate the senses, imparting lifelike experiences in 3D.

• The main goal of photorealistic visuals is to convey the design details precisely and impactfully.

• Unlike the actual location or space used in virtual staging, 3D visuals are the potential design of the building or room that doesn’t exist.

3D Rendering vs Virtual Staging Services for Interior Setup: Benefits Comparison

Now you know the conceptual differences between virtual 3D staging and 3D architectural rendering. Let’s compare their benefits so that you can select the right service offering for your real estate project.

Cost Differences

Virtual staging services are somewhat cost-saving for realtors looking for introductory presentations of their interior design and renovation projects.

However, despite being slightly less expensive than 3D architectural renderings, investing in virtual staging is not advisable when focusing on the proposed design’s accuracy, photorealism, creativity, and impact.

3D visuals highlight details, keeping the scene’s emotional appeal, style, and liveliness as its key character. The production process involves 3D modeling, rendering, and extensive post-production work, increasing the budget.

Conversely, virtual staging can only be considered if you don’t have specific focal points to define in your renovation projects.

Time Efficiency

The variations between 3D rendering and virtual staging costs greatly depend on time.

Unsurprisingly, a professional 3D artist will charge you more for photorealistic 3D renders than virtually staged visuals, as the latter requires extra effort to produce the shell of the space from scratch. For instance, incorporating multiple artistic and geometric elements with the perfect blend of season, weather, and mood in atmospheric renderings will take longer than digital photographs.

Virtual staging takes less time than 3D renderings, as staging uses photographs of real space. However, it lacks the dynamic feel and appeal rendered through high-quality visualizations.

Moreover, the inconvenience of physical visits and installing furniture for virtual staging can be avoided with interior and exterior rendering services.

Overall, the work involved in producing CGI from scratch is more time-consuming than staging empty rooms digitally.

3D Model Arrangement

Virtual staging justifies less work and less time despite certain quality lags.

While mostly limited to the benefits of furniture rendering, it may not be the best option for projects requiring the augmentation of real photographs with highly detailed CG models.

Architectural rendering greatly supports 3D modeling techniques to create and add custom 3D objects like windows, doors, walls, and other interior design elements.

Light & Camera Settings

3D artists can experiment with their creativity with architectural rendering projects considering the client’s vision and design needs.

For example, we can create stunning creative enhancements with different types of lights, such as sunrays for warm summer days and artificial lights for evening scenes. We use rendering engines like Corona Renderer for 3ds Max to add hyper-realistic lighting effects to the scene.

Conversely, virtual staging involves a lot of planning and labor work in adjusting the camera and lighting in the room. While the aim is to make everything look natural, the results may not be promising, and there would be design inconsistencies.

3D Rendering or Virtual Staging: Which Service Should You Opt for?

After delving into the factors favoring 3D rendering over virtual staging, we can conclude that photorealistic renders are more worthy of your interest in real estate success.

Despite the cost, time, and effort, realtors relying on quality 3D architectural visualization embrace custom design options, transparency, convenience, and lucrative sales opportunities.

Being globally recognized as a trusted partner for valued engineering, BluEntCAD is mastering the architectural CGI service domains, covering interior and exterior 3D rendering, walkthroughs, and product modeling.

Our 3D rendering expertise is backed by years of experience, skills, and software we use to achieve maximum value- Lumion, 3ds Max, Vray, Corona Render, Maya, and more.

With a vision to empower the global AEC leaders, we’ve got a dedicated team for BIM consulting, construction documentation, CAD conversions, Millwork shop drawings, and tile and stone shop drawings.

With photorealistic 3D visuals, you can bring life to your architectural imagination. Request a free quote or contact our experts right away!