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Zillow Unveils AI-Driven Virtual Staging to Elevate Home Listings

In an exciting move that redefines online home shopping, Zillow® has launched its AI-powered Virtual Staging feature, seamlessly integrated into the Zillow Showcase℠ platform. This innovation allows prospective home buyers to visualize their future living spaces in a variety of design styles, enhancing the overall home viewing experience.

A New Dimension to Home Shopping

Launched on September 10, 2025, the Virtual Staging feature enables potential buyers to easily view properties through beautifully styled images generated by advanced AI technology. By simply tapping a button, users can choose from curated design styles such as modern, Scandinavian, industrial, luxurious, coastal, midcentury, and farmhouse. This allows buyers to see how specific rooms could look, whether they are empty or currently furnished.

Amanda Pendleton, Zillow's home trends expert, emphasizes the emotional nature of home buying, stating, "Buying a home is an emotional decision as much as a financial one. Many buyers find it difficult to envision themselves in a home, especially when it’s empty or styled quite differently from their preferences. Virtual Staging provides an interactive way to visualize how a space could feel in a style they love."

Engaging Interactive Features

The new Virtual Staging tool is designed with buyer engagement in mind. Upon selecting a listing, buyers can click or tap on the Virtual Staging icon linked to featured room photos. They can then explore various design options, allowing them to swipe between staged and original images to appreciate the transformation in real time. This immersive experience helps in eliminating the mismatch between existing furniture and the buyer's personal style, encouraging them to imagine their future in a space they can envision.

One impressive aspect of this feature is that it allows buyers to remove existing furniture entirely, enabling a fresh slate to visualize how they might arrange their own belongings. Users can refresh room designs in their preferred style for new arrangements, keeping the exploration of possibilities dynamic and informative.

A Competitive Edge for Agents

For real estate agents, this innovative tool provides a significant advantage in a competitive market. Not only does Virtual Staging improve the aesthetic appeal of listings, but it also contributes to attracting more clicks from potential buyers. Zillow's 2024 Consumer Housing Trends Report indicates that 71% of sellers would prefer an agent who utilizes interactive media, positioning Virtual Staging as a vital resource for agents looking to enhance their listings.

When incorporated with the Showcase feature, agents utilizing this AI-driven solution can enhance their appeal, winning 30% more listings and increasing the sale price of properties by an average of $7,000 compared to non-Showcase listings. This is a remarkable leap towards optimizing the home buying experience, demonstrating Zillow's commitment to leveraging technology for better outcomes.

Investing in the Future of Real Estate

The introduction of Virtual Staging represents Zillow's continued innovation in artificial intelligence, particularly following their acquisition of Virtual Staging AI (VSAI) in October 2024. Josh Weisberg, Zillow's senior vice president of AI, commented on how this feature exemplifies their goal to integrate AI deeply into their services. “Virtual Staging applies computer vision to restyle listing photos in real time, making it easier for potential buyers to see a home's true potential,” he stated.

Since March, real estate photographers have had access to similar virtual staging capabilities through Aryeo, allowing them to deliver virtually staged photos at no extra cost. By embedding this technology directly into the Showcase experience, Zillow creates a more user-friendly environment that enhances how buyers interact with properties.

Conclusion

With the launch of Virtual Staging, Zillow is setting a new standard for real estate technology, combining convenience with innovative design solutions. This feature not only aids buyers in imagining themselves in potential homes but also helps agents market properties effectively. As Zillow continues to redefine the boundaries of home shopping, we welcome their initiative that makes the process smarter for buyers and simpler for real estate professionals alike.

In conclusion, the AI-driven Virtual Staging marks a significant stride towards a more interactive, personalized, and immersive home buying experience. For anyone in the market for a home, this new feature is sure to elevate the journey of finding that perfect place to call home.