WalkthruLab field notes
Listing Media Journal
Field notes on listing photos, virtual staging and 3D tours for agents selling vacant homes.
Latest notes
12 articlesKitchen Island Photos: How Many Stools and What to Clear
Show one stool per 2 feet of overhang, no more than three. Shoot from the corner and clear the counter to one object. The Two-Feet-Per-Stool checklist.
What Size Sofa Fits a 12x14, 14x16 or 16x20 Living Room?
A 12x14 living room fits an 84-to-96-inch sofa; a 14x16 and a 16x20 fit a sectional. See the clearance math in one table, plus the Minus-Five Rule.
What to Stage a Flex Room or Bonus Room As (and How to Caption It)
Pick one purpose for a vacant flex or bonus room, stage it once, and caption it "shown as". A decision table, caption wording and the bedroom caution.
How Many Listing Photos Should Be Virtually Staged?
Stage 3 to 5 photos per listing: one per room, under a quarter of the gallery. The 3-4-5 rule by listing size, with the dollar math at $1 a photo.
How to Stage an Open-Plan Living, Dining and Kitchen Photo
Use the Anchor-and-Lane Rule: one anchor piece per zone, about 3 feet of clear lane between zones, movable decor only in the kitchen, and a clear label.
How to Stage a Small Condo or Studio So It Doesn't Look Cramped
Use the Floor-First Checklist: a third of the floor visible, a 30-inch walkway, five pieces per frame, smaller furniture and a 4-foot camera height.
How to Refresh Stale Listing Photos When You Cut the Price
Cutting the price on a vacant listing? Use the Same-Day Swap: new lead photo, three restaged rooms, originals kept beside them, all live with the new price.
Where Do Virtually Staged Photos Go in a Listing Gallery?
Put each staged photo in its room's walkthrough slot with the empty original in the next slot. The Zipper rule, a slot-by-slot example and label tips.
What Size Bed Fits a 10x10, 11x12 or 12x14 Bedroom Photo?
A queen fits a 10x10 bedroom; a king fits an 11x12 and a 12x14. See the clearance math in one table, plus the Two-Foot Lane rule for staged photos.
Why Some Virtual Staging Looks Fake: 6 Tells to Check
Virtual staging looks fake for six reasons: scale, shadows, floor contact, altered architecture, blocked doors and invented fixtures. How to spot and fix each.
Which Rooms to Stage First in a Vacant Listing (and Which to Skip)
Stage a vacant listing in this order: living room, primary bedroom, dining area, then one flex room. Skip the kitchen, baths and storage. Ranked list and table.
How to Shoot a Vacant Room So Virtual Staging Looks Real
Shoot empty rooms that stage cleanly: a level camera at 4 to 5 feet, a 16–24mm lens, bracketed light, 2 to 3 angles per room and a pre-shoot checklist.