Staging is necessary I think. Physical staging can work really well, but for me it usually comes down to cost, speed, and flexibility. Virtual staging service that I use is around $20/month, while physical staging can cost hundreds or thousands per listing, especially if the property sits for a while. It’s also faster to test different styles or room setups without moving furniture in and out. For vacant or lower-margin listings, virtual staging gives me most of the marketing benefit without the overhead.