Zillow brings AI-powered Virtual Staging to Showcase listings

"Buying a home is an emotional decision as much as a financial one," said Amanda Pendleton, Zillow's home trends expert. "Too many buyers overlook what could be the perfect home for their family simply because they can't see past the furniture or design choices. Virtual Staging helps people envision themselves living in a space. It's a new way to explore what a home could feel like, and a simple tool for agents to show off a home's true potential."

Zillow's Summer Launch introduced SkyTour, an interactive aerial view of a property, along with other upgrades that simplify home shopping and make it easier to browse, plan and tour. Together, SkyTour and Virtual Staging set a new standard. They deliver the smart, seamless digital experience today's buyers, sellers and agents now expect throughout the home shopping journey.

How it works
Many buyers struggle to picture themselves in a home, especially when it's empty or styled differently from their own. Virtual Staging gives them a quick, interactive way to see how it could look and feel in a style they love.

On Showcase listings, a Virtual Staging icon appears on select featured room photos. From there, buyers can tap the icon, choose from curated design styles — including modern, Scandinavian, industrial, midcentury, luxury, coastal and farmhouse — and AI restyles the space, whether the room is empty or already furnished.

Shoppers can also tap the circle arrow icon on the design style card to refresh the room in the same style, generating a new furniture arrangement for fresh inspiration. Once the staged image appears, shoppers can slide between views to see the transformation. Virtual Staging can also remove furniture entirely, helping shoppers see the home as a blank slate ready for their imagination. 

A smarter way to shop — and sell
For agents and sellers, Virtual Staging is a high-impact way to make listings stand out in a competitive market. The benefits are clear:

• It encourages exploration: Staged images give buyers another reason to click through and interact with listings.
• It meets demand for interactive media: According to Zillow's 2024 Consumer Housing Trends Report, 71% of sellers are more likely to hire an agent who uses interactive media, such as virtual tours or floor plans — and Virtual Staging builds on that demand.

And when paired with Showcase, the impact is even stronger, providing a competitive edge: Agents using Showcase on the majority of listings already win 30% more listings than non-Showcase agents, and Showcase listings sell for $7,000 more on average than similar non-Showcase listings.[1]

Zillow's AI innovation in action
Virtual Staging is the first major integration of technology from Virtual Staging AI (VSAI), first introduced through Zillow's October 2024 acquisition of that company. 

"Virtual Staging is the latest example of how we're bringing our AI strategy to life for consumers and agents," said Josh Weisberg, senior vice president of AI at Zillow. "From the Zestimate to personalized search and now to dynamic listing experiences, AI has long been part of Zillow's DNA. Virtual Staging applies the AI field of computer vision to restyle listing photos in real time to help shoppers see a home's potential and give agents a time-saving way to stand out. It's the next chapter in Showcase's evolution and a step forward in making home shopping more immersive and personal."

Zillow's AI can quickly create digitally staged images — a capability that's been available to real estate photographers and media companies through Aryeo since March, at no extra cost to Aryeo subscribers. That integration has made it easier for photography professionals to stage photos virtually and deliver them to agents.

Now, by embedding this same technology and realism directly into Showcase, Zillow introduces a new consumer-facing, interactive staging experience, creating a seamless, visual way for buyers to explore a home and a powerful, time-saving marketing tool for agents.

The integration reflects Zillow's broader AI vision to:

• Personalize the experience for buyers and sellers — helping buyers reimagine a space in styles they love, while giving sellers new ways to make their home stand out on Zillow.
• Make the process effortless for agents — delivering high-impact listings that support success at the listing presentation.
• Fully integrate AI into Showcase — enhancing Zillow's premium listing experience.

Virtual Staging shows what happens when AI in real estate moves beyond the buzz by delivering visual results that make shopping smarter for buyers and marketing easier for agents. With innovations like this, Zillow is building the future of home shopping.

About Zillow Group:
Zillow Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for more and more people. As the most visited real estate app and website in the United States, Zillow and its affiliates help people find and get the home they want by connecting them with digital solutions, dedicated real estate professionals, and easier buying, selling, financing, and renting experiences. 

Zillow Group's affiliates, subsidiaries and brands include Zillow®, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans℠, Zillow Rentals®, Trulia®, Out East®, StreetEasy®, HotPads®, ShowingTime+℠, Spruce®, and Follow Up Boss®. 

All marks herein are owned by MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). © 2025 MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate.

(ZFIN)

[1] https://showingtimeplus.com/showcase-facts

SOURCE Zillow