EVER SUSPECT that the furniture and decorations in those lovely online home-listing photos aren’t quite real? You might be right. Virtual staging is on the rise as a way to save home sellers effort and money.

With virtual staging, a computer does all the work. Software provides the perfect furniture and other touches in the pictures. Real estate agents are advised to disclose virtual staging in listings, so buyers aren’t surprised when they find empty rooms at a showing. “Usually we will add ‘Virtually staged’ to the image, in the corner,” says Will Powers, client director with Staging Set, a company based in Florida. While adding furniture is fine, it’s considered unethical to eliminate blemishes, such as dinged-up walls. (That should be done for real.) A few things to know:

1 For best results, have the rooms professionally photographed and then work with a virtual-staging company, which designs the rooms. This isn’t a task for amateurs.

2 It also works best if you’ve moved out of your home, so the rooms are clear and can be photographed empty. But Powers says existing furniture can be digitally removed and replaced.

3 Don’t like the outcome? Unlike physical staging, virtual staging can be easily changed until you’re happy with the final look. —Kelsey Ogletree