To virtually stage or not?

As a minimum yes and a floorplan with furniture laid out. And regrout that limestone shower with dark marks.

Also, potentially where one could add a third windowed bedroom on the floor plan.

Agreed - you have a lovely space but the living room is somewhat difficult to conceptualize when it is empty as I see it here. Its not difficult to come up with a stunning decor, I'm sure, but there are a lot of wealthy people who lack imagination and I have seen purchasing decisions sway by 10s of thousands just by how things looked well decorated vs empty.

That bathroom needs cleaning for sure. I'd send that picture back to your photographer for some editing while you clean out the real thing.

Virtual staging is so cheap that I think it's a no-brainer. However, I am a fan of actual staging too.

Obviously fully furnishing the loft is going to cost $$$, and if you're FSBO it may be that you're cost-sensitive, but I would at the very least put down an area rug, a love seat, a coffee table, a side chair and a lamp. It will still "float" in a space that size, but it will give potential buyers some idea of scale, and also, it will provide them with a place to sit down if they want to chat with you about your lovely home.

ali r.
{upstairs realty}

I agree that any furnishings you can bring will help show scale and furnishing ideas especially living and dining areas, IMO more important than virtual staging. There are companies that can do both. Also, consider professional photos.

Use this one with a metal brush when other cleaners fail. You will need to reseal after that.
https://laticrete.com/tile-and-stone-care-and-maintenance/stonetech/clean/stonetech-klenzall-cleaner

I can not understand why those selling in this building don't emphasize that it lies outside the M1-5B zone.

Also keep in mind that a legal bedroom must have a window. That windowless 'bedroom' should be listed as a 'den' or 'office' on your floor plan. You might consider marketing it as a convertible two-bedroom since as currently configured it is technically a one-bed + office. Move that office to the opposite wall with the window and you could eke out a legal second bedroom. Great space though!

Properly staging a home will be expensive, however I think it's an important feature especially for a space like this. Personally I don't care for virtual staging and wouldn't use it on my listings, you don't want people looking at it online and getting all excited and then they come to an empty Apartment. That's just my take.

The current market is absolutely dead in the water and open house traffic has been abysmal, so just hang in there I believe things will improve post Labor Day. I think it was a mistake to list in August but that's a subjective statement.

Good luck!

Keith Burkhardt
The Burkhardt Group

I agree with Keith re:timing.

It's slow across the market. That's why developers are advertising 4% co-brokes and offering to pay the Mansion Tax, Transfer Taxes etc.

Good contrarian opinion on the value, or lack thereof of staging:

https://www.hauseit.com/why-staging-a-home-for-sale-nyc-bad-idea/

So you're saying the smart money is actually raising commissions to attract the best brokers as opposed to trying to find those who will work for the smallest compensation.

Always thought you're better off reducing the cost for the purchaser rather than increasing the expense for the seller. I've never been swayed one iota by somebody advertising they're paying a higher Commission. It's always a red flag to me, even as a broker.

Keith Burkhardt
The Burkhardt Group