For sale

In the spirit of the series of entries that have focused on retouching photos using Photoshop, I offer yet another wrinkle: visual staging. Simply, it is the practice of real estate agents digitally enhancing empty rooms with furniture and other visual elements to help make the area look more appealing.

The agents then use the photos all of their materials such as pamphlets, advertisements and Web sites. Proponents of visual staging say it is a way of showing a home's potential. Those who oppose the practice say it's deceiving to the buyer and might even be in violation of the National Association of Realtors' Code of Ethics and Standards. Article 12 of the document states that "realtors shall be honest and truthful in their real estate communications and shall present a true picture in their advertising, marketing and other representations."

I see no problem with visual staging as long as the realtor stays within the framework of the working space's true potential -- as long as the buyer is not mislead about a room's capability or capacity because of a Photoshopped photo. What do you think?