Guidelines for Virtual Staging and AI-Enhanced Listing Photos

Purpose:

To ensure truthful, non-misleading advertising of listed property, any image that has been virtually staged, AI-generated, or AI-enhanced should be clearly disclosed and accompanied by an unaltered “before” image that accurately depicts the property’s actual condition.

1. Best practice disclosures

1.1 Disclosure
Any listing photo that has been virtually staged (furniture added or other non-permanent items digitally placed), AI-generated, or AI-enhanced should be identified as such in the photo caption, on the photo or in agent or public remarks.

1.2 Where to disclose
The disclosure must appear:

• Directly in the photo caption or filename visible in the listing viewer; OR
• On the altered photo.

2. Before/After photo

2.1 Inclusions
For every room or area where a virtual staging or AI enhancement is used, the listing should include:

• At least one unaltered “Before” image that shows the actual, true condition of the room/area; and
• The “After” image that is virtually staged or AI-enhanced.

2.2 Scope
If only certain rooms are staged or AI-enhanced, the requirement applies only to those rooms — but the disclosure must make clear which images are staged/enhanced and which are original.

3. Limits on permissible edits

3.1 Personal property only
Virtual staging is permitted only to add or remove personal property such as furniture and décor. Alterations that change or hide permanent or structural elements of the property (for example: walls, floor coverings, doors/windows, roofing, siding, ceilings, fireplaces, driveways, site grading, or other permanent features) are prohibited.

3.2 No fabrication of permanent features
Images generated wholly or in part by AI or editing that depict permanent features, structural changes, or improvements that do not actually exist are prohibited.

3.3 Permitted corrections
Standard image corrections (cropping, exposure, color balance, minor retouching for dust or camera artifacts) are acceptable so long as they do not materially change the condition, features, or appearance of permanent elements of the property.