Fiverr Virtual Staging Alternative: Solyom Immobilien Case Study

Introduction

In Germany's competitive rental market, speed and presentation determine occupancy rates. Solyom Immobilien, a boutique real estate agency specializing in new developments and gut renovations across the Rhine-Ruhr corridor, faced a common challenge: how to market unfinished units without waiting weeks for slow, expensive freelancer work.

This case study explores how Solyom Immobilien, based in Mönchengladbach and serving the greater Düsseldorf region, replaced inconsistent Fiverr gigs with Pedra's one-click virtual staging, cutting visual production time by 99%, costs by 88%, and securing a tenant for an under-construction unit in just 7 days.

The Challenge: Showcasing Units Still Under Construction

"We used Fiverr a lot, but most gigs came from overseas Blender freelancers. Quality was hit-or-miss and we waited days for revisions." — Solyom Immobilien team

With a growing portfolio of new-build and gut-renovation rentals across the Rhine-Ruhr corridor including Mönchengladbach, Düsseldorf, Viersen, and surrounding cities, Solyom Immobilien struggled with several critical issues:

Key Obstacles

1. Visualizing Unfinished Spaces – Raw concrete and bare drywall photographs turned off renters who couldn't picture the final look.
2. Maintaining Momentum – Waiting 2–3 days per property for outsourced renders slowed listing launches.
3. Controlling Costs – At roughly €50 per property (including inevitable tweaks), outsourcing eroded margins on mid-priced rentals.
4. Quality Inconsistency – Different freelancers produced varying quality levels, making brand consistency impossible.

In a competitive rental market where speed and presentation drive occupancy, Solyom needed faster, cleaner visuals — without inflating budgets or workload.

The Solution: Pedra's AI Staging & Enhancement Suite

After testing several platforms, Solyom Immobilien standardized on Pedra for four key reasons:

Why Pedra Won

• Seconds-Not-Days Turnaround – Upload photos, pick a style or prompt, and receive photo-realistic staging in 20–30 seconds per room.
• Integrated Cleanup & Finishes – Light virtual renovations (patching walls, removing construction clutter) happen in the same click.
• Cost Efficiency – A €29/month plan (100 credits) meant staging a typical three-room flat for < €6, vs. €50 through freelancers.
• Consistency & Control – Agents can regenerate, swap furniture styles, or export before/after sliders without going back-and-forth with vendors.

"Now we shoot at 10 a.m., have staged images by coffee break, and the listing is live before lunch." — Solyom Immobilien team

Streamlined Workflow Integration

1. Photo Shoot – DSLR photos of each room upon site visit, even while trades finish last touches.
2. Upload to Pedra – Drag-and-drop images, choose "Scandinavian minimal" or another preset, optionally add custom prompts.
3. AI Generation & Edit – Review previews, regenerate a room or fine-tune lighting until satisfied.
4. Publish – Download final JPGs and upload to ImmobilienScout24, Immowelt, and social channels. Create a short before/after reel directly in Pedra if needed.

Standout Success: From 90 Idle Days to 7 Days Rented

Featured Listing: ImmobilienScout24 exposé 160 881 190

This particular case demonstrates the dramatic impact of professional virtual staging on rental velocity:

Timeline	Before Pedra	After Pedra
Marketing Duration	Broker A marketed the shell apartment for ≈ 3 months — minimal inquiries, no tenant secured	Solyom staged living room, bedrooms, and kitchen in Pedra → published a refreshed gallery + slider reel
Photo Quality	Bare concrete, visible wiring, construction debris	Bright Scandinavian décor, finished surfaces, lifestyle appeal
Market Response	Listing stagnated with minimal engagement	Matching tenant signed in 7 days
Outcome	90+ days vacant, lost rental income	Quick occupancy, maximized revenue

"The staged gallery let prospects imagine their sofa in the space — even while we still had scaffolding outside." — Solyom Immobilien team

Before and After: Virtual Staging Transformation Examples

The following examples showcase how Pedra transformed Solyom Immobilien's unfinished units into market-ready visuals. Each pair demonstrates the dramatic difference between raw construction photos and professionally staged spaces.

Office Space Transformation

Impact: Transformed bare concrete and exposed infrastructure into a professional home office space, helping prospects envision remote work possibilities and productivity in the finished unit.

Living Room Staging

Impact: Converted an empty shell into an inviting Scandinavian-style living space complete with coordinated furniture and lighting that showcases the room's potential for relaxation and entertaining.

Kitchen Area Enhancement

Impact: Visualized a fully equipped modern kitchen where prospects can imagine cooking and entertaining, despite the space being mid-renovation during photography.

Bedroom Visualization

Impact: Created a warm, furnished bedroom that demonstrates how the space can accommodate both rest and storage, helping prospects imagine their personal sanctuary in the finished unit.

Key Transformation Elements

What makes these before/after examples particularly effective for rental marketing:

Staging Element	Before Challenge	After Solution
Space Clarity	Construction clutter obscures room dimensions	Clean staging reveals true scale and flow
Lifestyle Appeal	Cold, industrial feel repels prospects	Warm, furnished spaces invite emotional connection
Functionality Display	Unclear how spaces would be used	Furniture placement demonstrates practical usage
Light & Atmosphere	Harsh construction lighting	Soft, natural lighting enhances ambiance
Market Readiness	Unpublishable raw photos	Professional imagery suitable for all marketing channels

Quantifiable Impact: 8-Week Performance Analysis

The data speaks for itself. Here's how Pedra transformed Solyom Immobilien's operations:

Key Performance Indicator	Pre-Pedra (Fiverr)	Post-Pedra	Improvement
Visual production time per property	2–3 days (≈ 60 hours)	2–5 minutes (entire property)	↓ 99%
Visual cost per property	~€50 (including revisions)	~€6 (credits + subscription)	↓ 88%
Days to secure tenant (highlight unit)	~90 days (stagnant listing)	7 days (fresh staging)	↓ 92%
Properties enhanced	Inconsistent (budget constraints)	5 in 8 weeks → scaling to all listings	100% coverage
Revision cycles	2-3 rounds with freelancers	Instant regeneration	Real-time control

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Expense Category	Monthly Cost (Fiverr Model)	Monthly Cost (Pedra Model)	Annual Savings
Per-property staging	€250 (5 properties × €50)	€30 (5 properties × €6)	€2,640
Subscription fees	€0	€29	-€348
Revision costs	€125 (50% require revisions)	€0 (unlimited regeneration)	€1,500
Total Monthly	€375	€59	€316/month
Annual Impact	—	—	€3,792 saved

Three Strategic Advantages That Keep Solyom with Pedra

1. Photo-Realism That Converts

Soft shadows, accurate reflections, and region-specific furnishings pass tenant "sniff tests" better than generic 3D renders. Pedra's AI understands German design preferences and lighting conditions.

2. Pre-Marketing Advantage

The team can launch listings months before handover, building waitlists and smoothing occupancy curves. This pre-marketing capability transforms construction delays from revenue loss into lead generation opportunities.

3. Budget Discipline & Scalability

Marketing cost per listing drops to single euros, freeing budget for premium photography or paid ads. This cost efficiency enables Solyom to stage every property, not just premium listings.

The Bigger Picture: Transforming Agency Operations

Virtual staging has moved from a "nice-to-have" to a standard operating step at Solyom Immobilien:

Business Impact Beyond Staging

• Landlord Acquisition – Presentation decks now include live Pedra demos, helping Solyom win exclusives over traditional brokers.
• Brand Differentiation – Fast, stylish visuals position the agency as tech-forward amid conventional competitors.
• Sustainability Alignment – Zero physical furniture transport, printing, or waste — aligning with Germany's environmental regulations.
• Workflow Efficiency – Reduced back-and-forth with vendors frees agents for client relationship building.

Implementation Playbook

Based on Solyom's experience, here's the step-by-step approach for agencies considering the switch:

Week 1: Setup & Training

• Subscribe to Pedra (start with mid-tier plan)
• Train 2-3 agents on upload and styling workflow
• Establish style guidelines for brand consistency

Week 2-3: Pilot Testing

• Select 3-5 properties for initial staging
• Compare results against previous freelancer work
• Gather client and prospect feedback

Week 4+: Full Implementation

• Apply staging to all new listings
• Retrofit existing slow-moving properties
• Track performance metrics and ROI

Key Takeaways for Real Estate Professionals

1. Visualize Faster – Don't let unfinished walls delay your marketing calendar. Speed to market often trumps perfect timing.

2. Outsource to AI, Not Freelancers – Control quality and timelines in-house rather than managing vendor relationships.

3. Fill Vacancies Quicker – Engaging visuals cut idle days and boost rental income, especially for pre-construction marketing.

4. Scale Without Proportional Costs – AI staging enables portfolio growth without proportional increases in marketing expenses.

If you're wrestling with bare drywall photos or slow freelancer cycles, the Solyom Immobilien playbook demonstrates a clear path forward.

About Solyom Immobilien

Company Detail	Information
Name	Solyom Immobilien
Industry	Residential Rentals & New Developments
Location	Mönchengladbach, Germany (Rhine-Ruhr corridor)
Specialty	Urban infill projects and gut renovations
Portfolio Focus	Mid-market rental properties in growth districts
Pedra Customer Since	April 2025
Team Size	Boutique agency with 6 professionals

Founded by property-investment veterans, Solyom Immobilien combines data-driven acquisition with design-centric marketing to maximize returns for landlords and developers across the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, including Mönchengladbach, Düsseldorf, Viersen, Korschenbroich, and surrounding cities in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How accurate is virtual staging for unfinished properties?

Pedra creates concept-level visualizations that help prospects envision completed spaces. For construction accuracy, pair visuals with architectural drawings and disclosure that images show proposed finishes.

Is virtual staging legal in Germany's rental market?

Yes, virtual staging is widely accepted when properly disclosed. Follow standard practices by noting that images are virtually staged and provide original photos during property tours.

Can AI staging handle different architectural styles?

Absolutely. Pedra adapts to various architectural contexts, from traditional German housing styles to modern new-builds across the Rhine-Ruhr region, ensuring furniture and finishes complement the space's character.

How does virtual staging compare to physical staging costs?

Physical staging in Germany averages €800-1,500 per property per month. Virtual staging costs under €10 per property with unlimited revisions and no storage or logistics fees.

What if prospects expect the exact furniture shown?

Set clear expectations by labeling images as "virtually staged" and explaining that staging shows style and spatial potential, not specific items included with the rental.

How quickly can listings go live after photography?

With Pedra, listings can go live within minutes of photography. The typical timeline: shoot in morning, stage entire property in minutes, publish before lunch.

Sources and Further Reading

• German rental market analysis: ImmobilienScout24 Market Report
• German real estate regulations: Bundesverband deutscher Wohnungs- und Immobilienunternehmen (GdW)
• Virtual staging best practices: European Real Estate Technology Association

---

Ready to transform your agency's visual production like Solyom Immobilien? Start your Pedra trial today and see why thousands of real estate professionals choose AI over freelancers.