Why Home Staging Works!

Whether you are still living in the house while you are selling, or you are moved out and the house is vacant, in-house staging is absolutely necessary for maximizing your sale price, and also selling it faster.  There are so many benefits to preparing the house for-sale.  Here are some key reasons, statistics, and a link to our podcast on Staging.  

We realized long ago (back in 2014) that staging made a huge difference in how Buyers felt about the house, and during 2018 we were able to validate our suspicions that getting the home "ready" thru home staging, painting, new flooring (if needed), deep cleaning, and landscaping were absolutely necessary to get homes sold for top dollar.  In 2018 with the market downturn, we re-listed over 20 cancelled/expired and FSBO listings that year with some incredible results. These were basically "un-sellable" homes. After we did our staging and home updates, those homes actually became desirable to buyers, and they usually sold within the 1st week! [Contact me for the "Amazing Results" spreadsheet for the actual data.] 

Our Philosophy:

-Today’s Buyers are different. They have grown up watching HGTV and home makeover shows. Buyers have high expectations and want to be “wow’d” when they enter a home. In-house Staging helps create that emotional attachment needed for Buyers to submit an offer. An empty home or virtually-staged home is the opposite of what Buyers want and expect. Virtually-staging a home looks good online, but once the buyer gets to the house it is vacant, cold, and un-emotional. 

-The first showing is online, so a staged home will generate more interest & traffic.  

95% of buyers search online for homes.

-Most Buyers don’t have imaginations so they can get confused with vacant rooms. They aren’t sure if their furniture will fit, or where things will go. Staging can also help “define” a space.

-Virtual staging gets them to the house, but buyers are disappointed to find the house empty and emotionless.

-Staging can help distract buyers from the flaws / outdated-ness of a home, and keep the eye moving (so buyers don't get fixated on something wrong with the house). The worse thing is to have an old house that is outdated (think 80s/90s style) and then have old outdate furniture all over the house. Buyers will run away, thinking it will be a major remodel. Most buyers want "move-in-ready". Our transitional staging style can make an 80s/90s-style home look more modern and contemporary, without the seller having to do a major remodel.

Statistics:

-82% of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home. (National Association of Realtors)

-47% of real estate agents claim that home staging had an effect on most buyers’ view of the home. (National Association of Realtors)

-A professionally staged home spends 73% less time on the market compared to those without staging. (Professional Staging)

-Staged homes on the market sold for 5% more than homes without staging. (Realtor Magazine)

-Homeowners see a 5-15% return on investment when they choose to professionally stage their homes before they sell them on the market. (2021 NAR Report)

The cost of Staging is way less than your 1st price drop.

We see so many houses that are NOT staged (or virtually staged), and after 3-4 weeks on market the seller (listing agent) does 1 or 2 price drops (average $25,000 each time), and then the house finally sells.  Our average Staging costs for our sellers is only $2K to $5K, since we own our own staging company. 

Thinking about selling? **For our Selling clients in 2025 we are offering 50% off Staging services.** Contact us for more information.

Link to our Podcast Episode 4 on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5tg9PQfj1TBVNCTKqECkgO?si=VirL0PL_TaCfUYzseenVEw