Recent Study Shows Staging Sells Homes Faster

According to a recent report conducted by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), almost half of seller’s agents polled stated that staging a home had decreased the amount of time on the market for sale. Additionally, 20% of buyer and seller agents reported that staging a home can increase the offer price anywhere between 1 and 5%. 

"As days on market has lengthened for home sellers, it is not a surprise to see the return of home staging as a tool to attract potential buyers," said Jessica Lautz, NAR deputy chief economist and vice president of research. "Buyers want to easily envision themselves within a new home and home staging is a way to showcase the property in its best light."

Most buyer agents also agreed that a staged home makes it much easier for buyers to visualize the property set up as their own. Living rooms were said to be the most important room to be staged followed by the main bedroom and kitchen respectively. Vacant homes of course are in need of these rooms outfitted and staged with appropriate and scaled furniture. For homes that sellers currently live in, at times a little light staging is necessary with eliminating, adding or rearranging furniture and decorations in order to display the home’s true potential.

Today, with so many real estate shows on television most buyers are trained to expect to see homes for sale staged and looking more turnkey. This has set the expectation for what they anticipate to see when touring homes for sale. 

Professional real estate agents such as myself are trained and have the expertise to assist sellers with what needs to be done to their particular home when it comes time to sell. This can require some decluttering, doing necessary updating, cleaning and staging. While the home may not be arranged as a homeowner typically had it, this valuable prep work can really make a big difference when putting the home on the market for sale.