Is it Better to Professionally Stage Your Home When Selling?

Selling a home can be an overwhelming and stressful process. The market is constantly fluctuating, and the competition among sellers can be fierce. One of the most powerful tools available to home sellers is home staging. Home staging is the practice of preparing a house for sale in the real estate market by making it look aesthetically pleasing and more inviting to potential buyers. While some sellers may be tempted to skip the professional staging process to save money, there are several scenarios in which professionally staging your home can significantly impact the sale price and the time it takes to sell. This blog will explore when and why it is better to professionally stage your home when selling. Is it Better to Professionally Stage Your Home When Selling?

What is Home Staging? Home staging is the process of arranging furniture, decor, and other elements in a home to highlight its best features and make it feel more inviting to potential buyers. Professional stagers are skilled in understanding how to use design principles, furniture, color schemes, and decor to showcase the home’s potential. In some cases, staging may also involve cleaning, repainting, or even making minor repairs to enhance the home’s appeal. Home staging can range from a light touch-up, such as rearranging furniture and adding a few stylish accessories, to more elaborate work, such as bringing in new furniture or completely redesigning the space. The goal of staging is to help potential buyers envision themselves living in the home and to make it stand out in a crowded real estate market.

The Benefits of Professional Home Staging: Before diving into when it is best to stage a home, it’s important to first understand the potential benefits of professional staging. While it may seem like an extra expense, staging can provide a significant return on investment. Here are some of the most notable benefits:

Faster Sale: A professionally staged home can sell much faster than a non-staged one. Studies have shown that homes that are professionally staged tend to sell 73% faster than those that are not. Buyers are more likely to decide quickly when they can easily picture themselves living in the home. A staged home creates an emotional connection and often helps buyers overcome hesitation.

Higher Sale Price: Staged homes have been known to sell for more money. A National Association of Realtors (NAR) survey found that 39% of sellers’ agents said that staging a home increases the selling price by 1% to 5%. While this percentage may vary based on the market and other factors, the increase in sale price often outweighs the cost of staging.
Better First Impressions First impressions are crucial when selling a home. Buyers often make decisions based on what they see within the first few minutes of walking through the door. A well-staged home allows the buyer to easily see how each room can be used and highlights the property’s best features. It can make a home appear larger, brighter, and more functional.

More Marketability: In today’s digital age, most buyers begin their home search online. Professional staging ensures that your home looks amazing in listing photos, which can attract more attention and lead to more showings. Homes that are staged typically photograph better, and high-quality images often result in more inquiries from prospective buyers.

Reduced Negotiation Leverage for Buyers: Staged homes are visually appealing, well-maintained, and often require fewer repairs. As a result, buyers are less likely to request price reductions or ask for repairs, which can leave more money in the seller’s pocket. A staged home signals to buyers that the property has been well cared for, making them more confident in their purchase.

When is it Better to Professionally Stage Your Home? While the benefits of staging are clear, it’s important to understand when staging can have the most significant impact. Staging is not always necessary for every property or every seller. Here are some specific scenarios when staging can be especially beneficial:

1. When Your Home is Vacant One of the most common reasons to hire a professional stager is when your home is vacant. Empty homes can be difficult for potential buyers to connect with because they lack personality and warmth. A vacant home can appear cold, uninviting, and even smaller than it is. Without furniture or decor to showcase how the space can be used, buyers may struggle to visualize the property’s potential. Professional staging can help by filling the space with furniture and accessories, making the home feel lived-in and cozy. Staging can also help buyers understand how the rooms flow and what the layout looks like with furniture. If your home is vacant, staging is one of the best ways to make your listing stand out.

2. When Your Home Has Outdated or Unusual Décor If your home’s décor is outdated, unusual, or overly personalized, staging can be a game-changer. Homes with dated wallpaper, old furniture, or bold color choices can alienate potential buyers. People may have difficulty seeing past these features and may even be turned off by the idea of having to make significant changes.
A professional stager can rework the design to modernize the space, introducing neutral color palettes, contemporary furniture, and updated décor. This can make your home more universally appealing and help buyers see beyond the previous owner’s tastes.

3. When You Live in a Competitive Market In a competitive real estate market, where buyers have many options, your home must stand out. Homes that are staged tend to capture more attention and generate more interest. In markets where inventory is high, home staging can make the difference between your home sitting on the market for months and selling quickly at a great price. Even if you have a beautifully maintained home, staging can still make it more competitive. It ensures your home presents its best self, showing off its potential and highlighting its features in a way that makes it stand out from other listings.

4. When You Have a Unique or Difficult Floor Plan Not all homes have an easy-to-visual layout. For example, homes with open floor plans, small rooms, or unusual layouts can be harder for buyers to envision how they would use the space. Staging helps buyers understand how to make the most of the space by showing them practical furniture arrangements and design ideas. If your home has a tricky floor plan that might confuse or overwhelm buyers, staging can help clarify the best use of each room. Staging can also help emphasize the home’s strengths—like turning an awkward corner into a cozy reading nook or showcasing a small room as a perfect office space.

5. When You Want to Appeal to a Specific Buyer Demographic Home staging allows sellers to appeal to a specific type of buyer. For example, if you are selling a family home, a professional stager can arrange the space to highlight features that would appeal to parents, such as spacious bedrooms, a playroom, or a backyard. If you’re selling a luxury home, a professional stager can create an elegant, sophisticated atmosphere that speaks to high-end buyers. By tailoring the décor and layout to suit a specific target audience, professional staging can help your home stand out and create a stronger emotional connection with buyers. If you have a particular demographic in mind, staging can make all the difference.

6. When Your Home Has Been on the Market for a While Without Any Offers If your home has been sitting on the market for an extended period without any offers, it may be time to consider staging. Buyers often hesitate to make offers on homes that have been listed for a long time, assuming something may be wrong with the property. A stale listing can start to feel less appealing. Staging can breathe new life into your listing by giving it a fresh, updated look that generates renewed interest. Whether it’s by rearranging furniture or adding new décor, staging can help position your home in a way that attracts buyers and makes it feel more desirable.

7. When You’re Trying to Maximize Your Home’s Potential Value Staging is a great way to ensure that you’re getting the highest possible return on investment. If you’re selling in a market where every dollar counts, staging can help you achieve a higher sale price. Even in markets where the demand is high, staging helps your home stand out from the competition, which may ultimately lead to multiple offers and a higher final sale price. If you’re in a situation where maximizing your home’s value is a priority, staging can help by showcasing the property’s strengths and making it more appealing to a wide range of buyers.

Conclusion: In today’s competitive real estate market, professionally staging your home when selling can be one of the smartest moves you make. It can help your home sell faster, for a higher price, and with fewer concessions on your part. Staging is especially beneficial in certain situations, such as when your home is vacant, has outdated decor, is located in a competitive market, or has an unusual floor plan. By enlisting the help of a professional stager, you can ensure that your home looks its best, highlights its strengths, and appeals to a broader range of buyers. While staging does require an investment, the return in terms of a faster sale and higher price often far outweighs the costs. Ultimately, staging can be the key to turning a “For Sale” sign into a “Sold” sign.