New Report Reveals the Effect Staging Has on Buyers

If you’re looking to sell your home in less time for more money, a new study suggests that you’re going to need to stage it.

According to the National Association of REALTORS®’s 2015 Profile of Home Staging, 49% of Realtors who typically represent home buyers report most buyers are affected by home staging.

Yet, although almost half of all home buyers are at least somewhat influenced by the staging of a house, only about one-third (34%) of Realtors who represent home sellers stage each home they’re selling, 13% only stage homes that are difficult to sell, and 4% only stage high price-bracket homes.

“Realtors® know how important it is to have a home in the best shape possible when showing it to prospective buyers,” said Chris Polychron, the President of the National Association of REALTORS®, in a statement. “At a minimum, homeowners should conduct a thorough cleaning, haul out clutter, make sure the home is well-lit and fix any major aesthetic issues. Another option is staging a home, which Realtors® often suggest to sellers to help prospective buyers better visualize themselves in the home and could modestly increase the home’s value for both the buyer and seller.”

The survey also revealed that 32% of agents who represent homebuyers believed staging increased the dollar values their clients would be willing to offer by as much as 5%.

While it’s certainly possible for home sellers to stage their houses themselves, many will actually invest money into paying a professional, in order to sell their homes for a higher price faster. The survey revealed that the median dollar value home sellers usually pay to stage a home is $675 for each home.

“Real estate investors will also buy the home as-is and will normally close on the purchase in a much shorter time span than traditional sales,” said Bryan Schroeder, owner of FasterHouse, a St. Charles, Missouri based real estate investment company. “This option can save the average home seller thousands of dollars and a great deal of time, since they don’t have to show their home to prospective buyers.”

“Working with a Realtor® gives buyers, sellers and investors the advantage they need to succeed in today’s market, as they know what buyers want and how to best market and stage a home for sale,” said Polychron. “While many factors play into what a home is worth and what buyers are willing to pay for it, staging is an excellent tool that can be used to give a home a little extra push for sellers.”