Agents say living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens are staging priorities
Home staging is boosting home sales, helping lure buyers, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
The report showed that nearly 29% of real estate agents said staging resulted in a 1% to 10% increase in the dollar value offered, while almost half (49%) observed that staging reduced the time homes spent on the market.
The findings reveal the influence staging has on buyers’ perceptions and decisions. According to 60% of buyers’ agents, staging had some effect on how buyers viewed a property, while 26% said it affected most buyers’ impressions. Only 12% reported no effect.
A large majority, 83% of buyers’ agents, said that staging made it easier for buyers to picture the home as their future residence. Buyers’ agents also noted that homes decorated to match buyers’ tastes could positively impact perceived value (32%) and increase the likelihood that buyers would want to visit in person after viewing online (31%).
“The typical home seller resides in their home for 10 years before selling,” said Jessica Lautz, NAR deputy chief economist and vice president of research. “During that time, homeowners might overlook certain aspects that could be less appealing to potential buyers.”
When it comes to which rooms matter most, buyers’ agents pointed to the living room (37%), primary bedroom (34%), and kitchen (23%) as the top priorities. Staging less essential areas like guest bedrooms (7%) was considered much less important.
Visual presentation is key, with 73% of buyers’ agents emphasizing the importance of photos, 57% recommending traditional physical staging, 48% highlighting videos, and 43% supporting virtual tours in listings.
From the seller’s side, 17% of agents said staging boosted the dollar value offered by 1% to 5% compared to similar unstaged homes. Yet only 21% of sellers’ agents staged all homes before listing, and 10% staged only difficult-to-sell properties. Over half (51%) chose not to stage but recommended decluttering or fixing up property flaws.
Among the most commonly staged rooms were living rooms (91%), primary bedrooms (83%), dining rooms (69%), and kitchens (68%). Least commonly staged were guest and children’s bedrooms (both 22%).
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As for who covers the cost, 26% of sellers’ agents said it depends on the situation, 23% personally cover the staging, and 17% reported sellers paying. The median cost for professional staging was $1,500, while agent-managed staging cost around $500.
Real estate agents frequently recommend sellers make improvements like decluttering (91%), deep cleaning (88%), and improving curb appeal (77%). They also prioritize listing photos (88%), videos (47%), and traditional staging (43%), while virtual staging was considered less important by 34%.
The report also points to the influence of homebuying TV shows on buyer expectations. Nearly half of agents (48%) said buyers expect staged homes to look like those on television, and 58% said buyers were disappointed when reality didn’t match TV portrayals. Additionally, 77% of agents said TV shows created unrealistic or elevated expectations, while 14% noted they produced more informed buyers and sellers.
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