We are asked this question frequently and the short answer is
YES, staging helps sell a house.
One misperception that must be addressed up front is that
your house may or may NOT look like what you see on the
TV programs. It’ll look great when we’re finished, however.
So, what is staging and how does it work?
“Staging is NOT just decorating, it is marketing. Staging is a
more sophisticated approach to preparing a home for the
market. Staging is a science supported by industry statistics.
When you are marketing anything, you focus on appealing to
the largest potential number of buyers. Your home needs to
become a product. Unlike decorating or design that is
tailored to a specific person’s taste or style, staging is done
objectively and in an unbiased manner. After staging, your
home should look polished, cohesive, and functional,” says
Dusty Strahan, of Kreg Staging and Design.
In a recent national study by the Real Estate Staging
Association, of 634 homes, un-staged houses spent an
average of 107 days on market (DOM) before staging. After
staging, these houses sold on average in 25 days. Houses that
were staged prior to going on the market sold on average in
18 days.
According to the National Association of Realtors, the most
commonly staged rooms when selling are: 93% living room,
84% kitchen, and 78% master bedroom. In addition to fewer
days on the market, staged houses typically sell for more
money. Depending on price range, market conditions, and
other factors, it is not uncommon to see staged houses sell for
1-10% more than un-staged properties.
The bottom line is that staging a house, as well as pricing it
appropriately, will help sell your house quickly, so you can
move on with your life.
