8 eye-opening home-staging statistics for 2024

If you’re in the process of selling your home, you may be wondering whether professional staging is worth the investment. The current home staging statistics are mind-boggling: While every seller has different needs, not to mention a different budget, a properly staged home generally sells faster and for a better price than one that hasn’t been staged. That means it’s often worth paying home staging rates to get the most bang for your buck out of a sale.

Does staging help sell a house?

Professional home staging is the process of preparing a residence for sale by improving its appearance. This entails decluttering, rearranging furniture, and adding decor to highlight a home’s best features. Overall, the goal is to create a space that feels inviting, spacious, and attractive to potential buyers.

Professional home stagers use their expertise to create a polished, cohesive look that will improve the chances of a sale. They often work with real estate agents and homeowners to develop a targeted plan to make a house stand out in a crowded market. 

Home-staging statistics to know

Investing in professional staging may seem like an added expense, but the return on investment can be significant in terms of both a faster sale and a higher sale price. 

Read on to discover some of the most interesting home staging statistics for 2023—we promise some will surprise you!

1. Faster sales: 73% less time on the market

No seller wants their home to languish on the market. Typically, the longer a home sits on the market, the more wiggle room buyers have to negotiate a lower offer. The question is: does staging help sell a house? According to the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA), it does. Staged homes spend 73% less time on the market than those that aren’t staged.¹ 

This statistic speaks volumes about the impact staging can have on your home’s sale. By putting effort into showcasing your home’s best features, you give buyers a glimpse into the potential and possibility of living in the space.

Learn how else to sell a home fast

2. Increased selling price: staged homes sell for $40k over asking on average

While you can pour money into things that raise your home’s value — like curb appeal improvements, new flooring, and other updates — home staging can provide you a big bang for your buck. What’s more, there’s no prolonged construction messes to deal with. 

According to home staging statistics from RESA, staged properties can sell for an average of $40k over asking.² This is a significant boost to any seller’s bottom line, and makes the investment in staging well worth the effort.

3. Higher buyer appeal: 82% stronger connection

Want to make your home stand out on the market? Staged homes stick out in the minds of potential buyers, for all the right reasons. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), staged homes have a greater appeal to potential buyers. In fact, 82% of buyers find it easier to visualize a property as their future home when it’s staged.³ 

By highlighting the key features of your home and creating a warm, inviting atmosphere, potential buyers are able to see themselves living in the space, and they’re more likely to make an offer.

4. Positive first impression: 7-10 seconds to create a connection

Every seller knows that making a great first impression is critical. In some cases, turned-off buyers might not even make it through your front door if your home’s lacking in curb appeal or presents a negative first impression. 

RESA found that buyers tend to form an opinion about a property within the first few moments they’ve stepped inside.⁴ That’s why staging your home is such a powerful tool. By thoughtfully arranging furniture, adding decor, and creating a warm and inviting atmosphere, you can instantly capture buyers’ attention and help them imagine themselves in the space, all in a matter of seconds.

5. Room importance: living areas are worth staging 

Not every room in your home needs to be staged to make your home sale a success. According to home staging statistics from the NAR, the living room is the most important room in a home to stage (47%).⁵ Buyers’ agents say the next most important rooms are the master bedroom (42%), and then the kitchen (35%). Focusing on staging these essential areas can give your home the edge it needs to attract potential buyers.

6. Competitive edge: 10% better visualization

Staging gives sellers a competitive edge in the real estate market. The NAR reports that staging helps homebuyers visualize a home’s full potential by up to 80%. This helps buyers who would otherwise struggle to imagine your home as their own. 

Staging helps showcase the property’s best features and can even downplay some of its shortcomings. By creating a cohesive design that highlights what your home has to offer, you’ll give potential buyers an easy way to visualize their life in the property that they won’t find in other homes on the market.

7. Return on investment: 586% back on every dollar spent

Home staging rates aren’t all that high, which means this is an investment that can yield great returns. According to the RESA, the average return on investment (ROI) for staging is around 586%.⁶ This means that for every dollar spent on staging, sellers can potentially receive an average of $5.86 in return. That’s a hard-to-beat ROI.

While the return you get for your home sale will vary depending on a variety of factors, it’s clear that home staging is a smart investment for anyone who wants to maximize their profits when selling their home.

8. Cost-effective solution: only 1% to 5% of the home’s value

Home staging rates don’t need to break your budget. According to the NAR, almost a third of sellers’ agents estimate that the cost of staging a home can be as little as 1% to 5% of the home’s total value.⁷ This means that staging can be a cost-effective solution for enhancing a property’s appeal without having to break the bank. 

With such a low investment, homeowners can reap the rewards of a higher sale price or a quicker sale. If you’re considering selling your home, it may be worth giving staging a try.

Home staging is an investment worth making in 2023

The real estate market is more crowded and competitive than ever before. That’s why staging your home is an important step to consider when selling. By highlighting the best features of your property and creating an inviting atmosphere, potential buyers are more likely to remember your home and see its full potential. 

Staging isn’t just a way to make your property stand out; it’s also a great opportunity to showcase how functional and livable it can be. With the right staging techniques, you can create an emotional connection with buyers, helping them see themselves living in the space. By investing in staging, you’re investing in a better chance of selling your home and getting the best possible return on your investment.