Why Home Staging is a Smart Investment for Realtors

First impression count: Sell faster and get a higher price

As a listing agent for home sellers, your goal is to sell homes quickly and for the highest possible price. While there are many strategies available to you, one of the most effective tools in your arsenal is home staging. Staging a home—transforming it into a welcoming, stylish and neutral space—can have a significant impact on both the speed of sale and the final selling price. In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of home staging for realtors, explaining why it's an investment worth making.

The Power of First Impressions
In real estate, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." When a potential buyer searches listings on the Internet, the first photos they see can make a huge impact. A well-staged home makes listing photos come alive for potential buyers, helping them to prioritize your listings over others. Once potential buyers step inside, they feel like they’re walking into a home where they can envision their lives unfolding. 

Staging helps create that emotional connection by showcasing the home’s best features and making it feel warm and welcoming.

Faster Sale
One of the most compelling reasons to stage a home is to sell it faster. According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2023 Profile of Home Staging, 23% of sellers’ agents reported that staging a home led to a reduction in time on market. Homes that are staged tend to attract more interest, creating a sense of urgency among buyers. A staged home provides that emotional connection, resulting in faster offers and final sales.

Higher Sales Price
Home staging can also increase the final sale price. In fact, the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) reports that staged homes sell for an average of 6% higher than unstaged homes. A professionally staged home can help buyers focus on the home’s best features and downplays its flaws, helping buyers perceive the home as more valuable. By creating a neutral yet stylish environment, you can appeal to a broader range of potential buyers, get more showings and get the maximum offer or even multiple offers.

Appeal to Today’s Buyers
Today’s buyers begin their home search online, where they view photos before deciding whether to visit a property for a personal showing. Home staging helps create visually appealing spaces that photograph well, making the home more likely to stand out online. Staging enables you to showcase a home in its best light, making it feel fresh and current while still allowing potential buyers to imagine their own personal touches.

A Small Investment with Big Returns
Home staging is hard to ignore, especially when you consider that the cost of staging is often relatively small compared to the potential financial gain. On average, staging costs range from a few hundred dollars for consultation and minor staging to several thousand for a full staging package, depending on the size of the home and the level of service. However, the financial gains of increased sale price and faster closing time often far outweigh the initial staging investment. A staged home that sells for just 2-3% more than an unstaged home and sells 1-2 months faster can more than cover the cost of staging.

Home Staging vs. Price Reductions
If you’re faced with a home that’s been sitting on the market without selling, you may consider recommending a price reduction to your seller. However, lowering the asking price can often send the wrong message to buyers, making them wonder if something is wrong with the property. Instead, staging and new listing photos can refresh the home’s appeal without the need to reduce the price, which can be just the boost a listing needs to attract new interest and offers.

Differentiating Yourself in a Competitive Market
When you're representing a seller, staging is one of the best ways to make sure the home stands out and creates that all-important emotional connection from the first viewing. In a competitive real estate market, differentiating your listings also makes you stand out as a top agent in your area, one that goes the extra mile for their clients. This, in turn, can get you more inquiries and more listings in the future, helping to ensure your continued success. 

Conclusion
In today’s competitive real estate market, staging is no longer optional—it’s a smart, strategic move that can make all the difference in how quickly and profitably a home sells. For realtors, home staging offers one of the best returns on investment in the industry. It’s an affordable way to enhance a property’s appeal, shorten its time on the market, and increase its final sale price. By investing in staging, you’re not just improving the presentation of a home—you’re setting yourself and your clients up for success.