One quarter of agents say it bumps price by 10%
It makes sense that staging a listing to make a home more appealing might influence a buyer’s decision.
But, that’s just a nebulous idea until you put a dollar value on it.
So, here it is: 25% of agents representing buyers in survey by the National Association of Realtors last
month said staging increased offers by up to 5%. Using NAR’s March median price of $259,400, that’s
$12,970. About 12% said it increased offers by up to 10%, or $25,940. And, 29% said it had no impact
on the offer.
Agents representing sellers put a higher dollar value on home staging. About 22% reported a bump in
sale price of up to 5%, 17% reported an increase of up to 10%, and 2% reported a payback of up to 20% –
on a median-priced home, that’s a cool $51,880.
When deciding which homes need extra help, 28% of sellers’ agents said they stage all listings and 45%
said they don’t get involved in staging, but they advise sellers to declutter and spruce up a home. About
13% said they only stage homes that are difficult to sell, and 7% only stage homes in higher price
brackets.
“Buying a house is more than a financial decision – it’s an emotional decision as well,” said NAR President
John Smaby, a broker at Edina Realty in Edina, Minnesota. “Realtors have the expertise and local market
knowledge to know which properties and specific rooms will benefit the most from staging.”
About 47% of agents who represent buyers said living rooms are the most important area to stage, 42%
put master bedrooms next on the list, and 35% cited kitchens in third place. Sellers’ agents had the same
list, but in reverse order: kitchens, master bedrooms, and then living rooms. One thing they all agreed
on: the guest bedroom is the least important to stage.
More than half of the sellers’ agents said that staging decreases the amount of time a home spends on the
market. Of those, 25% said it greatly decreases the time and 28% said it slightly decreases the time.