Home Staging Statistics

Key statistics + insights

• 82% of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home. (National Association of Realtors)
• 47% of real estate agents claim that home staging had an effect on most buyers’ view of the home. (National Association of Realtors)
• In 2019, the average dollar value spent on staging homes was $400. (National Association of Realtors)
• The two least important rooms to stage are the home office and guest bedrooms. (Homelight)
• A professionally staged home spends 73% less time on the market compared to those without staging. (Professional Staging)
• Staged homes on the market sold for 25% more than homes without staging. (Realtor Magazine)

 

Table of contents

1. Professional staging statistics
2. Property staging statistics
3. Staging cost statistics
4. Benefits of staging
5. Why staging works
6. Home design trends
7. Home renovations and insurance: how much does it cost
8. FAQs about home staging 

 

Professional home staging statistics

Every year, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) publishes reports on housing statistics, commercial research, and state area data in regards to housing and commercial real estate. The following is taken from a 2021 profile on home staging. Other data sources include Spotless Agency, Bankrate, and Investopedia.

• Staging the living room was found to be very important for buyers (46%), followed by staging the master bedroom (43%), and staging the kitchen (35%).
• About 28% of listing agents stage a seller’s home before putting it up in the market.
• 40% of buyers arrange to look at the home they have seen staged online.
• 28% of seller's agents said they staged their homes before listing.
• Homeowners see a 5-15% return on investment when they choose to professionally stage their homes before they sell them on the market.
• Home buys are 40% more likely to "walk through the home they saw online".
• 46% of 3,500 staged homes sold for 10% more than they would have as non-staged homes.
• 95% of buyers search online for homes.

 

Property staging statistics

According to reports by Professional Staging, NAR, Investopedia, and Bankrate:

• 86% of potential buyers find it easier for themselves to visualize a property when it is staged.
• 77% of buyer’s agents said a properly-staged home makes it easier for prospective buyers to imagine themselves in the home.
• Over 41% of top real estate agents believe that vacant homes benefit the most from home staging.
• In 2017, only 35% of home buyers bid on homes without ever physically touring the location.

 

Home staging costs

For more information, consider the full reports by Investopedia, Moving.com, and Bankrate.

• Virtual staging will cost between $59 and $129 per photo for luxury listings.
• Hiring a staging company costs an average price of $400.
• Staging the home can cost about .75% of a home's price.
• The cost of hiring someone to stage your home averages between $2,300 to $3,200
• Virtual staging can reduce the cost of staging by up to 97%.

 

Benefits of home staging

The following data comes from the Real Estate Staging Association Publications, the National Association of Realtors and Professional Staging.

• 85% of staged homes sold for 5 to 23% over their listing price.
• 22% of sellers’ agents reported a 1% to 5% increase in selling price for homes that had been staged versus homes that were not.
• Home staging brings in an 8-10% return on investment.
• A staged home spends 73% less time on the market than a non-staged home.
• 81% of homebuyers say that a staged home makes it easier for them to sell their home
• Staging a home on the market increases the sale price of the home on average anywhere from 1-10% according to 50% of home real estate agents.

 

Why staging works

According to the National Association of Realtors and Homelight:

• Staging had no effect on only 4% of buyers.
• 47% of buyers’ agents cited that home staging has a positive effect on the home buying process.
• 96% of realtors believe that home staging positively influences a buyer’s decision.
• 31% of buyers claimed staging their home increased their offer on a home.
• Home staging can sell your home 6-10% faster.

 

Home design trends

Staging your home has huge positive effects on how long your home stays on the market and how much it will sell for. But because of the global pandemic, home staging design trends have changed. Check out the latest trends to be sure your house stands out.

1. If you’re virtually staging your home, consider painting the walls a camera-friendly shade. 68% of realtors recommend neutral or lighter paint colors that show up best in video.
2. Use plants to brighten up a room and give a little something extra to empty spaces in your home. A little greenery can go a long way.
3. Remote work changed the lives of workers everywhere. If you plan on staging your home, consider focusing your efforts on the office space. Prospective buyers should be able to see themselves working in your home before they buy.
4. Consider virtually staging your home in addition to physically staging your home. The COVID 19 pandemic continues to be a threat throughout the country so visits can be made easier and safer by going virtual.
5. Simplify your kitchen with minimalist hardware. Minimalist trends have been increasing in popularity in recent years so be sure your appliances contain clean lines and sleek styles.

 

Home staging and insurance considerations

Depending on what kind of shape your house is in when you go to sell it, it might require some remodeling work before you can properly stage it. Because remodeling can often increase the value of your home, your home insurance will often change with major remodeling projects. 

Most home insurance policies require you to carry enough insurance for at least 80% of the property's replacement value, so make sure to confirm the value of your home before the remodel. Call your insurance company to confirm your coverage and let them know about any additions or home improvements you're planning to make and inquire whether it will be necessary to increase your coverage limit. Though homeowners insurance should cover potential incidents during the remodel, your insurer will expect your contractor's liability insurance to pay out for the damage since they expect your contractor to carry their own insurance. Workers' compensation is meant to cover any injuries the contractor and their employees may sustain while working on the project in your home.

Different remodeling projects can increase your homeowners' insurance at different amounts. Consider the cost of upgrades below:

 

Frequently asked questions about home staging

 

Question: What is home staging?

Answer: To be as clear as possible, home staging is the act of preparing your home for selling — staging your home to look as if someone lives there so that potential buyers can more easily see themselves existing in that space. 

Q: How much does home staging cost?

A: In 2019, the average dollar value spent on staging homes was $400. (National Association of Realtors)

Q: How much to start a home staging business?

A: The short answer: it depends. If you offer consulting services, then starting a home staging business might cost only a few thousand dollars. But if you are a full-service home staging business that fills empty homes with magazine-quality furniture and decor, then you might be on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars. 

Q: Who pays for home staging?

A: Fortunately, that is up to the home seller. Either the seller can pay for it, as can the real estate agent and the real estate company's concierge service, or the real estate agent and the seller can split the cost. In most cases, the costs are not considered until closing.

Sources

Cover of the Profile of Home Staging report [NAR]

18 Helpful Home Staging Statistics From Our Survey of 900 Agents [HomeLight]

10 Amazing Home Staging Statistics That May Surprise You [Professional Staging]

RESA Publications [RESA]

2019 Profile of Home Staging [NAR]

 

Methodology

This study was conducted for The Zebra using Google Consumer Surveys. The sample consisted of no less than 1,000 completed responses per question. Post-stratification weighting has been applied to ensure an accurate and reliable representation of the total population. This survey was conducted in September 2021. 

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