To Stage or Not to Stage When Selling a Home

As the spring home buying season kicks off, a new survey from the National Association of Realtors® shows that 83 percent of buyers' agents say that staging makes it easier for buyers to visualize a property as their future home, according to NAR's 2019 Profile of Home Staging.

The report contains a new section called "Buyer Expectations," which focuses on how home buying television shows are impacting Realtors®' businesses as well as homebuyers' views on the home buying process. Thirty-eight percent of respondents say that television shows that display the home buying process have had an impact on their business, while 32 percent say they witnessed no impact and 31 percent say they do not know if they have an impact.

"Buying a house is more than a financial decision; it is an emotional decision as well. Buyers aren't just making an investment in a property, they are purchasing a place to call home; to raise their children; to begin a new chapter; or to retire to a new season of life," said NAR President John Smaby.

"Realtors® understand the importance of making a residential property as welcoming and appealing as possible to potential buyers. While every Realtor® doesn't use staging in every situation, the potential value it brings is clear to both homebuyers and sellers."

According to the report, more than half of sellers' agents said that staging a home decreases the amount of time a home spends on the market, with 25 percent saying that it greatly decreases the time and 28 percent saying it slightly decreases the time.

In addition to staging, agents recommended sellers take these important actions: Ninety-five percent recommend decluttering the home, 89 percent recommend an entire home cleaning and 83 percent recommend removing pets from the home during showings. Other pre-sale projects include carpet cleaning, depersonalizing the home and making minor repairs.

The National Association of Realtors® is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.