Why Actual Staging Far Outweighs Virtual Staging

With the real estate market being so crazy hot right now, many real estate agents may be less interested in staging their listings. This makes sense. The home staging industry was built on statistics like “staged homes sell 88% faster.” This home staging statistic was compelling when the average home took a few months to sell. However, in a seller’s market, the expectation is that a listing will go under contract the first weekend, so even 88% faster is not that big of a deal. How do you know if your market is a "seller's market?" “A seller’s market is when there are more homebuyers looking to purchase a home than actual houses listed for sale. A seller’s market usually results in rising home prices, stiffer competition, and increased bidding wars among homebuyers.” -Redfin Houses are spending far fewer days on the market, even without staging. But staging is not just about getting a home sold quickly. Home staging creates an emotional connection for the buyer. Falling in love with the home is especially important in a seller’s market in order to make the highest possible profit on every listing. Let us explain. 1. Staged listings make buyers fall in love. And that is important! The purpose of staging is to make buyers fall in love with the home. Every home is someone's dream home, and staging minimizes any perceived negatives and maximizes the perceived positives. A 2021 National Association of Realtors™ study on home staging reported that 82% of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home. Increasing the perceived value of the home while creating an emotional connection for buyers will not only set your listing apart from the other homes on the market, but will yield higher offers.

Why You Still Need Staging in a Seller's Market by Lexi Klinkenberg