Design Shows Raise Buyer Expectations with Staged Homes

Staged homes can sell faster and for more money, according to the 2021 Profile of Home Staging, a report released this week by the National Association of REALTORS®. Television shows about home design may be having an influence on buyers’ perceptions of what homes for sale should look like, the survey finds.

Sixty-three percent of real estate professionals surveyed said their buyers requested a home that looks like homes that are staged on television. Are their expectations too high? Sixty-eight percent of REALTORS® said their buyers were disappointed by how homes appeared compared with those seen on TV shows.

TV design shows may lead to unrealistic expectations when house hunters go to view homes for sale. “The magic of television can make a home transformation look like it happened in a quick 60-minute time frame, which is an unrealistic standard,” says NAR President Charlie Oppler. That said, these shows can also help educate some home buyers and sellers about the sales process.

As more buyers peruse listings online, they are placing more weight on photos, virtual tours, and videos. Staged homes may get even more attention.

“Staging a home helps consumers see the full potential of a given space or property,” says Jessica Lautz, NAR’s vice president of demographics and behavioral insights. “It features the home in its best light and helps would-be buyers envision its various possibilities.”

Buyers may be tempted to spend more on a home that is staged, too, the survey finds. Twenty-three percent of buyer’s agents said that home staging raised the dollar value offered between 1% and 5% compared with similar homes on the market that hadn’t been staged. Similarly, 23% of seller’s agents also reported a 1% to 5% increase on offers for their staged homes. Eighteen percent of seller’s agents reported even more—offers that were 6% to 10% more for staged homes.

Staged homes also may sell faster, the study says. Thirty-one percent of real estate pros said that home staging greatly decreased the amount of time a home spent on the market.

The most important rooms in the house to stage, according to more than half of real estate pros surveyed: living rooms, kitchens, primary bedrooms, and dining rooms. Also, 39% of real estate professionals said staging a home office or office space has become more important since the pandemic.

 

Source: “2021 Profile of Home Staging,” National Association of REALTORS® (April 6, 2021)