Stage and Appraise: What Is the Actual Value of Staging Your Home?

By Michael Franco

July 19, 2025

If you’ve ever walked into a beautifully furnished model home and imagined yourself living there, you’ve experienced the power of home staging. It’s not just about making a space look pretty — it’s a strategic move designed to help buyers emotionally connect with a property, envision it as their own, and ultimately make an offer faster (and often at a better price).

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But what exactly does staging involve, and does it really pay off?

What Is Home Staging and How Does It Work?

Home staging is the process of preparing a property for sale by arranging furniture, accent pieces, artwork and lighting to show off the home’s best features. The goal is to encourage potential buyers to imagine themselves living comfortably in the space. This might mean removing personal items like family photos, updating worn furnishings, repainting bold walls in neutral tones or even renting stylish furniture to give a vacant home a lived-in feel.

The focus is on creating an inviting, aspirational version of the space — not necessarily how a person would actually live day-to-day, but how they might want to live. A staged dining room, for instance, may feature elegant table settings, soft lighting and just enough furniture to emphasize spaciousness.

Does Home Staging Really Help Sell a House Faster?

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), it does. In their 2023 Profile of Home Staging, 83 percent of buyers’ agents said staging made it easier for a buyer to envision the property as a future home. What’s more, 30 percent of sellers' agents said staging helped homes sell faster.

That speed can translate into real savings. Every day your home sits on the market racks up carrying costs like mortgage payments, utilities, insurance, and property taxes. If staging helps you avoid an extended listing, it may more than pay for itself even before you factor in a higher sale price.

What Is the ROI for Home Staging?

While return on investment (ROI) can vary depending on market conditions and how much you spend, home staging typically offers a strong return. The 2023 NAR report found that 19 percent of sellers’ agents believed staging increased the dollar value of the home between 1 percent and 5 percent. On a $500,000 home, that could mean an extra $5,000 to $20,000.

A separate analysis by the Home Staging Institute found that staged homes spend 73 percent less time on the market than unstaged homes — a clear financial advantage when you consider time-sensitive carrying costs.

It’s not just luxury homes that benefit, either. In competitive markets, even modest homes may see significant gains from proper staging. And with more buyers starting their search online, staged homes tend to photograph better, which boosts visibility and traffic from the start.

Staging My Home Myself Versus Hiring a Pro

You can absolutely stage your home yourself — and many sellers do. DIY staging often involves decluttering, deep cleaning, rearranging existing furniture, and adding small upgrades like fresh flowers, neutral rugs, or updated cabinet hardware. With some research and effort, DIY staging can be done for a few hundred dollars, especially if you already have attractive furniture and decor on hand.

However, hiring a professional home stager can take your presentation to the next level. A professional brings a trained eye for layout, lighting, and buyer psychology, plus access to stylish, rental-friendly furniture. They often know exactly what local buyers are looking for and how to frame your home accordingly.

Professional home staging costs vary based on location, home size, and whether the property is occupied or vacant. On average staging costs between $837 and $2,924 with the average coming in at $1,844. If you need to rent furniture for the staging project, you can expect to pay between $500 and 600 per month on top of that.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to stage your entire home. Many agents recommend focusing on key rooms — typically the living room, kitchen, primary bedroom, and dining area — where buyers tend to form their strongest impressions.

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Is It Worth It?

Staging isn’t a magic bullet, but when done well, it can significantly improve how quickly your home sells and how much it sells for. It’s particularly valuable in slower markets or when your property has quirks that need softening — like small rooms, awkward layouts or outdated finishes.

Even simple changes like removing bulky furniture, using lighter window treatments, or adding a fresh coat of paint can make a home feel more spacious and modern. For sellers on a budget, these small efforts often offer the best bang for your buck.

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