A survey of 1,266 real estate agents and two controlled studies offer a practical answer to a common seller question: staging may help a home attract attention and sell sooner, but it does not reliably raise the sale price. For sellers, the evidence points toward a targeted approach—prioritize a few important rooms rather than furnishing every space.
Key takeaways
- In the National Association of Realtors’ 2025 survey, 49% of listing agents said staging reduced time on the market; 29% said it led to higher offers.
- The reported price increases were generally between 1% and 10%, but the survey reflects agents’ impressions, not a comparison of verified sale prices.
- Controlled studies found that staging influenced first impressions and viewing time more consistently than buyers’ stated willingness to pay.
- Living rooms, primary bedrooms and kitchens are the rooms agents said matter most to buyers.
What agents reported
The NAR survey asked 1,266 Realtors about staging. Nearly half of listing agents said it shortened the time a property spent on the market, and 19% described the reduction as significant. By contrast, fewer than one-third reported that staging produced higher offers. Those agents cited increases of 1% to 10%.
The results suggest sellers should distinguish between a staging strategy’s potential to improve a listing’s appeal and evidence that it will increase the final price. The survey captures professional opinions; it does not establish that staging caused faster sales or higher offers.
What the research found
Two experiments cited in the Miami-focused report point to a similar distinction. A study published in the Journal of Housing Research used virtual tours of the same homes with different furnishings and paint. Staging affected buyers’ initial impressions, but did not change what participants said they would pay. A 2023 photo experiment in the Journal of Real Estate Practice and Education found that viewers spent longer looking at furnished apartment images, while their value estimates changed little.
Together, the findings suggest that staging may help a listing hold a buyer’s attention without guaranteeing a higher valuation. That can matter when prospective buyers first encounter a property through online photos, particularly in a market where many buyers are considering homes from elsewhere.
Where to focus a staging budget
The survey ranked the living room, primary bedroom and kitchen as the most important rooms to buyers’ agents. Their respective shares were 37%, 34% and 23%. The report recommends concentrating effort in those spaces, then keeping the rest of the home tidy and relatively neutral.
For an occupied, well-furnished home, decluttering and removing personal photos may be enough. Vacant homes may benefit more from staging because unfurnished rooms can be harder to assess in photos and in person. For new construction, sellers could consider staging a main living area or using clearly identified virtual staging. A teardown or vacant lot is less likely to benefit from furniture; visuals such as site plans or renderings may be more relevant.
Weighing the cost against the likely benefit
The report cites an NAR median staging cost of about $1,500, while noting that larger luxury properties can cost more. The right investment depends on the property, its condition and its likely buyers. Staging may be worthwhile when it improves the listing’s presentation or helps buyers understand a vacant home, but sellers should not treat a higher sale price as a sure outcome.