Value of home staging

When you decide to sell your home, your goal is to attract the best buyers and achieve the highest possible price. In a competitive market, one of the most powerful marketing tools at your disposal is professional home staging. It’s more than just decorating; it’s a strategic investment designed to showcase your property’s full potential and create an immediate emotional connection with buyers.

This guide explains why home staging has become an essential part of the selling process and how it can make a significant difference to your final result.

Why first impressions are everything

Today, over 90% of potential buyers begin their property search online.[1] This means the first time they see your home will be through a screen. Professionally staged homes result in far superior marketing photos, making your listing stand out and encouraging more people to attend an open home.[2]

Once buyers are through the door, that positive first impression needs to continue. Staging helps create a welcoming, cohesive, and aspirational atmosphere that makes your property more memorable than the competition.

Helping buyers visualise their future home

One of the biggest challenges for buyers is trying to picture their own lives in an empty or cluttered space. In fact, studies show that only 10% of people can effectively visualise the potential of a vacant room.[3]

Home staging removes the guesswork. By using carefully selected furniture, art, and accessories, a professional stager achieves several key goals:

• It defines each space: Staging gives every room a clear purpose, helping buyers understand how they could use a space, which is especially useful for unconventional layouts.[4]
• It maximises the sense of space: An empty room can often feel smaller than it is.[5] Staging uses furniture to demonstrate scale, showing buyers that their own bed or sofa will fit comfortably.
• It creates an emotional connection: Staging transforms a property from a house into a home. It helps buyers form an emotional attachment, allowing them to imagine hosting dinner parties or relaxing with their family in the space. This emotional connection is often the deciding factor in a purchase.[5, 6]

Does home staging lead to a higher sale price?

Yes, in most cases, it does. By presenting your home at its absolute best, staging increases its perceived value. This leads to more interest, more competition between buyers, and ultimately, a higher sale price.[2, 7]

While every property is different, real estate experts in New Zealand suggest that a well-staged home can sell for 5-15% more than an unstaged equivalent.[2, 8, 9] When you consider the value of property in Auckland, this can translate to a significant return on your initial investment.

Will home staging help my property sell faster?

A staged home not only sells for more, but it also tends to sell faster. By attracting a larger pool of interested buyers and creating a sense of urgency, staged properties often spend significantly less time on the market.[3, 6] Some international reports have found that staged homes can sell up to 87% faster than their non-staged counterparts.[10, 11]

Selling faster means fewer open homes, less disruption to your life, and lower holding costs like mortgage payments and rates.

Is it worth the investment?

The cost of professional home staging in New Zealand typically ranges from $2,000 to $4,000+ for a standard four to six-week campaign, depending on the size of your home.[3, 12] While this may seem like a significant outlay, it’s a small fraction of the potential return. The investment in staging is almost always less than the first price reduction a seller might have to make on an unstaged home that isn’t attracting offers.[13]

Wondering if staging is right for your property?

The decision to stage your home depends on your property, your budget, and the current market conditions. If you’d like some honest advice on whether staging could add value to your sale, we’re here to help.

Call us today on (09) 626 6119 for a friendly, confidential chat.