At first thought, the home staging industry seems to be in business to specifically earn the seller the most money for their property. Although staging does increase the sale price, home buyers also have a lot to gain from purchasing a staged home.

The Home Is Move-In Ready

The term "move-in ready" is a multi-layered concept. Not only does it imply no major renovations of the house are necessary, but it also suggests buyers may simply unpack and enjoy. For buyers who may have peaked financially during the sale process, the prospect of a home that was staged offers the perk of move-in ready condition without the extra costs beyond the bottom line of the sales contract.

A thorough staging process tackles many of the small projects a new owner frequently tries to avoid or waives off until a more convenient time. From nuisance items such as a leaky faucets to decorating overhauls that include the addition of neutral paint throughout and new hardwood flooring, many handyman and DIY projects are completed during the staging process, saving the buyer time and aggravation.

Buyers who have a difficult timeline and prefer to avoid the back and forth of concession negotiations or who’d rather pay for updates as part of the sale are more willing to offer asking price, and more. The term move-in ready also takes into account the outside curb appeal. The appearance of a well maintained home extends to buyers some peace of mind regarding the proper care of the house in the past.

Appearance Is Everything

The NAR profile says, “a median of 20 percent of respondents stated that buyers were disappointed by how homes looked compared to homes they saw on TV Shows.” This statistic reveals more than just the amount of disappointed buyers; it points to the high level of expectations sellers are required to meet in order to satisfy buyers who expect TV magic in each home they tour.

A well-staged home provides a large portion of the required marketing for a listed house, not only in preparation for traditional walk-through showings, but because staged homes photograph far better than those without the extra polish that staging provides.