Staging your home before listing: is it worth it?

Do home buyers care about staged homes?

If you’re thinking about selling your home, you’ve probably already wondered which updates are actually worth it. Should you paint? Replace flooring? Fix those old cabinets? Stage with new furniture?

The reality is that today, 94% of buyers are looking for homes that feel move-in ready from the moment they see the listing online. And because most buyers start their search digitally, first impressions matter more than ever.

83% of agents said staging helped buyers visualize a property as their future home, and nearly half (49%) said staging reduced time on market (National Association of Realtors’ 2025 Profile of Home Staging)

In other words: staging can actually lead to stronger offers and a quicker sale. It can help buyers emotionally connect with the space; both digitally and when you're showing the home in person.

The "why" behind staging

Staging can make a big difference in helping the buyer envision your property as their future home. Your real estate agent might advise you to stage your home if any of these reasons sound like your situation:

• You want your listing photos to stand out and get interest online

• Your home is currently vacant

• Your furniture needs a refresh or doesn't fit the style of the home

• You're in a competitive market where you need to stand out against newer or renovated listings

And the reality is, staging can be done simply because you’re trying to maximize your sale price and create the move-in ready presentation buyers are looking for.

According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2025 Profile of Home Staging, buyers care most about a staged living room (37%), a staged primary bedroom (34%) and staged kitchen (23%).

The challenge: staging and getting a home market-ready costs money

Staging often works best alongside other simple pre-listing improvements like painting, landscaping, flooring updates, or cosmetic repairs.

If you feel overwhelmed at the thought of prepping your home for sale, you're not alone. Most home sellers understand the value of prep work, but many of them are juggling an overwhelming amount of administrative, logistical, and financial tasks in a short period of time, making home selling a stressful experience.

The stress of selling and the cost of selling are the #1 and #2 reasons homeowners have fears about home selling (Clever Real Estate Survey 2025).

Many homeowners may also be buying their next home at the same time as selling, so expenses can pile up quickly. But the good news is, there are options for you to cover these costs without paying anything upfront and pay out of the home sale.

A way to pay for staging and prep work at closing

There's an easier way to pay for staging and prep work with Notable pay-at-close funds. Instead of paying out of pocket before listing, eligible sellers can use funds for staging and other home prep expenses, then repay what they used when the home sells.

Homeowners can access up to $50,000 in funds and use them flexibly for virtually any home-selling expense, even to cover repairs that come up during inspection, pest control, temporary housing while showing the home, and so much more.

Plus, you and your real estate agent can work with any contractor you like, and there's no impact to your credit with applying for funds (or accessing them).

Bottom line: staging can help your listing stand out

A thoughtfully staged home helps buyers recognize the value of your property, and helps you have the sale you want; all the way from gathering interest online to the offers you get. Across 35,000+ homes sold with Notable, home sellers can see an average 4X return on their home prep investment.

If you’re thinking about selling your home, staging your home is a worthwhile investment. And with Notable's pay-at-close funds, you may not need to pay out-of-pocket for it.

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