Are You Leaving Money on the Table While Selling Your Home?

Written By Jennifer Wernau

When preparing to sell, most homeowners focus on pricing, timing, and choosing the right agent. Every decision matters. But one factor is often underestimated.

Presentation.

The way a home looks, feels, and photographs can directly influence buyer interest, perceived value, and final offers. Sellers who skip professional staging may be leaving money on the table without realizing it.

Why Staging Matters

Buyers often make emotional decisions before logical ones.

They notice when a home feels bright, spacious, clean, and move-in ready. A staged home creates confidence. An empty, cluttered, or poorly presented home can create hesitation.

That hesitation can lead to longer time on the market and lower offers.

What the 2025 Data Shows

According to the National Association of Realtors 2025 Profile of Home Staging:

• 19% of agents said staging increased the dollar value offered by 1% to 5%

• 49% of sellers’ agents said staging reduced time on market

• 83% of buyers’ agents reported staging improved their clients ability to visualize living in the home

These results highlight the ways presentation can have measurable financial impact.

A Simple Example

Imagine you are selling a $2,000,000 home.

Using the data from above, if the staging improves the home and increases the dollar value by 2%, you would be gaining an additional $40,000. That money would be left behind without staging.

In many cases, staging is not an expense. It is a strategic investment designed to protect and maximize value.

Why It Works

Professional staging helps create:

  • Better listing photography to get buyers in the door

  • Stronger first impressions to keep buyers considering

  • Clearer room layouts for envisioning their future in that home

  • Emotional connection for buyers to hold onto

  • Stronger market momentum to bring in more buyers 

The O Designs Approach

At O Designs by Orli Shoshan, we specialize in luxury home staging in Chicago with a clean, modern, minimalist aesthetic.

We utilize carefully curated furnishings, private inventory, professional movers, and strategic design, to uplift homes to their highest potential.

Final Thought

If you are selling your home, ask yourself one important question:

Are you saving money by skipping staging, or losing money by under-presenting your home?

Jennifer Wernau