Why Home Staging Helps Homes Sell Faster—and for More Money

When it comes to selling your home, first impressions matter. That’s where home staging comes in. Staging is more than just making a house look pretty—it’s a strategic marketing tool that helps buyers visualize themselves living in the space. And the results speak for themselves: staged homes tend to sell faster and often for a higher price.

This home in West Hills was completely empty and needed to be fully staged

What Is Home Staging?

Home staging involves preparing and styling a home to appeal to the widest possible pool of buyers. This might include rearranging furniture to show off a room’s size, adding art or accessories to create a welcoming atmosphere, or neutralizing bold or outdated decor choices so the buyer can more easily imagine themselves in the space (no matter what their personal taste is) and decluttering.

Whether it's a mini renovation, filling an empty house or simple tweaks to lighting, textiles, and layout, staging is all about showcasing the home's potential.

Why It Works

This home in Hacienda Heights had a resident with some belongings still in the home. We did a partial staging, combining new items with some of the clients existing items

1. Buyers Shop with Their Eyes First: In today's digital age, most buyers form their first impression of a home from photos online. During staging we remove clutter and style the home in a way that is similar to home decor magazine styling. This helps them to photograph better and have an aspirational appeal, in turn drawing more interest and encouraging more showings.

   
   

2. It Helps Buyers Emotionally Connect: A well-staged home feels warm, inviting, and lived-in (without feeling too lived in). By removing some of the sellers personal belongings we're not making a judgement call on anyones taste, but rather making room for the buyer to imagine their own personal touches added to the space. When they can picture themselves in the space it creates an emotional connection, and that connection is what drives offers—when buyers can picture their life in your home, they’re more likely to act quickly and competitively.

   
   

3. It Highlights a Home’s Best Features: Staging draws attention to a home’s strengths like natural light, spacious layouts, or architectural details, while minimizing distractions that could raise questions or cause hesitation.

1. It Can Lead to Higher Offers: According to the National Association of Realtors, staged homes often sell for 1%–5% more than similar, un-staged properties. When buyers perceive more value, they’re willing to pay more.

   
   
   
   

Do All Homes Need Staging?

Although already furnished, some spaces need brightening and freshening up. For this room in Hacienda Heights we did a partial staging, combining new items with some of the clients existing items

Not every property needs a full staging makeover. Sometimes simple changes like decluttering, fresh linens, and a few new light fixtures can make all the difference. As a real estate agent, we work with sellers to determine what level of staging is right for their home, and their budget.

How Compass Concierge Can Help

This home in Chatsworth needed a little extra help. Updated flooring, ceiling, light fixtures and fan completely changed the room, and it was finished off with new decor. Updates like this are a perfect fit for the Compass Concierge program

Preparing a home for market can feel overwhelming—but you don’t have to do it alone. When you work with us as your listing agent we are able to enlist you in the Compass Concierge program. Eligible homeowners can access interest-free funding to cover the cost of home improvements that increase a property’s value and appeal.

This includes services like staging, painting, flooring, landscaping, and more. Best of all, sellers don’t pay anything upfront—costs are due at closing, with no interest due until either your home sells, you terminate your listing agreement with Compass, or 12 months pass from your Concierge start date That means you can present your home in its best light, attract more buyers, and maximize your return without added financial stress.

We help our clients navigate the entire Compass Concierge process from start to finish, coordinating improvements and ensuring your home makes a strong first impression from the moment it hits the market.

What Does Staging Cost?

This home was completely empty and needed staging from top to bottom, including outdoor spaces

In Los Angeles, home staging costs can vary depending on the size of the home, how many rooms are staged, and the level of design and furniture rental required. On average, professional staging for a smaller home or condo typically ranges from $3,000 to $5,000, while larger or luxury properties can range from $5,000 to $20,000 or more. This cost usually covers design consultation, delivery, usage for 30–60 days, and setup/removal.

While that might sound like a big upfront investment, it pays off in the form of a quicker sale and a higher selling price. Plus, with options like the Compass Concierge program, many sellers can stage and prepare their home with no upfront cost, paying only at closing. It’s a smart way to invest in your sale without taking on financial risk. At the Johnson & Lopez Group our background in design allows us to offer our own customized staging services for our clients at a special rate of $2.50/sqft when bringing in objects is required. This is half the rate we charge non-clients, and is only due once your home sale closes. General design advice is already included in our agent commission. See our Portfolio Page for more examples of our work.

Ready to See the Difference?

If you're thinking of selling and want your home to shine, check out our home staging portfolio to see real-life examples of how we help our listings stand out. Then let’s chat about how we can prepare your home to sell quickly—and for top dollar.