News / Articles

The Real Estate Staging Association® has released two new data reports for 2025, offering powerful insights into the return on investment (ROI) of home staging. One report draws from the Sold Over List Price Club, showcasing stats from 84 homes staged and sold in Q1 2025. The second report analyzes projects from the finalists of the 2025 Home Staging Industry Awards. Combined, they provide compelling evidence that staging isn’t just aesthetic—it’s strategic. With average ROI figures soaring and properties consistently selling over list price, the data speaks for itself. Agents and sellers alike can use these stats to make smarter, faster sales decisions. Read the full article here: https://homestagingnewswire.com/what-is-the-return-on-staging-investment-resa-stats-2025/

Leading staging franchise strengthens commitment to elevating the home staging industry through strategic partnership with RESA.

CORAL GABLES, Fla., June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Showhomes (www.showhomes.com), the nation's premier home staging and design franchise, is proud to announce its new role as a Major National Sponsor of the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA), the trade organization dedicated to advancing professionalism and excellence in real estate staging.

This sponsorship reflects Showhomes' long-standing commitment to industry leadership, innovation, and the continued development of staging professionals across the country.

Read the full story: https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/showhomes-announces-major-sponsorship-of-the-real-estate-staging-association-resa-1d7bc739?

When staging a home, each room should delight potential buyers by displaying the home’s natural charms. In the bedrooms, this means making a beautiful and welcoming bed. Of course, if the homeowner has already moved out, they likely took their beds with them. To bridge the gap, it is a common “staging trick” to throw a few pillows and comforters over cardboard boxes and air mattresses instead, but should you?

Professional staging is about making a house feel like home to touring buyers. If you take this shortcut, it could result in safety risks and a negative perception of your staging quality.

The Risks Involved in Using Blow-Up Beds and Cardboard Boxes
Staging is not just about photographs. Many buyers want to tour the home in person during a private visit or an open-house event. This means that each staging choice you make must be not only beautiful, but also safe.

Read the full story: http://homestagingnewswire.com/blow-up-beds/

If you’ve ever sat down to quote a staging job and wondered, “Am I charging enough?” you’re not alone. Pricing is one of the most common pain points for both new and experienced home stagers.

You want to be competitive, but not undercut your value. You want to show up as a professional, but you’re not sure how to explain your numbers. And somewhere in between the quoting, sourcing, and presenting, you’re still trying to make sure your business is actually turning a profit.

That’s exactly why RESA® created a tool designed for you.

Why Pricing Feels Complicated in the Staging Industry
Unlike many other service-based industries, staging requires a unique blend of labor, logistics, and inventory rental. You are not only offering your time and expertise, you’re also supplying assets like furniture, art, and accessories.

Read the full story: http://homestagingnewswire.com/how-to-price-home-staging-services/

Sturdy, commercial-grade shelving, the kind that actually holds your staging inventory safely and doesn’t collapse when you stack bins of books and accessories can easily cost $500 to $2,000+ per rack.

And if you’re working out of a full warehouse or even a larger storage unit? Multiply that by five or ten. Yikes.

But what if I told you one RESA® stager just saved thousands outfitting her space with racks that cost her just about $100 each?

Yep. You read that right.

Read the full blog post on the RESA Home Staging Newswire here: http://homestagingnewswire.com/resa-stager-saves-thousands-on-warehouse-racks/

If you’re a home stager wondering how to teach real estate agents about home staging in a way that builds credibility, grows your business, and positions you as a local expert, you’re not alone.
RESA® members have been leading that conversation for the past 15 years.

In 2009, the Real Estate Staging Association® launched Staging to Sell, What Every Agent Should Know® a CE-approved course designed to help real estate agents fully understand the role of professional staging in property marketing and sales.

Between 2017 and 2024, over 11,000 real estate professionals across North America have taken the course.

Why Teaching Agents About Staging Changes Everything
Many stagers know the frustration of working with agents who undervalue or misunderstand staging. That’s why learning how to teach real estate agents about home staging clearly, confidently, and strategically is so powerful.

Read the full story: http://homestagingnewswire.com/teach-agents-about-home-staging/

In Brooklyn’s luxury co-op market, first impressions aren’t just important — they’re everything. Buyers here are discerning, selective, and often spoiled for choice.

That’s why when the agent selling a unit on Prospect Park West in Brooklyn brought in Terry Mainord Design, a RESA® Sold Over List Price Club member, to make sure their listing stood out from the rest.

Working closely with the listing agent, Terry provided occupied staging, skillfully blending the homeowners’ existing furniture with curated pieces and accessories to highlight the apartment’s light, layout, and sophisticated charm.

The results spoke for themselves: listed at $3,250,000, this Prospect Park West residence sold for $3,400,000 — a $150,000 increase over asking, a 104.6% sale-to-list ratio, and an 11.9x return on investment for the sellers. Even better, the accepted offer came just 28 days after staging.

Read the full story here: http://homestagingnewswire.com/brooklyn-home-staging-prospect-park-west/

We’re into Q3 2025, and the market is shifting — but here’s something that’s not slowing down: the return on investment from professional home staging.

Take a home on Prospect St in West Lin, Oregon staged by Shawn Varwig. of Home Staging Northwest — and a proud member of the RESA® Sold Over List Price Club. Listed at $690,000, it sold in July for $730,000 — that’s $40,000 over asking.

The return on the investment in staging? An 11.9x ROI and a 105.8% sale-to-list ratio.

If you’re not familiar with that metric, the sale-to-list ratio is the percentage o f the list price that a home actually sells for. A ratio above 100% means the home sold for more than asking. In this case, the buyer was willing to pay 5.8% more than list price, which is a direct reflection of the home’s perceived value.

Read the full story: http://homestagingnewswire.com/home-staging-west-linn-oregon/

If you’re selling your home in Aurora, Ontario, you already know the market is competitive and buyers are discerning. Aurora is known for its family-friendly neighborhoods, excellent schools, and close proximity to Toronto—all factors that draw in a steady stream of serious buyers who expect homes to show beautifully from day one. In this environment, presentation matters.

That’s why home staging has become a crucial step in securing strong offers. In one recent case, a professional partial occupied staging—blending some of the homeowner’s existing furniture with carefully selected rentals—helped secure a sale $156,000 over asking. With guidance from a full-service consultation and the right styling support, the transformation delivered powerful results.

Read the full story here:http://homestagingnewswire.com/selling-your-home-in-aurora-ontario-how-to-get-the-best-offer/

Among most professional real estate agents, it is widely understood that staging significantly increases a listing’s curb appeal, highlights its potential, and ultimately raises its value.

While staging has become standard practice for vacant properties, it’s equally beneficial—and often more impactful—for occupied home, even in the Bay Areas. Many agents believe decluttering and basic repairs are sufficient for occupied listings, but this approach can often fall short of buyer expectations.

Occupied Staging: A Strategic Marketing Tool All Bay Area Stagers Should Incorporate
Occupied staging doesn’t just make rooms look bigger—it transforms homes into highly marketable properties that attract more buyers and ignite bidding wars.

Read the full story: http://homestagingnewswire.com/benefits-of-occupied-staging-in-the-bay-area-california/

RESA® award-winning home stager Cathy Hobbs, known for her nationally syndicated design expertise and timeless aesthetic, was recently featured in House Beautiful sharing her go-to décor finds at Costco.

Cathy recommends the Dayla Table Lamp for its “simplicity and versatility,” noting that it works beautifully across urban, suburban, and coastal interiors.

She also highlights the Thomasville Marketplace Luxury Shag Rug, calling it “soft, thick, and luxurious" a piece that instantly adds warmth and comfort to any room.

Her picks reflect the balance between attainable style and elevated design that has defined her career in both staging and interior design.

Read 11 Costco Hidden Gems Designers ALWAYS Look for in the Home Section: https://www.housebeautiful.com/shopping/best-stores/a69021673/costco-home-finds-interior-designers-always-buy/

RESA® member and award-winning stager Jason Saft has been featured in The New Yorker for his transformative approach to selling some of New York City’s toughest listings.

The article, titled “The Man Who Sells Unsellable New York Apartments,” spotlights how Saft goes beyond traditional staging, creating emotional, story-driven spaces that help buyers imagine their next chapter.

In the piece, writer Alexandra Schwartz highlights Saft’s reputation for turning design challenges into showstopping results. Since founding his business in 2005, he has helped sell more than $3 billion in real estate through a blend of artistry, psychology, and market expertise. Rather than simply decorating, Saft reveals the life a home can offer, redefining what it means to stage for connection and value.

Read the full feature on The New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/10/27/the-man-who-sells-unsellable-new-york-apartments

RESA® member Libby Fehsenfeld, owner of Tralala Interiors in Asheville, NC, was featured in Apartment Therapy for transforming a cramped kitchen corner into a stylish and functional dining nook.

Libby brightened the space with a new color palette, added a custom-built bench for comfortable seating, and incorporated modern lighting and personal touches. The result is a warm, practical area that seats up to five while maintaining an open flow.

Her project demonstrates how thoughtful design and staging can bring both beauty and livability to small spaces.

Read the story on Apartment Therapy here: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/cramped-kitchen-corner-transformation-37510284

RESA-PRO® member Nina Doiron of iSO Design in Barrie, Ontario, was featured in Apartment Therapy for her expert advice on affordable ways to maximize kitchen space using IKEA products. In the article titled “A Home Stager’s 6 IKEA Kitchen Essentials,” Nina shares her top picks for transforming small or awkward kitchens without expensive renovations.

Her curated list of six IKEA finds totals just $151 and includes practical, space-saving solutions such as the VARIERA Shelf Insert, UTRUSTA Wire Basket, and HULTARP Magnetic Knife Rack. Each item is paired with Nina’s professional insights on how to make kitchens more functional, organized, and visually appealing — whether preparing a property for sale or simply elevating everyday living.

Doiron’s feature showcases how staging principles can be applied beyond the listing process, bringing the same balance of efficiency and beauty to everyday home design.

Read it: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ikea-kitchen-gems-shopping-37506221

RESA® member Ana Cvetkovic, founder of Rowhome Design in Philadelphia, was featured in Real Simple for her budget-friendly fall decorating tips.

In the article “How to Decorate for Fall With a $150 Budget,” Ana shares simple, affordable ways to create a warm and inviting home using candles, seasonal pillow covers, and cozy throws.

Her practical approach shows that great design doesn’t require a big budget, just thoughtful details and an eye for comfort.

Read it here: https://www.realsimple.com/amazon-interior-designer-fall-decor-11828215

House Beautiful turned to three RESA® members and award-winning stagers—Jason Saft, Terry Mainord, and Cheryl Eisen—for their expert advice on how simple kitchen updates can help listings stand out and sell faster. From decluttering strategies and styling tips to cost-effective cabinet upgrades, each professional shares practical insights rooted in years of staging experience. Their combined guidance proves that thoughtful details, not major remodels, can transform the kitchen into the selling feature every buyer remembers.

Read the full article on House Beautiful: https://shorturl.at/V95rg

Southern Living turned to professional home stagers for insight into what homeowners should remove before listing their property, and Lynne Rhea, owner of Mombo Interiors and longtime RESA® member, shared her expert advice. As a repeat finalist in the Home Staging Industry Awards, Lynne offers a professional perspective on creating clean, inviting spaces that appeal to today’s buyers.

Her contribution highlights how thoughtful editing and strategic removal can make all the difference when preparing a home for sale.

Read the full article on Southern Living: https://www.southernliving.com/things-home-stagers-remove-before-hitting-market-11822016

Get to know Apartment Therapy’s 2025 Design Changemakers, the talented risk-takers, disruptors, and doers leading by example and pushing their industries forward. This content is presented by Benjamin Moore; it was created independently by our editorial team...

“This is essentially my third career that took me a really long time to organically grow into,” Saft says. He founded his staging business, which was awarded #1 Luxury Home Stager in the United States in 2024 from Real Estate Staging Association (RESA), in 2020, after 20 years in the real estate business (he was one of Compass’s founding agents in 2013) and working in PR and marketing before that.

Read the full story: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/design-changemakers-2025-jason-saft-home-staging-37487184?utm_source=chatgpt.com

At the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA®), we’ve been on a mission this year to make sure the numbers shaping our industry actually come from the people in it. Every quarter, we collect home staging industry statistics directly from professionals across North America to build the most accurate and representative data available.

For Q3 2025, we’re asking every stager, whether you’re a RESA® member or not to take a 30 minutes to submit your data. Together, we can build the most complete home staging industry statistics for Q3 2025.

Deadline: Submit by October 16, 2025 to be included in the Q3 2025 home staging industry statistics report.

Learn more here: http://homestagingnewswire.com/home-staging-industry-statistics-q3-2025/

If you’ve ever felt like your business decisions are riding on “gut feel,” Grant Findlay-Shirras’ RESACON Encore is the reset you’ve been waiting for.
In this replay, he doesn’t talk theory, he shows the exact finance and operations routines he uses to build margin, protect cash, and scale a staging company without chaos.
Cash first, always
Grant opens with four truths: revenue can flatter, profit can hide, but cash pays payroll, rent, trucks, and insurance—and time is your scarcest resource. Every decision in his system is designed to protect cash and buy back time.

Daily discipline: the Cash In/Cash Out
You’ll see a simple, five-column tracker that changes behavior fast: date, in/out, amount, category, and whether a cost is fixed, variable, or an asset. Owners start it themselves, then delegate the entry while keeping a daily/weekly review rhythm.

Read the full story here: http://homestagingnewswire.com/cfo-playbook-for-home-stagers/

At RESACON®, attendees packed the room to hear Natalie Lorenz break down something most stagers think about but rarely discuss out loud: how to prepare, value, negotiate, and actually close the sale of a staging business. Natalie didn’t give theory, she walked stagers through the nuts and bolts from selling her own company, including what she’d do again and what she’d do differently.

Below is a practical recap of her biggest lessons, so you can strengthen your business today whether you plan to sell next year or simply want a more resilient, valuable company.

The Backstory: Why Sell, Why Now
Life happened. After relocating to Florida while her company was still operating in Washington, the long-distance strain and family priorities made the decision clear. As Natalie put it, “I got to the stage where…

Read the full story:http://homestagingnewswire.com/prepare-your-staging-business-for-sale-natalie-lorenz/

We were featured and quoted in CNBC’s report on AI and “perfect” listing photos. The piece explains how sellers and agents are using virtual staging and AI edits to speed marketing, tailor images to target buyers, and reduce costs. It also notes the risk of disappointment when photos do not match reality and reminds readers that many MLSs require clear disclosure of altered imagery. The takeaway is straightforward. Edited visuals can support marketing, yet they do not replace the in-person experience that builds trust and drives offers.

How RESA stagers use AI. Our members treat AI as a practical assistant, not a substitute for professional staging. They use it to draft proposals and captions, build quick concept boards, plan layouts and inventory, and preview options with clients. Guardrails matter. Disclose all virtual edits.

Read the full article on CNBC: https://tinyurl.com/yutyd7e5

Some real estate agents don’t understand how home staging actually works. The Real Estate Staging Association recently spoke to home stagers and asked them what they wish real estate agents better understood about professional home staging. The following are some of the most common misunderstandings they cited:

1. Staging is not interior design.

A professional home stager is an interior designer in reverse. Their objective is to make a home look as inviting as possible to a broad audience. So in other words, they take away design elements rather than introducing new ones.

Decluttering a house is always the first thing on a seller’s to-do list. Professional stagers simply organize and fine-tune that process. When all the extraneous items are taken away, the stager may add some neutral touches that will help buyers see themselves in the home.

Read the blog: https://www.nar.realtor/blogs/styled-staged-sold/6-things-home-stagers-wish-real-estate-pros-knew-about-staging

Looking to sell your home faster? Home staging might be your secret weapon.

A new report finds that roughly half of staged properties — meaning ones that have been furnished and decorated to show off their best features — spend less time on the market than the typical home. About 30% of the time, staged homes sell for more money, as well...

This certainly isn’t pocket change, but an investment in staging your home before you sell could pay off in a big way. According to the RESA, occupied homes (as opposed to vacant properties) that were staged sold for an average of almost $70,000 above their listing prices.

Read the full story on Money.com : https://money.com/sell-house-fast-home-staging/