Is staging worth it when you sell a Chicago home? In most cases, yes. Staging helps buyers picture themselves living in your home, and that is what makes them compete for it. It does not always mean bringing in new furniture. Often, your own furniture, arranged the right way, is enough.
Here is something I have learned from hundreds of Chicago buyers: most people cannot picture an empty room, or a crowded one, as their future home. They need help seeing it.
The National Association of REALTORS 2025 Profile of Home Staging surveyed agents across the country. A few findings stand out:
On a $600,000 Chicago home, even a 1% higher offer is $6,000, several times what staging usually costs. You can see more in NAR's summary of the report.
This is often the best option, and it costs the least. We take out about a third of what is in each room, move pieces to where they make the space feel bigger, add fresh towels and a few plants, and let the light in. Your home still feels like yours. It just looks cleaner and bigger.
One seller, Javier, wrote that I gave them "tips on how to stage our property to list for top dollar (she even brought some of her own props to help our place look its absolute best)!"
Best for an empty home, or a room that does not show its purpose. A small spare room that becomes a home office, or a dining area that finally looks like one, can change how buyers see the whole floor plan. Most of the time, we focus on the living room, the primary bedroom, and the kitchen, because those are the rooms buyers care about most.
If your home is empty, this is what I recommend looking at first. I cannot say this strongly enough: physical staging makes a huge difference. When they walk in and see real furniture, they can see themselves living there.
Whether virtual staging makes sense depends on the listing. It is not an automatic choice for an empty home.
Furniture is added digitally to the listing photos. When I sold Nicole's condo at 1962 W. Lawrence in Ravenswood while she lived out of state, we used virtual staging in the photos. Along with the property tour video and professional photos, she called it "a beautiful virtual staging," and the condo sold for $40,000 over asking in 8 days, with multiple offers.
Virtual staging has one big limit: buyers who visit in person see empty rooms. That is why, for most empty homes, I recommend physical staging first. If we do use virtual staging, I show the home myself, so I can walk buyers through how each room can work. My post on selling your Chicago home from out of state tells Nicole's full story.
Condos. Many Chicago condos have one open living and dining space. Without furniture, buyers cannot tell if a dining table and a sofa will both fit. Staging answers that question in the photos.
Vintage homes. Radiators, built-ins, and rooms in unusual shapes make some buyers nervous. Staging shows buyers how a vintage room works for the way people live today.
Empty homes. Empty rooms look smaller in photos than they really are, and they show every scuff on the wall. If you have already moved, physical staging matters even more.
Winter listings. Short, gray days make rooms feel darker. Bright bulbs, light bedding, and a few warm touches help a winter listing feel inviting. My post on selling in winter or spring covers the rest.
Staging works best once the home is ready. Before anything else, I ask every seller for four things: declutter, deep clean, paint, and better lighting. Then we stage. And before any of my listings goes on the market, we do a staging consultation, with no exceptions, so we know exactly what each room needs.
My posts on what to update before selling and how to get top dollar cover the rest of the preparation.
When you choose who will sell your home, look for numbers you can check. Here are mine:
You work with me directly, from the staging consultation to the closing table.
Usually, yes. In NAR's 2025 report, 29% of agents said staging raised offers by 1% to 10%. Staging with your own furniture can cost very little.
The living room, the primary bedroom, and the kitchen. Those are the rooms buyers' agents say matter most.
Yes, and it is often the best option. Remove about a third of what is in each room, arrange what is left to open up the space, and add a few fresh touches.
Usually not. It helps the listing photos, but buyers still see empty rooms in person. Physical staging is what they can walk through and feel. Whether virtual staging is enough depends on the listing.
It depends on the size of the home and how much furniture is needed. Nationally, NAR's 2025 report found a median of $1,500 with a staging service, and $500 when the agent staged the home.
Yes. Empty rooms look smaller in photos and show every flaw. Physical staging is usually the better choice because buyers see it in person. Virtual staging can work for some listings, depending on the home.
Every one of my listings starts with a staging consultation. If you are getting ready to sell, I will walk through your home with you, tell you exactly what each room needs, and show you the recent sales near you.
Start with a free home value review, or schedule a complimentary consultation here. You can also start with my free Chicago Home Seller Course, or call or text me directly at 773.719.0989.
Dee Savic is a Chicago Realtor® with Baird & Warner, a 24+ year real estate professional, and a 27+ year Chicago resident with 300+ closed transactions. She helps buyers, sellers, downsizers, and relocation clients across Chicago, including Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, North Center, Roscoe Village, Andersonville, Uptown, Bucktown, Wicker Park, and the Gold Coast.
Dee Savic
Realtor® | Baird & Warner
4553 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
773.719.0989
[email protected]
deesavic.com
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I'm Dee Savic, your trusted Chicago real estate expert, and I'm here to guide you through your relocation journey. Discover why Chicago is the perfect city for you; from its diverse neighborhoods to its cultural vibrancy, Chicago offers an unmatched urban experience. Together, we'll find a community and home that fits your lifestyle and aspirations.
