When you’re selling a home in Boulder County, can increase profits from the sale of a home significantly even after the investment has been made in the staging services.
Every day your property sits unsold means you’re paying mortgage, insurance, maintenance, utilities, property taxes—and those costs add up. That’s where home staging comes in. A relatively modest investment can dramatically reduce days on market (DOM), which in turn lowers holding costs and often boosts net proceeds.
What the Data Says about Staged Home Sales
Here are key statistics from national staging studies, that help us understand how staging impacts how quickly homes sell:
| Metric | What studies show |
| Reduction in Time on Market | Staged homes can sell 33‑50% faster than non‑staged homes. In some cases, staging reduces DOM by ~73%. |
| Increase in Sale Price | Many homes staged professionally see offers 1‑10% higher. Some data points show 5‑23% over asking/listing in favorable cases. |
| Agent Observations | About 48% of sellers’ agents report that staging reduces days on market. |
| Boulder County DOM Baseline | As of Q4 2023, average days on market in Boulder County was about 39 days in one quarter, and in others could rise to 50‑60+ days depending on price band. |
* Local data is less comprehensive, but aligns with broader national trends.
Why Staging Helps Homes to Sell Faster for More Money
- First impressions matter: Photos and showings of a staged home are more appealing, helping potential buyers form positive emotional connections.
- Visualizing space: Staging helps buyers imagine living there, which translates to more serious showings and fewer objections.
- Competitive edge in online listings: With most buyers starting with online photos, staged homes often get more clicks, more showings early, which helps momentum.
- Reduced time to negotiate: Homes that look ready tend to trigger fewer contingent offers, change requests, or demands for credits, which can speed up closing.
Estimating Cost Savings for Staged Homes in Boulder County
To understand the savings, you need to know what a seller is paying per day or per month while the house is on market. These “carrying costs” typically include:
- Mortgage payments (principal & interest)
- Property taxes
- Insurance
- Utilities and maintenance
- Homeowners’ association (HOA) fees (if any)
- Landscaping, cleaning, etc.
In Boulder County, given higher home values, taxes, insurance and mortgage amounts tend to be higher than many national averages. So each extra day on market can cost more. Even just utility, insurance, and maintenance on a $1 million+ home adds up.
Putting It All Together: Return on Investment (ROI) Examples
Let’s walk through two hypothetical examples for Boulder County to show how staging might affect outcomes.
Example A – Mid‑Range Home
- Home Price: $800,000
- Estimated Carrying/holding costs: assume $3,500/month (mortgage + taxes + insurance + utilities etc.)
- Stage cost: say $5,000 for professional staging
Without staging:
- Days on market: ~60 days
- Carrying cost for 2 months: 2 × $3,500 = $7,000
- Sale price: baseline, no premium
With staging:
- Reduced days on market: maybe 30 days (50% faster)
- Carrying cost for 1 month: $3,500
- Sale price premium: perhaps 5% higher → $40,000 extra (5% of $800,000)
Net gain calc:
- Additional sale proceeds: +$40,000
- Less staging cost: −$5,000
- Savings on carrying cost: −$3,500 (because only one month vs two)
- Net gain: $40,000 − $5,000 + $3,500 = $38,500 more than if unstaged.
- Return on staging investment: ($38,500 / $5,000) × 100% = ~770% ROI.
Example B – Luxury Home
- Home Price: $2,000,000
- Carrying costs: assume $8,000/month (higher mortgage, insurance, taxes, etc.)
- Stage cost: $10,000
Without staging:
- DOM: 90 days
- Carrying cost: 3 months × $8,000 = $24,000
With staging:
- DOM: perhaps 45 days (half the time)
- Carrying cost: ~1.5 months × $8,000 = $12,000
- Sale price premium: perhaps 8% higher → $160,000 extra
Net gain:
- Extra proceeds: +$160,000
- Less staging: −$10,000
- Savings in holding: +$12,000
- Net gain: ~$162,000
- ROI: ($162,000 / $10,000) × 100% = ~1620%.
Caveats & What Impacts Stage ROI
- The degree of price premium and DOM reduction depends on price tier, condition, location, how well the home is staged, and how full or competitive the market is.
- Over‑staging (spending too much relative to the home’s value or what buyers in that neighborhood expect) may give diminishing returns.
- Seasonal effects: in slower seasons, even staged homes may not move as quickly, but staging still helps.
- Upfront time and cost: arranging staging, moving things, photographing, etc., takes time and prep.
Boulder‑Specific Takeaways
- In Boulder County, where average sales prices are higher and holding costs are substantial, even a modest price premium or a savings of a few weeks on market can more than offset staging costs.
- Given typical DOM in Boulder hovering between ~30‑60 days for many homes (depending on price band), cutting that by 30‑50% can save thousands.
- For high price‑point homes (million dollars +), buyers expect polished presentations; staging is less optional and more of a requirement for top offers.
Conclusion
If you’re listing a home in Boulder County, investing in staging is usually not just about getting a prettier look—it often pays off. By reducing days on the market, you cut holding costs. By making a strong first impression, you often get higher offers. Even when factoring in staging fees, the net return tends to be very favorable. Staging companies like STS Home Staging -Boulder Foothills can keep more money in your pocket.
