Joke of a staging study by the Wall Street Journal

Seriously Flawed Study

This is not true staging by any means…

 

There was a study published by the Wall Street Journal* claiming that “staging” has no effect on the home’s sale price based on the photo above…seriously?!  The study had a group of people view virtually staged before-and-after photos and asked them whether they would pay more for the beige room (above) over the purple room (below).  Each of the respondents said they would not pay more money for the beige virtually staged room over the purple room.

How can anyone take this study even remotely serious is a minor miracle.  Here are the huge problems with this study:

  • The rooms were “virtually staged” (not real, in person staging which is what “staging” is truly is)
  • They were “virtually staged” by a someone who doesn’t appear to know much about staging from the looks of the “after” photos
  • The “before” photos of a purple room (see below) and colorful furniture look so cartoon like, it’s almost laughable!
  • Ironically, the respondents believed that “other” buyers would pay 3.7% to 4.0% less than value of the home if it’s not painted and fixed up.
  • Virtual stagers are insulted by these photos since they don’t come close to the quality work that a true, virtual stager can do.

 

This isn't even good virtual work!

This isn’t even good virtual work…is this Mickey Mouse’s home?

I wasn’t going to even respond to this study since I didn’t want to bring attention to something so absurd but since there has been some chatter about it, let’s put this matter to rest once and for all.

 

Anyone with half a brain would look at that “after” photo and never in a million years call this a “staged” room!

In case you were one of those silly people who actually wanted to give this study credence and thought that room was “staged”…here is what “staged” really looks like of a home that sold for $100,000 over asking price in October, 2013 within 8 days of staging:

(This home was staged by Donna Dazzo of  Designed to Appeal in New York City)

Living Room Before

 

Living Room After

Living Room Before

Living Room After 
 

       Master Bedroom Before
 

Master Bedroom After
Boy’s Room Before
 

Boy’s Room After

 

 
Girl’s Room Before

    Girl’s Room After

  
Terrace Before
Terrace After

 

I guess it’s a good thing this home seller didn’t listen to “other” agents who think staging doesn’t work and cite this study…

 

By the way, I could have produced tons of other similar success stories and photos by the many amazingly talented home stagers across the country who have been maligned by this study.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that when you improve upon a product, you get a better price.

 

XOXO – Happy Staging!

Audra Slinkey

Hope to hear from you!
1-888-563-9271


audra@homestagingresource.com

*By the way, the study was called: “The Impact of Staging Conditions on Residential Real Estate Demand” and the Wall Street Journal article was called: “Home Staging Effect? Not Much.

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