Does professional staging increase what buyers pay for a Downers Grove home?
Yes, and the data backs it up. According to the NAR 2025 Home Staging report, nearly 29% of real estate agents reported that staging resulted in a 1–10% increase in the dollar value offered compared with similar unstaged homes. In a market like Downers Grove, where Zillow's August 2026 data puts the typical home value at roughly $509,231, that kind of lift is meaningful money, and staging is what makes it possible.
Key Takeaways
- As of August 31, 2026, the typical home value in Downers Grove was approximately $509,231, up 6% year-over-year, with homes going pending in around 12 days, according to Zillow.
- Nearly 29% of agents in NAR's 2025 staging survey reported a 1–10% increase in sale price for staged homes versus comparable unstaged ones.
- 49% of sellers' agents say staging reduces time on market, with 19% reporting a significant reduction.
- 83% of buyers' agents say staging makes it easier for buyers to visualize the property as their future home, according to the NAR 2025 Profile of Home Staging.
- 97% of buyers start their home search online, and staged listings receive dramatically more saves and views than unstaged ones, making staging a marketing tool, not just a design choice.
Why does staging matter so much in a fast market like Downers Grove?
You might think a market where well-priced homes are still selling quickly makes staging less important, but the opposite can be true. Higher interest rates have reduced buying power, giving many buyers more reason to be selective about which homes are worth pursuing. If you’re planning to sell in the western suburbs of Chicagoland, including Downers Grove, Darien, Westmont, or Woodridge, in the spring of 2027, standing out from the competition will matter.
At the same time, desirable homes can still move fast. When homes go pending in roughly 12 days and the median sale-to-list ratio sits at 1.010, buyers are often making their first decisions from a photo grid on their phone. The homes that attract attention and multiple offers are not simply priced correctly. They photograph beautifully, show well, and feel move-in ready the moment a buyer walks through the door.
That's the job of professional staging.
According to a 2026 staging statistics roundup, 97% of buyers start their home search online, and staged listings receive up to 40% more saves on one major portal and 118% more views on another compared with unstaged listings. More views mean more showings. More showings mean more offers. More offers mean you're not leaving money on the table.
I've seen this play out in Downers Grove listings firsthand. The homes that show best online are the ones that generate the most traffic in the first weekend, and that first weekend is when your leverage is highest.
Buyer expectations have shifted
A May 2025 NAR feature notes that roughly half of real estate agents say buyers now expect homes to look like they were professionally staged for television. That's not a niche expectation anymore, it's the baseline in Chicagoland suburbs. When your listing competes against updated rehabs in Glen Ellyn or new construction in Naperville, a cluttered or dated presentation costs you clicks, showings, and ultimately, offers.
Staging protects you from price reductions
Here's the framing I use with every seller who hesitates on staging: it's not a cost, it's risk management. A home that sits past its first two weeks starts to carry a stigma. Buyers wonder what's wrong with it. Price reductions follow. The NAR Consumer Guide on staging reinforces that staging, done right, reduces that risk by making the home's best case on day one.
Which rooms should you stage first, and what does The Tully Team prioritize?
Not every room needs a full furniture overhaul. The NAR 2025 Profile of Home Staging found that the living room (91%), primary bedroom (83%), and dining room (69%) are the rooms most commonly staged. Buyers rank the living room, primary bedroom, and kitchen as the spaces they most want to see staged.
In Downers Grove, where the housing stock includes a mix of mid-century ranches, updated colonials, and newer construction, those priorities translate directly to what I see buyers responding to.
Living and family rooms
Many Downers Grove homes feature open-concept living and dining areas, or traditional front rooms that can feel awkward without the right furniture arrangement. Staging here clarifies traffic flow, shows buyers how to actually use the space, and makes the connection between the living area and the kitchen or back patio feel natural and intentional.
Primary bedrooms
Older suburban homes often have primary bedrooms that feel smaller than buyers expect at this price point. Proportionate furniture, clean linens, and minimal decor can make those rooms feel larger and more restful, which matters when buyers are comparing your home to a new build down the street.
Kitchens and eating areas
Full furniture staging isn't always necessary in a kitchen, but decluttering, lighting, and simple styling go a long way. When a buyer is choosing between your original kitchen and a renovated one two blocks away, a clean, well-lit, well-styled kitchen closes that perceived gap. I always tell sellers that the kitchen doesn't have to be new, it has to show well.
Vacant homes need full staging
If your Downers Grove home is vacant, full furniture staging is worth serious consideration. Empty rooms photograph smaller, feel colder, and give buyers nothing to anchor their imagination to. The Home Staging Institute's 2026 synthesis of NAR and RESA data shows staged homes sell 5–25% faster and for 1–10% more on average nationally. A vacant home that lingers on the market while occupied staged comparables close in under two weeks is a real cost, one that staging can prevent.
What's the ROI on professional staging, and how does The Tully Team approach it?
The Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) reports that for every $1 invested in staging, sellers saw an average return of $23.34, based on its 2025 statistics. The RESA's 2026 quarterly market insights continue to reinforce staging as an investment with consistently high average ROI, not just a cosmetic upgrade.
Those are national figures, and your specific outcome will depend on your home's condition, price point, and the competitive landscape at the time you list. That's exactly why I walk every seller through a pre-listing assessment before we decide on a staging plan.
How The Tully Team coordinates staging
The process starts with a walkthrough. I go through the property with the seller and identify the high-impact rooms, living room, primary bedroom, kitchen, and any visually problematic areas like dark basements or awkward bonus rooms. From there, we build a plan that typically includes:
- Decluttering and depersonalizing, removing excess furniture, personal photos, and bold or polarizing decor
- Light cosmetic recommendations, paint color adjustments, lighting updates, small repairs that photograph well
- Furniture placement and accessory styling, highlighting flow, focal points, and the features buyers are paying for
For occupied homes, we often use a lighter "edit and style" approach that lets sellers stay in the home while achieving the decluttered, neutral look buyers expect at Downers Grove price points. For vacant homes, we bring in furniture and accessories to make the space feel livable and aspirational.
The Tully Team includes Cynthia (Cindy) Zaeske, our Staging and Home Restyling Specialist, who works directly with sellers on this process. Having that expertise in-house means we're not coordinating staging as an afterthought, it's built into how we prepare every listing.
According to the NAR 2025 staging profile, 21% of sellers' agents staged all their listings, and 10% staged only difficult-to-sell homes. My view is that staging isn't reserved for problem listings, it's what separates a strong result from a great one, even in a market that's already moving fast. If you're weighing whether to renovate before listing or sell as-is, that decision connects directly to how staging fits into your overall prep strategy.
For sellers with older homes specifically, staging an older Downers Grove home to compete with newer construction is a topic I've covered in depth, the approach is different from staging a recently updated property, and the nuance matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does professional staging really increase what buyers will pay in Downers Grove, or is it just cosmetic?
It's not just cosmetic. According to the NAR 2025 staging report, nearly 29% of agents reported a 1–10% increase in sale price for staged homes compared with similar unstaged ones. In a market where the typical Downers Grove home value is around $509,231, that range represents real money, and it reflects buyer psychology: a staged home feels move-in ready, which reduces the mental discount buyers apply for work they'd have to do themselves.
How much faster do staged homes sell compared to unstaged homes?
Nationally, about 49% of sellers' agents say staging reduced time on market, with 19% reporting a significant reduction, per the NAR 2025 report. In Downers Grove, where well-priced homes already go pending in roughly 12 days, staging helps you land in that fast-moving tier rather than sitting on the sidelines while comparable listings close.
Which rooms should I prioritize if I'm selling my Downers Grove house on a budget?
Start with the living room and primary bedroom, those are the two rooms buyers weigh most heavily, and they're the ones that show up first in listing photos. The NAR 2025 staging profile confirms the living room (91%) and primary bedroom (83%) are the most commonly staged rooms. If budget is a constraint, a consultative staging session focused on decluttering, furniture editing, and styling those two rooms can deliver strong results without a full furniture rental.
Is staging worth it in a hot market where Downers Grove homes already sell quickly?
Yes, because a fast market rewards the best-presented homes with the strongest offers, not just a sale. When buyers are choosing between two similar homes in the same week, the staged one wins the emotional decision. Staging in a competitive market isn't about getting your home sold; it's about getting it sold at the top of its range and with fewer concessions.
Can staging help my older Downers Grove home compete with newer construction nearby?
Absolutely. Professional staging can close the perceived gap between an older home and a newer build by emphasizing proportion, light, and a clean, neutral aesthetic that photographs well. As NAR notes, buyers now expect a picture-perfect presentation regardless of a home's age, and staging delivers that without requiring a full renovation. The goal is to make your home feel current and well-maintained, which is a different challenge than making it feel brand new, and one that skilled staging handles well.
If you want a deeper look at how staging strategy differs for older homes specifically, I've written about staging older Downers Grove homes for today's buyers in more detail.
Staging isn't a guarantee, but in a market as competitive as Downers Grove, it's one of the highest-leverage moves a seller can make. The data on price lift, days-on-market reduction, and buyer perception is consistent, and the local market conditions in 2026 make that leverage even more meaningful.
If you're thinking about listing and want to know exactly what staging would look like for your specific home, I'd love to walk through it with you. Reach out to schedule a pre-listing consultation and we'll build a plan that puts your home in the best possible position from day one.
Equal Housing Opportunity. Shanon Tully is a licensed Illinois broker and leads The Tully Team at Platinum Partners Realtors. Team members are Broker Faith Rosenshein Young. and Staging services provided by Cynthia (Cindy) Zaeske, Staging & Home Restyling Specialist. Licensed and regulated by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. This article is general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice, confirm your specific numbers with your closing agent, tax advisor, or lender.
