When sellers evaluate the cost of staging, they often compare it against zero—as if the alternative is simply not spending that money. But the alternative isn’t free.
Unstaged homes carry real, measurable costs that frequently exceed the staging investment by multiples. These costs show up quietly over time: longer days on market, price reductions, carrying expenses, weakened negotiating leverage, and lost opportunity.
This analysis breaks down what going unstaged actually costs Las Vegas sellers—and why staging is best understood not as an expense, but as a risk-management strategy.
The Hidden Costs of Going Unstaged
Many sellers approach staging with a familiar thought process: “We’ll save the $6,000 and list the home as-is.” This frames staging as a discretionary expense rather than a value-preserving investment.
But avoiding staging doesn’t eliminate cost—it simply shifts it.
Instead of a known, controlled investment upfront, sellers often incur larger and less predictable costs later, including:
- Extended time on market
- Price reductions to regain buyer interest
- Ongoing carrying costs
- A weaker negotiating position
- Increased risk of the listing going stale
The real question isn’t “Should I spend money on staging?”
It’s “Where am I more likely to spend more money—upfront or over time?”
What the Data Shows
According to National Association of Realtors research, 49% of seller’s agents report that staging reduces time on market, with 29% indicating it significantly reduces time.
Our own Las Vegas market data tells an even clearer story:
Professionally staged homes sell an average of 33 days faster than unstaged comparables.
That’s not a marginal improvement—it’s more than a full month of avoided carrying costs, reduced stress, and preserved negotiating leverage.
Days on Market: The Carrying Cost Reality
Every additional day a home sits on the market costs money.
For a typical Las Vegas home, monthly carrying costs often include:
- Mortgage payments
- Property taxes
- Insurance
- HOA fees
- Utilities
- Pool and landscape maintenance
These expenses commonly total $3,300 to $6,400 per month.
Using a conservative example:
- $4,500 per month = $4,500 per additional month on market
- Two extra months = $9,000
- Three extra months = $13,500
If staging shortens time on market by the 33-day average we see, those savings alone often offset the entire staging investment—before factoring in sale price impact.
And carrying costs are only part of the equation.
The Stigma Timeline
Experienced Realtors understand that listings develop stigma over time:
- Days 1–14: Peak visibility and buyer interest
- Days 15–30: Interest softens; second-tier buyers emerge
- Days 30–45: “What’s wrong with it?” conversations begin
- Days 45–60: Price reductions become necessary
- 60+ days: The listing is considered stale
Unstaged homes tend to enter this stigma cycle faster because they fail to create a strong first impression during the most critical exposure window.
Price Reductions: The Most Expensive Mistake
In our competitive analysis of unstaged and minimally staged listings, the pattern is consistent:
Unstaged homes:
- Average days on market: 113
- Average price reductions: $50,000+
Professionally staged homes:
- Average days on market: 36
- Minimal or no price reductions
That $50,000 reduction alone is eight to ten times the cost of staging.
Even worse, price reductions compound the problem. Buyers begin to:
- Question what’s wrong with the property
- Assume further reductions are coming
- Negotiate more aggressively
- View the seller as motivated or distressed
A home that drops from $800,000 to $775,000 to $750,000 often sells for less than a properly staged home would have sold for initially at $785,000.
Four Ways Unstaged Homes Lose Buyers
1. Size Misperception
Empty rooms typically appear 10–15% smaller, raising concerns about furniture fit.
2. Lack of Emotional Connection
Without staging, buyers move through quickly, evaluating instead of imagining.
3. Flaw Magnification
Minor imperfections become focal points when there’s nothing else to guide the eye.
4. Weaker Online Performance
Empty rooms photograph poorly, leading to fewer clicks, fewer showings, and fewer offers.
In a digital-first market, this disadvantage compounds before buyers ever step inside.
Running the Numbers: A Real Comparison
Consider a $750,000 Las Vegas home:
- Staging investment: $6,500 (30-day term)
- Monthly carrying costs: $4,200
Market averages:
- Staged homes: 36 days on market
- Unstaged homes: 70 days on market
Staged scenario:
- $6,500 staging cost
- No price reduction
Unstaged scenario:
- $4,200 in additional carrying costs
- $25,000 price reduction
Total cost comparison:
- Staged: $6,500
- Unstaged: $29,200
That’s a $22,700 advantage in favor of staging—and this example is conservative.
The ROI Perspective
Viewed as an investment, staging consistently returns multiples of its cost.
A $6,500 investment that prevents $29,200 in losses represents a 4.5× return. In luxury homes with higher carrying costs, returns frequently exceed 10×.
NAR data supports this:
- 19% of seller’s agents report a 1–5% increase in sale price
- 10% report a 6–10% increase
On a $750,000 home, a modest 2% improvement equals $15,000—well beyond typical staging costs.
Make the Investment That Saves Money
The conclusion is clear: going unstaged doesn’t save money—it spends more of it, just less visibly.
Extended market time, price reductions, and weakened leverage cost sellers far more than a strategic staging investment ever will. Staging isn’t decorative—it’s defensive. It protects value, momentum, and outcomes.
To review the numbers for your specific property, call Scott at 702-848-3750 or request a free estimate online and evaluate staging as the financial strategy it truly is.
