If you’re preparing to sell your home in Sandpoint, Idaho, you’ve likely already considered the basics: pricing, photography, and timing. But there’s one powerful strategy that consistently drives faster sales and higher offers—home staging.

Staging a home isn’t just about making it pretty. It’s about creating a connection between the buyer and the space. And in a market like Sandpoint, where many homes are second properties, vacation homes, or rentals, that connection can be the difference between sitting stale or selling strong.

The Data: What the 2025 Stats Say

According to the National Association of Realtors® 2025 Profile of Home Staging:

• 81% of buyers’ agents said staging made it easier for buyers to visualize a property as their future home.

• 27% of sellers’ agents said staging increased the dollar value of the home between 1% to 5%, compared to similar homes on the market.

• Homes that are staged spend 33% less time on the market compared to non-staged homes.

Why Vacant Homes Need Staging the Most

Empty homes don’t photograph well. They feel cold, disconnected, and often leave buyers confused about room size, flow, and function.

In early 2025, I worked with a seller preparing to list their Sandpoint home that had been a rental for the last three years. It was going to hit the market vacant, but I recommended we bring in a stager—Lindsay Booze, owner of Northern Gem Staging Co..

I explained to the homeowner:

• Photos look dramatically better when a space is styled

• Buyers struggle to envision how to live in an empty house

• When buyers sit on a staged couch and start picturing where their own things would go, they begin crafting their offer

The seller met with Lindsay and was blown away by the transformation. Once the listing went live, we had ten showings in the first four days and three cash offers. Compare that to the previous year when the house was listed with a different Realtor, it sat on the market vacant with barely a showing and no offers—the results speak for themselves.

Occupied Homes: Small Tweaks, Big Impact

For occupied homes, staging is still just as powerful—but it looks a bit different. Professional stagers often:

• Recommend what to pre-pack to declutter

• Help rearrange existing furniture for better flow

• Supplement with updated décor pieces to modernize or neutralize the style

This process makes your home feel fresh and welcoming without requiring a full furniture overhaul.

Why It Matters in the Sandpoint Market

In communities like Sandpoint, Sagle, and Dover, buyers often come from out of state or are looking for a second home. These buyers are emotional and often make fast decisions. A well-staged home:

• Photographs better online

• Feels more move-in ready

• Stands out from similar listings

Ready to Maximize Your Sale?

Download our free guide: "How to Stage Your Home for a Faster, More Profitable Sale". It’s packed with tips for both vacant and occupied homes, plus a checklist to get started.

Or, if you’re ready to list your home and want expert help every step of the way—from staging to closing—reach out to Elite Realty Partners by Real. We’ll make sure your Sandpoint-area home looks its absolute best and sells for top dollar.