I have learned from the show that staging is important. But here is my idea.When you look at a new home for sale, most of the time, it is unfurnished. So, I would prefer to see an unfurnished house so I can visually put my furniture in the rooms. If it is already furnished(staged)this is harder to do. Am I the only one who thinks this way.Why go to the expense of staging? Let the future buyer imagine and visualize how their own belongings will make the house their new home.

I totally see your point, and at times have agreed when I see how they stage it.

The funny thing is that when you watch all some of the 'design to sell'/staging kind of shows, when they have a "before" open house, the potential buyers comment on things like furniture and curtains. You'll hear people say "I hate the drapes" or how they don't like the chairs (whatever).

I find this so irritating because you feel like screaming "that stuff is not going to be there if you buy the house, dumbies!" So people will comment negatively on a furnished house, too.

I personally get tired when they put up on the screen the definition of staging and we hear Kirsten say the same things at that point in the show!

I agree with it all here! When I look at a house I like to see nice open spaces ... when other things are in the space I tend to pay more attention at that then the house! I think it is good to have very min. things like maybe a nice arrangement or something over a fireplace - small things
I also think at that part of the Kirsten is talking about "staging is" enough I get what it is! I guess that is the direction they wanted to go this season .... everyone seems to be a little different

The point of staging is, as Kirsten says, to help people "imagine" themselves in the house. For example, if you have a 3br house but 'stage" one as an office, you may be helping a buyer who says "Well, we like the bedrooms but we wanted an office space" to see that they can convert one. Likewise, staging small furniture in a small room helps make it seem bigger than it would empty when only the 4 walls closing in are there to give the impression. IF you go to look at open houses in tract home model homes you will see a LOT of this--smaller beds to make kids rooms look bigger, window treatments that make windows look bigger (and NEVER, if you notice, any SCREENS because they darken a room) etc. etc.
The facts are that staged houses sell faster and for more money.

There are so many styles of furniture out there and how do you know which one to pick for the staging. I like Shabby chic and Country. If I staged that the buyers probably wouldn't.( I have noticed from other shows that I am in the minority)If the house is staged in something the buyer doesn't like then it seems it would be a "turn off". I still think a blank slate is best. Maybe a few window treatments and some other accessories. If they want one room to be an office, then ask them "Can you picture your office furniture in here?" The imagination is wonderful. Let them use theirs!

When I'm scouting potential homes, I prefer them to be empty w/ no staging. That's because I want to see what I'm working with. Homeowner furnishings or staging is just stuff that I have to mentally subtract while I'm assessing the place. BUT that's because I've seen enough homes that I don't need help "imagining" potential. Bad staging can also draw my eye to things they are obviously trying to cover up. Gee, I wonder why there's a huge area rug in that tiny room...

However, when I list a house, I am a firm believer in staging. A good, knowledgeable staging pro is worth their fee in most cases, imo. That's because many (or most) potential buyers are reacting to what they see cosmetically when they first enter the house. A cavernous empty foyer leading to a cavernous empty great room is just not going to give them that "aaah" feeling like the same rooms will when they've been well-staged.