Data Shows Staged Listings Outselling Market Amid Record Price Reductions

Written by:

Rudi Davis

Date:

18 Oct 2025

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In a cooling real estate market where price cuts have become the norm, tech-enabled home staging is emerging as a critical differentiator, according to Guest House CEO Alex Ryden, who points to striking performance gaps between staged and unstaged properties.

“Over 50% of homes last month took a price cut that were on the market,” Ryden says, describing current conditions in the Colorado market. In contrast, he notes that “over 50% of our homes are receiving an offer within the first week.” This stark divergence, Ryden argues, demonstrates how proper presentation can dramatically impact market performance even in challenging conditions.

According to Ryden, success in today’s market hinges on generating immediate interest. “If you don’t drive the right buzz immediately, you’re going to be flat-footed and it’s going to be a long road to convert,” he says. “The first weekend, the first week, the first day is so critical to your success.”

Ryden points to a recent example in Denver, where market dynamics have shifted toward balance with average days-on-market stretching to 60 days. “This home went to market with Guest House. They received multiple offers within the first week, and they ultimately sold above their target price by 10%,” he says.

In an environment of rising rates and economic uncertainty, Ryden argues that presentation investments are one of the few variables sellers can actually influence. “You can’t control what rates are doing. You can’t control what geopolitical tensions are happening, but you can control what you do to invest in your listing,” he says.

Traditional staging typically required coordinating multiple vendors and could take up to 30 days just to align schedules, according to Ryden. His company’s tech platform aims to compress that timeline dramatically. “If you come to us on a Monday, we can get you to market by a Thursday,” he says.

The process has been streamlined to feel “a lot like ordering groceries on Instacart,” Ryden explains. Agents or sellers can get instant quotes online, select services, and have everything from furniture delivery to photography scheduled automatically.

Looking ahead, Ryden sees tech-enabled staging becoming increasingly essential as markets continue to normalize. “In a cooling market, you need to do everything to stand out. You can’t lean on interest rates and you can’t lean on buyer demand,” he says, suggesting that investment in presentation will become a key differentiator in the months ahead.