Have you ever wondered what makes home staging such a successful strategy for prepping a property for market? While most just think adding a throw pillow here and air freshener there will get the job done, the answer actually lies much deeper. Within seconds of a buyer seeing your listing photos or walking into your home, they decide how they feel about it – it’s a gut reaction rooted in psychology. 

With this series, we’ll be diving into the five major principles of psychology that make strategic staging so powerful. Let’s get started!

The Primacy Effect: Why First Impressions Make Such an Impact

In psychology, the Primacy Effect is the principle that explains our tendency to better remember and be influenced by the first information we encounter. Studies have shown that humans form a first impression in 7 seconds or less, meaning it only takes 7 seconds in a property for a buyer to calculate the perceived risk of a purchase.

By staging a property, you’re ensuring that the first thing a buyer sees is a home that is: 

• Well-cared-for
• Welcoming
• Move-in ready

According to the Primacy Effect, this initial impression shapes a buyer’s overall perception and influences how they interpret the rest of the home. Practically speaking, a well-staged entry or living space not only immediately creates a positive first impression, it sets the emotional tone for the rest of the showing. Buyers are more willing to overlook potential imperfections because their overall perception of the property has been informed by a strong first impression.

Stay tuned for our next installment of the Psychology of Home Staging!