Is it worth staging a home that needs a lot of repairs?

It depends on how the home will be marketed. If you are selling as is to investors or buyers who plan to renovate, heavy staging may not add much, since those buyers focus on structure, location and price. A thorough cleaning and decluttering is still worthwhile.

If the home will be marketed to buyers looking for a move-in ready house, the most important repairs usually come before staging. Staging can make rooms look appealing, but it cannot overcome obvious damage, odors or safety issues, and buyers will notice during inspections.

Talk with your real estate agent about which repairs make the most sense and whether light staging would help. Remember that disclosure laws differ by state, so known problems may need to be disclosed regardless of how good the house looks.