Most of us are aware of how enticing it can be to walk through a home that has been fastidiously cleaned and beautifully staged.
The atmosphere is bright, uncluttered, and oh-so-liveable. We can envision ourselves there. It feels like a new start.
As buyers, a fresh coat of paint and proper staging can make all the difference in helping us see the value and potential of a space.
However, once we become sellers, all the initial pressure of repairing and preparing our home to sell can cause a bit of amnesia around that lovely experience of walking through a well-prepared home.
The initial inconvenience of removing and storing all our personal items and furniture, plus the extra expense of staging, can make us want to skip this important step.
As an agent, I have personally experienced the return on investment that comes from adequately staging a listing.
I believe in the power of staging so much that I offer a home staging consultation and professional full-service staging to all of my clients at no additional cost to them.
When clients initially ask me, “How much would my house sell for?”, my response is often, “How much are you willing to put into preparing your home?”
A 2023 Profile of Home Staging from the National Association of REALTORS Research Group staging estimate that staging can increase your profit by as much as 1-5%. That’s as much as $25,000 for the average listing price of $500,000.
Here are a few more important points about staging:
Staging typically costs less than $3000.
The typical home stager charges an average of $1500 to $3000 for full-service staging of at least four rooms in the house. This is a nominal expense when you look at the possibility of adding up to $25,000 to the final closing price of your home as a direct result of a thoughtful presentation.
You don’t have to stage the entire home:
When it comes to staging, it’s all about first impressions. Most stagers don’t stage every room of your house. Your stagers might create a sweet porch ensemble complete with plants for initial entry. They will also pay special attention to the views upon first entering the house including the main living space, kitchen, master bedroom, bathroom, dining areas, and possibly one additional bedroom. Subsidiary rooms, such as the laundry room, additional bedrooms, and basement can be left simply clean and empty.
It’s easier for buyers to visualize themselves in a home that is staged:
Thanks to top real estate TV shows like Fixer Upper and the ever-present home renovation social media account, the current consumer appreciates a well-presented home more than ever. In fact, statistics show, many buyers have come to expect home staging. The bottom line is it’s a lot easier to envision yourself in a home that is clean and well-presented than a cluttered, dark home stuffed with distracting personal items, pet bowls, litter boxes, and controversial books.
Professional photos are as important as professional staging when listing your home:
The next most important step to selling your home is professional listing photos. These also come at a nominal cost and can make a world of difference in getting your listing seen and selling your home quickly. Taking photos of a home is a special skill and requires experience and the right equipment. This is why I personally pay to have all my clients’ listings professionally photographed by vendors I trust.
Staging your home can decrease the time on the market:
Next to pricing your home correctly, staging your home can cut the time it sits on the market. The expenses related to the time your home spends on the market can add up quickly from the cost of continuing to pay your mortgage, to the very real possibility that you will have to drop the asking price.
A few seemingly minor (but actually important) things you should watch for when showing your home:
In the interest of helping your listing make the best possible impression on potential buyers, here are a few additional things I would recommend:
- Pets should be out of the house during a showing and all pet-related items such as toys, bowls, litter boxes, and food should be stored out of sight.
- The yard should be clear of all pet waste and debris. Keep a leaf blower, rake, and broom on hand to clear the area before a showing.
- Put away personal items such as private documents, valuables, prescription medications, and any books or magazines that might be considered personal or controversial.
- If you are still occupying the home during showings, be sure to shower well before clients appear. Stepping into a steamy just-used bathroom can be an unpleasant experience for a buyer.
If you’re thinking about selling your home, be sure to get in touch with me and we can discuss the next steps.
