Staging a Home to Sell Faster

When you list a home for sale, you are most likely wanting to sell it quickly and for a fair price. Among other things, you may have been advised that staging your home can help it sell faster. But is staging a home really it worth it?

What Is Home Staging?

Staging a home involves temporarily furnishing, decorating, and arranging a home to be more attractive to potential buyers. You can stage a home yourself, or you can hire a professional staging company to do this for you.

The idea behind staging is to allow buyers to envision themselves living in the home. Good staging is fairly neutral, with colors, decor, and furnishings that appeal to a broad range of tastes. 

Why Should You Stage a Home?

Staging transforms a house into a home. Empty rooms can feel cold or impersonal; but a staged room can provoke feelings of comfort or excitement in a potential buyer. They might actually picture themselves doing specific tasks in a specific room, or imagine how they would change the room around. 

A staged home also looks better in your online listing. A photographer will have better luck finding the best angles and lighting if he or she has more than a carpet or bare floor to work with.  

How Much Does it Cost to Stage a House?

The cost will depend on several factors, including the size of the home and what company you use. It will also depend on whether or not you are renting furniture for an extended period of time. In general, you can expect to spend somewhere between $500 and $2000. The national average in 2021 for home staging was $1426.

Virtual staging is another option that can be more cost effective for some. Ranging from about $40 to $200 per room, you can hire a graphic artist to render realistic images of furniture in your rooms to be viewed online.

Is it Worth It to Stage Your Home?

In general, yes, it is absolutely worth it to stage your home for several reasons:

• Staged homes sell faster. HomeAdvisor reported that staged homes sold up to 50% faster than unstaged properties in 2021. Selling a home quickly can help reduce costs related to storage and rental fees.

• Staged homes stand out in online listings. Most buyers are looking at a lot of properties on various real estate apps. A beautifully staged home can help your listing stand out in a sea of lookalikes. 

• Staged homes can sell for more. Not only do staged homes sell more quickly, but they often sell at higher prices. In 2021, the National Association of Realtors found that home staging raised the selling price by 1 to 5 percent for a quarter of all home sellers.

Potential drawbacks of staging are mainly time and effort, especially if you are doing it yourself. You will want to research other listings in the area and see how long they are taking to sell. Fees for storing your belongings while you wait or the cost of renting furniture can add up the longer it takes to sell the house. 

Tips for Home Staging

Not all home staging is created equal. The last thing you want to do is drive potential buyers away because you misjudged your staging. A good stage should make a room feel fresh, comfortable, and offer plenty of scope for imagination. Keep the following tips in mind when you stage your house:

• Less is more: declutter as much as possible. Remove personal photos and knick-knacks and clear surfaces. Utilize accents such as lamps and mirrors to make the area appear brighter and larger.

• Go neutral: choose neutral colors for decor and furniture. If you have statement walls, you may want to paint them over to match the surrounding walls. 

• Don’t forget outside: good staging extends to the outside of your home as well! Increase curb appeal by cleaning windows and doors. Make sure hedges are trimmed and flowers look bright and healthy. You may consider pressure washing the driveway if it is especially dirty.

Help With Home Staging

Staging goes beyond good showmanship by creating a sense of belonging in a space. This translates directly to a faster sale and potentially higher sale. If you would like to stage your home but aren’t sure where to begin, your realtor is a great place to start! He or she will likely have a few recommendations for you for a good company; in some cases, realtors may even offer complimentary staging services.