Home staging might seem counterintuitive at first blush: Why spend money on real estate if you’re moving out? The simple answer: Because home staging can get you more money for your home sale.
If your real estate agent has suggested staging, it’s because evidence shows staging real estate is usually well worth the effort, particularly if you’re planning to have an open house.
Here’s what to know about staging your home, the cost to stage a home, and if paying a professional stager is worth the investment for you.
What is home staging?
Home staging is where you decorate your house to entice buyers. This could entail anything from lighting a fire in the fireplace to give off a cozy vibe to renting new furniture to make your family room look Instagram-ready.
According to a 2023 report from the National Association of Realtors®, “20% of buyers’ agents said that staging a home increased the dollar value offered between 1% and 5%, compared to other similar homes on the market that were not staged,” which is nothing to sneeze at.
While it’s a tried-and-true selling strategy, it can cost some serious dollars depending on the shape of the property.
Essentials for staging your home yourself before a sale
You don’t have to pay a home stager to transform the decor of your entire house from basement laundry room to attic storage. If you plan on going it alone, here are some tips you should consider.
1. Focus on the most visible rooms
“A great way to save money when staging is by only focusing on the main areas of a home,” says Schostok.
These are the rooms potential buyers would spend the most time in—the kitchen, living room, dining room, and primary bedroom. You’ll also want to pay attention to what the buyers see when they first step in the front door.
That first impression, whether it be a bare, unstaged home or an inviting, perfectly staged one, can make the difference in whether they decide to buy and how much they are willing to pay for your house.
2. Declutter everywhere
Minimalism is your friend. Strip your rooms down to the bare essentials. For one thing, it will make it easier to keep the rooms clean for showings. For another, having less furniture, fixtures, and “stuff” around helps potential buyers really appreciate just how much space is available.
Staging services typically suggest that sellers declutter and depersonalize the home by removing unusual, religious or political, and personal items, so homebuyers can more easily envision themselves living in the home.
3. Ask for a consultation
Another cost-saving home-staging option is to limit yourself to an initial consultation with a home stager, instead of full-service staging. When Schostok does a home-staging walk-through with the homeowner, offering home staging tips to maximize the potential for each room, “the price is far less, $125 for 90 minutes.”
Then you can take what you’ve learned and get to work.
Similarly, talk directly to your agent after your first walk-through. Your agent might recommend a specific home improvement task, instead of hiring a professional stager, depending on their own first impression of your home.
Additional edits and information provided by Dina Sartore-Bodo.
