Yes, staging a home really works and can help your home sell faster, potentially for a higher price than if you did not use a home staging service. According to the National Association of Realtors, 48% of seller’s agents reported home staging decreased a home’s time on the market.
Plus, 20% of buyer’s and seller’s agents claimed home staging increased home sale prices by 1% to 5%. Although decluttering and cleaning help a home sell, staging can take your home’s curb appeal to the next level, helping to expedite the process and increase your profit.
On average, home staging costs about $1,800, ranging from $150 to $5,000. The project cost of home staging depends on cost factors like home size, number of rooms staging, home occupation status, and its location. Keep in mind that you’ll need to budget for consultation fees ahead of staging day, ranging from $150 to $600.
Additional cost factors include:
Furniture rental
Staging fees
Rearranging and decluttering
Repairs and maintenance
Additional purchases to fill gaps in decor
The main difference between a home stager and an interior designer is that the former creates temporary, generally appealing spaces, while the latter creates personalized design choices for your permanent home. A home stager seeks to depersonalize your home while also showing off the best features of the home to potential buyers. An interior designer works with you to infuse your personal style into the decor in your home. You’ll typically only hire a local home stager when selling your home.
The services offered by home staging companies vary, but revolve around the purpose of setting up a house with aesthetic furniture and home decor to entice potential home buyers. Home stagers offer a wide range of services, and you can expect to pay for each additional one.
Some of the most common home staging services include:
Color design
Planning each room design
Rearranging furniture
Decluttering and organizing
Repairs to visible areas
Creating ambiance with lighting, artwork, accessories, and home decor
Choosing rental furniture items
The main factors to consider when staging your home when selling are your budget, number of rooms to stage, and how long to keep the staged setup. Since home staging costs about $600 per room when using professional services, you may want to only stage the rooms that are most important to potential buyers, including the kitchen, living room, and primary bedroom. You should also consider which repairs or updates are necessary before staging your home, such as painting interior walls, carpet cleaning, and refinishing hardwood floors.