Staging your home can boost your home’s appeal to potential buyers even if it isn’t in pristine condition. Staging can include many things such as: cleaning, decluttering, repairing, depersonalizing, as well as, designing and filling a home with aesthetically pleasing furniture, accessories, and décor. As you prepare to sell your home, I’m sure you’re wondering if your home could benefit from being staged. According to the National Association of Realtors, a vast majority of agents have reported that staging makes it much easier for buyers to imagine themselves in the home, and even shortens the time on the market. Sometimes, real estate staging is the final push buyers need to help them envision a home as “theirs.” While not every home needs a complete décor overall, stagers often have a few tried and true tips such as; remove personal items like family photos, remove heavy drapes to let the light instick to neutrals, declutter, and help buyers see the potential of your home by adding storage and versatile spaces.
The cost of staging a home to sell can vary depending on several factors, such as the size of the home, the level of staging required, and the location of the property. Generally, the cost of staging can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. If a home is already furnished, a professional stager may suggest rearranging the furniture and décor to make the space more appealing to potential buyers. This may only cost a few hundred dollars for the stager’s time and expertise. However, if the home is empty, a stager may need to bring in furniture and accessories to create an inviting atmosphere. This can be more expensive and may cost several thousand dollars or more, depending on the level of staging required.
It’s important to remember that staging is an investment in the sale of a home, and the cost can be recouped through a faster sale and potentially a higher selling price. Many real estate professionals recommend staging as a way to make a home stand out in a competitive market and appeal to a wider range of potential buyers. Having a staged home with professional photography makes a first great impression on-line, which is where most buyers go first to decide which homes they want to see.
Specific areas of the home tend to have a larger impact on potential buyers than others, namely bedrooms, living rooms, and bonus spaces like offices. So, when time and resources are limited, consider focusing on these critical areas as they may benefit your bottom line the most.
National Association of Realtors surveyed REALTORS to determine what rooms had the greatest return on investment for staging.
Though it was certainly a tool used before the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual staging has taken off in recent years. Just like traditional staging, virtual staging uses furniture and décor to highlight a space. Only, virtual staging uses a computer! It can be especially helpful as a tool for designers when they can’t decide what kind of décor suits the home best, or for a home that is either completely vacant and would require too much furniture, or a home that is still inhabited!
According to the National Association of REALTORS 2023 Profile of Home Staging, home staging can boost the move-in-ready appeal and sway buyers even if the home isn’t in pristine condition. Here are the five highlights from the report:
- 48% of seller’s agents say staging decreases a property’s time on the market.
- 20% of buyer’s and seller’s agents say staging increases the dollar value of offers by 1% to 5% compared to similar homes that aren’t staged.
- 81% of buyer’s agents say staging a home makes it easier for clients to visualize themselves living in a property.
- 45% of all agents say buyers expect homes to emulate properties they see on TV shows.
- Agents say the most important rooms to stage are the living room, primary bedroom and kitchen.
It’s never too early to get started, even if you’re not ready to list. The sooner you meet with LivNow’s Preferred Realtors the sooner you will know what you can do to prepare and enhance your home’s appeal to a wide range of buyers in the market. Your LivNow Relocation Specialist will introduce you to at least two top producing agents who are experts in your market and who can guide you through the staging process.
