But guess what? It does not have to be so bad if you have a good plan, a good team to help you and you are prepared before you list. Then, it should be smooth sailing. A fast sale for the price you want is something to celebrate, not stress over.
Tips for a Stress-Free Sale Before You List
Stage It
I am sure you know by now that this is a no-brainer. Invest a little. Make a lot.
A stager can help you with all the rest of these tips as well. The fastest way to reduce stress is to be prepared and sell fast for a great price! Let them handle making the appeal to buyers while you get things packed and ready to move.
De-Clutter and Create Space
Your stager can recommend what things to keep out for staging and what to pack up.
Get rid of things you don’t use and are not moving to your next home.
Have a garage sale now, NOT after your house is listed. If you do it after listing it gives buyers the sense you are in a hurry to sell and they may make a lower offer.
Start packing things up for the move and put them in storage. Do not store it in your garage. That space is a selling point buyers are looking for. Let them see it….not a bunch of boxes.
Donate the things you don’t want and can’t sell to charity.
Create Curb Appeal and Outdoor Living Space
Your stager can recommend what things should be done to the exterior and yard to improve curb appeal.
Typically, this involves doing your yard work, trimming, trees and shrubs, putting everything away, a new welcome mat, and some flowers or art near the door.
Create outdoor living spaces with chairs, tables, and a BBQ grill in a beautiful spot in the yard or on the deck to show the possibilities.
Tips for Stress-Free Sale After You List
For all showings, keep all lights on so it is light and bright
Open all the curtains and let the light in.
Keep the toilet seats down
Turn off the TV
Make sure all beds are made, toys put away
Remove evidence of pets.
Bathrooms should have only clean towels and all personal items should be out of view and stored in baskets.
Remove your valuables from sight.
Create baskets or boxes for daily clutter and toys so you have a place to easily
Let there be Light- Home Staging by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Turn off the TV.
Open windows for fresh air
Make sure all dishes are done or in the dishwasher.
These tips should help you sell fast and for more, so you can rest easy, sell without too much stress and move on to your next adventure.
Sell Your House Faster and For More
Check out my online home staging services. For in-person consultations or staging, call for a custom quote. Click on the pictures to learn more.
Interested in becoming a home stager? I recommend the Staging Diva Home Staging Training program!
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Do You Do These Dumb Things When Selling Your Home?
When you decide to sell your house, of course, you want to make the most money on the sale and sell fast. My house is my biggest asset. I bet it is for you too. It is important to hire the best person for the job to get the best results.
After all, if you had a brain tumor, would you go to someone who does cosmetic surgery and expect them to get the job done?
If you needed a tooth pulled, would you ask your neighbor? Maybe if they were a dentist.
Invest in the right person. Make sure they are experienced professionals.
Here are some of the common mistakes I see people make when they call about hiring me to stage their home.
1. Look for the Cheapest Price?
Think all stagers are created equally? It’s just decorating, how hard can it be? You can probably do it yourself. Those beliefs are going to cost you. Thousands. Maybe tens of thousands.
How much it costs you now is the last thing you should be thinking of. More important is how much your investment will make you when it sells.
Most home stagers will charge $350-$700 for an initial consultation which is usually about 2 hours. They will tell you everything you can do to prepare your house for the market and stage it yourself if that is what you choose to do. If you want them to stage it for you, which I highly recommend, they charge by the hour or a flat rate. Do it. They are trained to know what will get you the fast sale.
When you are looking for a stager, do not just pick the person with the lowest price. Look for someone experienced, with training that has a professional website that shows a great portfolio and testimonials.
After all, if you find a stager who charges half the price of another, but their work does not sell your house fast and for more, you just wasted a lot of money.
2. Allow Yourself to be Fooled by Meaningless Credentials?
Don’t be fooled by titles and credentials. The home staging industry is not regulated. There are no certifications out there that are regulated by the states or federal government. There are some companies that will say you are certified if you pay them money to take their unregulated classes and will give you a certificate. I am not saying they are not good classes, only that the certification really does not mean anything. After all, your neighbor can decide to call themselves a home stager tomorrow, make some business cards, and go into business. But will they get you a fast sale and a great price?
A professional stager should have some training from a reputable school or trainer. They should have experience. Maybe they are someone with a degree in design (although that knowledge is different than what is needed for home staging).
3. Allow Someone Else to Pick Your Home Stager for You?
Has your realtor said they will find a home stager for you? How much do they know about staging? Maybe they can recommend a good stager for you but I would do your own research and make phone calls. I say this because I get calls all the time from realtors for their clients and all they seem to care about is price. That is mistake number one and not helping you.
4. Not Reviewing the Stagers Website, Portfolio and References?
A professional always has a website. And it should look good and highlight their work in a beautiful portfolio. If it doesn’t, how will your house look when it is done? If they don’t have a website, I would not even consider them. No, A Facebook page does not count:)
They should have great testimonials. Many of them.
They should have an online portfolio. When you look at the after pictures, you should think, “I want to buy that house”!
5. Let Your Friend with “Good Taste” stage it for you?
No, no, no, no. Just say no.
Decorating is not staging. Stagers use decorating as a tool to take what they know about market conditions, your target market, worthwhile changes that will give you a great return on your investment, and more to emotionally connect to buyers.
I am a professional Interior Designer and know that knowledge tells me little about home staging. Luckily, I am also trained as a home stager. That is why I know what a difference there is between them. It is not about your decorating style or taste, or that of your friends, It is about the buyer. That is a whole different thing.
Get a Professional Home Staging Consultation
Get a professional home staging consultation today and find out the key things you need to know to sell fast and for the very best price!
But first, check out my training, portfolio,testimonials and pick up the phone and call so you know the value you will get for your money.
Color can help you sell for More- Or Less
Get a Professional Color Consultation Today.
Did you know that the right paint colors can help you make more money on your home sale? Or, reduce the price buyers are willing to pay?
Not Home Staging is Like Going to Your Dream Job Interview in Sweat Pants
Of course, you wouldn’t. At least I hope not! When you are selling your home, just like going to an important job interview or getting ready for a first date, you need to make a great first impression. And you don’t have much time to do it. People have a short attention span. It is what it is.
Get ready for the market with these tips to help make a great impression fast.
1. Make the outside look just as inviting as the inside
When you drive up, if things are not neat, clean, and do not look well-cared for then the buyer will imagine the house has not well cared for either.
Imagine you drive up and see children’s toys, an un-mowed lawn, wild shrubs that have not been trimmed, broken fence posts. Do you want to see the inside? The thought probably scares you.
Make sure you have great curb appeal.
Mow the lawn, trim the shrubs, rake the leaves, shovel the snow.
Put away all children’s toys, projects, and yard tools.
Make the entrance look great with an eye-catching color on the front door, a new welcome mat, and some flowers or art near the door.
Repair walkways, steps, and railings.
Make sure garbage cans are not visible.
Make sure everything is clean and swept. A good pressure washing can really help make things look new.
2. Create Space-Eliminate Excess Stuff
A key thing buyers want is space to put all their stuff. They do not care to see your stuff. Only envision their stuff. Will their stuff fit, will it look good with the current paint job, and is there enough storage for their copious amounts of stuff.
Your stuff is a distraction. What you keep out for staging should be about highlighting the best features of the home, including the space, for buyers. It is no longer about your stuff. Time to break up with the house.
It is worth going through every closet and cabinet and taking out about 50% of your stuff.
And please, do not put boxes and boxes of your stuff in the garage. Buyers want to see the space you have to offer there as well.
3. Reduce Worry
As soon as a buyer sees an issue….a broken handle, a cabinet door that does not work, a light that won’t turn on, a water spot, a hole in the wall….they wonder what else is wrong with the house and start looking for problems.
The magic spell of emotional connection to their dream home is broken.
Then they start thinking of all the weekends they will spend working on the house instead of enjoying it and how much it will cost to fix, which you can be sure they will imagine being more than it will cost.
Take care of these problems before listing. Fix paint chips, small and large repair problems, peeling paint or wallpaper. Make sure all the electrical outlets have covers and matching ones at that. Take care of leaks, odors, and anything that needs repairing.
4. Let Color Make Money for You
A good coat of paint can go a long way in making things look fresh, new and making a connection with buyers. There is a balancing act between appealing to the greatest number of buyers and not having the house appear cold or boring.
Color can help you sell for more or turn buyers off. A color expert can help you select colors that will increase your sales price. Don’t just pick a beige or white and call it good. It will cost you.
5. Make the house memorable with art and accessories
There is a fine balance between being neutral enough to highlight the home rather than the objects within it and creating a space that is memorable and interesting enough to make an emotional connection with buyers.
Home stagers are experts at creating this balance. It is very different than decorating or designing for a homeowner. It is all about the buyer.
Strategically placed and carefully selected art and colorful accessories can create focal points in areas you want to highlight and create the magic buyers remember.
Art should be colorful, to scale, and definitely not political, religious, or controversial in any way. So please, forget about the animal heads.
Get a Professional Home Staging Consultation
Get a professional home staging consultation today and find out the key things you need to know to sell fast and for the very best price!
Color can help you sell for More- Or Less
Get a Professional Color Consultation Today.
Did you know that the right paint colors can help you make more money on your home sale? Or, reduce the price buyers are willing to pay?
Home Staging Helps Buyers see Their Dream Life Before Them
Home staging helps buyers see their dream life before them.
Helping buyers see is the key.
You may have heard that when people buy homes, they buy on emotion rather than logic. In the past I wrote about how Selling Your Home is Not About Selling Your Home, it is about selling a dream.
You can’t sell a dream if the buyer can’t see it. That is why vacant houses are hard to sell. Very few can “see the dream” in an empty house. They just look cold and uninviting.
Being able to see is just important in an occupied home.
Most people can’t visualize very well. They can’t picture that purple room of yours with white walls. They can’t picture that bedroom you converted to a playroom as a bedroom. They can’t visualize that home gym you created as a child’s room. And, they can’t really visualize how much space the room really has when you have so much stuff in it. Or, if it is totally empty.
If they can’t see it, in their mind’s eye or with their real eyes, they probably won’t buy it.
How can home staging help buyers see so you can sell your house fast and for the most possible?
Show Me the Money
Home staging helps buyers see the value of what you are offering.
Value partially comes in the number of bedrooms and whether a property can be income producing for example.
If you have converted a bedroom to another function such as an office or gym, it is important to stage it as a bedroom. The price of your home is partially based on number of bedrooms. If it does not look like a bedroom, buyers won’t see it as a bedroom.
Buyers are often looking for a home that has income producing potential, such as a rental unit with a separate entrance. If you have a space that could be income producing, stage it that way to show the possibility.
Selling a dream might be a different lifestyle. Home Staging by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Show me the Dream
People buy to create a better life than they have now. You can show them the possibility of more outdoor living space, more beautiful decor, more room for their kids to play or for a growing family, more storage, room for a home based business or work out area and more with staging!
Know your target market and their dreams. Show the possibilities!
Can You See It?
A professional home stager is an expert at staging a home so people can see themselves living their dreams there. They will research your area and determine a target market to stage for.
They can see it, and can help others to see it.
Help Buyers See What They Need
I would like to show you how you can sell your house fast and for more by helping buyers see a better life in your for sale home. Get started with a home staging consultation today.
Home Staging Consultation Online. Call for a custom quote for an in person consultation.
Interested in become a home stager? Try the Staging Diva Home Staging Training. This is what I did and highly recommend it!
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Why Hire a Professional Home Stager When You can Do it Yourself for Free
Because you get what you pay for.
I know, you may have looked into hiring a home stager, but it turned out to be more expensive than you were expecting.
Have you fully considered what it may cost you not to stage? How about 10K on your first price reduction for starters.
Knowing you should stage it, you may have decided to just do it yourself. How hard can it be?
Home Staging Tasks You Can and Should Do Yourself
Yes, there are many things you can do yourself to save money and prepare your house for the market.
You can clean like it has never been cleaned before! It will pay off.
You can declutter, and pack up 50% of what you normally live with.
You can repaint using colors that will help you sell your house for more.
You can do repairs and upgrades.
You can create great curb appeal by making sure your yard is clean, trimmed and everything is put away.
But Here’s the Thing
Do you know what paint colors will help you sell for more and which might decrease your sales price?
Do you know what things are best to pack up and what is best to leave out for staging? Most home sellers pack away too much or the wrong things.
Do you know which repairs and upgrades will pay for themselves and which ones wont?
Are you an expert on the market? Do you know who your target market is and how to emotionally connect with them through decorating, space planning and other things the pros are trained to do?
Can you see your home objectively with the fresh eyes of someone who has never seen the home before? Really? How is that possible?
Are you an expert at what a realistic price range is for your house and how your house should be staged for that price range?
Can you emotionally detach from your house as if it belonged to someone else, and see all the things in it with fresh eyes? Wow, you’re good!
Are you up on who the different trades people are in the area that do a great job?
Are you an expert at decorating? How about decorating for buyers? That is a whole different thing.
Do you have an inventory or access to things to stage your home that look new, modern, and will highlight your homes best features for buyers? Considering you are moving; you are unlikely to want to purchase things that might be needed for staging.
Does your house have odors that you can’t detect because you are so used to them that may turn buyers off?
Selling a dream might be a different lifestyle. Home Staging by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
The Pros and Cons
You may be tempted to do it yourself in order to save a little. Hiring a pro can increase what you can make on your sales price by tens of thousands of dollars. It can also cost you that if you don’t.
Home staging always costs less than your first price reduction. Those are usually about 10k each time. That can add up to some substantial losses if your “home staging” is not up to par.
And how can it be, if you are not a pro. After all, you are probably a nurse, or accountant or IT person or whatever your profession is. Do you think someone with no training or education could walk into your workplace and do your job as good as you could?
How About Hiring a Cheap Home Stager?
Are you thinking, OK fine, I will hire a home stager and will look for the cheapest one?
You could go with a cheap stager. Have you fully considered how much money you will be losing if their staging job does not result in a faster sale or a higher price? If it sits on the market for months, how many tens of thousands in price reductions are you willing to take?
A professional home stager is worth every penny you will pay. It is worth it.
Ready to Sell for More?
Ready to professional stage your home so you can get the best sales price? Get started with a home staging consultation today.
Home Staging Consultation Online. Call for a custom quote for an in person consultation.
Interested in become a home stager? Try the Staging Diva Home Staging Training. This is what I did and highly recommend it!
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A Quick Resource Guide to Prepping a Home for Sale
Getting a house ready for sale is about maximizing asking price by emphasizing the best features of your home. It’s also important to know exactly what steps to take when putting it up for sale, now that we’re dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. These resources will tell you which improvements are necessary to attract buyers’ attention, and what precautions you should be taking right now.
You don’t have to pay top dollar for curb appeal projects to make the home’s exterior look inviting to potential buyers.
Give Your Home a Warm, Inviting Glow with These Curb Appeal Lighting Tips
Lighting doesn’t just matter inside the home. Make sure the exterior is well-lit so that buyers can see everything it has to offer.
Getting a home listing ready during the coronavirus means getting creative, but you don’t have to go overboard. Refer to this resource guide to gain a better understanding of recommended COVID-19 guidelines and home improvements. You should also discuss possible strategies with your real estate agent when making any decisions during the selling process.
Written by by Suzie Wilson of Happier Home for Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Ready to Sell Someone a Dream?
I would like to show you how you can sell your house fast and for more by appealing to your target market’s dreams for a better life. Get started with a home staging consultation today.
Home Staging Consultation Online. Call for a custom quote for an in person consultation.
Interested in become a home stager? Try the Staging Diva Home Staging Training. This is what I did and highly recommend it!
Selling Your Home is not about Selling Your Home
You may have heard that when people buy homes, they buy on emotion rather than logic. What does that mean to you as a home seller? How can you sell your home when what people are really buying from you is not clear?
They may have a checklist of all the things they are looking for, but when it comes right down to it. they buy because of the way the home makes them feel and they can envision themselves living a happy life there. When you sell a home, it is not about the home. It is about the dream of the life that can be lived in that home.
So what does that really mean? They can envision themselves living there, and they like what they see in the mind’s eye. The life they envision living there is better or different than what they have now. You are offering them the possibility of expansion….or something more.
Selling a dream might be a different lifestyle. Home Staging by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
What makes it better, or more expansive? It’s a step up, something bigger, better or different. That can be something tangible such as more space, better finishes, more outdoor living space, a nicer neighborhood, better schools, a shorter commute, more storage, etc. Or maybe a different lifestyle, such as in the city or the country.
It can also be intangible, such as a more peaceful life, a greater sense of well being and happiness, better family relationships, more time for themselves to do hobbies or self care or fulfilling dream of starting a home based business or working from home.
How Can you Sell a Dream?
How can you sell a dream? Home Staging. A professional home stager will research your market, determine your target market and they are experts at staging a home to appeal to those people and their dreams.
For example, if the home is nearby great schools, you will likely attract families with school age children. Those buyers want peaceful, happy home lives that are safe for their kids and appeal to their ideal visions of family life. A stager can set up the home to promote a vision of that life.
Nearby hospitals or doctors’ offices may attract nurses and other health care professionals, or it could also appeal to people that maybe are older and have health conditions and want to be nearby. A stager can create a home that shows a possible home office or a home that looks comfortable and easy to move around safely in for older buyers.
Different décor and colors appeal to different age groups and markets, and stagers are experts at appealing to the correct age groups based on your target market.
They know how to make a room look spacious, yet feel comfortable, highlight or create areas for crafts or hobbies, or self care. They can turn an awkward space into a great place for a home office. Or they just highlight how a certain area is a peaceful place to have coffee in the morning or get away to read a book.
Ready to Sell Someone a Dream?
I would like to show you how you can sell your house fast and for more by appealing to your target market’s dreams for a better life. Get started with a home staging consultation today.
Home Staging Consultation Online. Call for a custom quote for an in person consultation.
Interested in become a home stager? Try the Staging Diva Home Staging Training. This is what I did and highly recommend it!
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A Seller’s Market is the Perfect Time to Spend Money on Home Staging
If you are like most people selling your home in a seller’s market, where there are few houses for sale and lots of buyers, you would think spending money on home staging is a dumb idea.
After all, why spend money on staging when you can reasonably expect it will sell quickly. Why spend money on fixing things or remodeling? Why spend money on painting, or even cleaning?
I see it all the time. I live in a small town that has limited housing, so it is always a seller’s market. I am amazed sometimes at the listing photos I see online.
I get it. What you are really saying is why spend any money at all if you do not have to. You do have holding costs like mortgage and utilities after all and will have to pay your realtor and closing costs.
“That is an interesting belief that will cost you.”
Think about it. The supply of houses is limited. People are looking to buy. They want the best house they can get for the money. If there are five houses for sale, and they all look just OK, including yours, you will likely still sell quickly but at what price? About the same as everyone else with a similar OK house.
What if your house looks amazing compared to the other similar homes? Everyone is going to want it. What will happen? Can you say bidding war?
What do I mean when I say amazing? Your house is clean, repaired, beautifully staged and move in ready. You have professional photos showing it off online. Everyone will want it and they all know everyone else will want it too!
OK, I hear your gears grinding from here…. but how much will it cost me to do all that compared to how much more I will get on my home sale? I am glad you asked.
In my experience, if people spend .5 to 1% of the home’s value on getting their home ready for market, which includes the painting, repairs, cleaning, and staging, they often get 10-20% more on their home sale.
For example, I recently staged a home in a seller’s market. The realtor was concerned that the seller would be lucky to get 20K less than they wanted to list for in the house’s current condition. The owner knew they needed to move their things out and get it cleaned. They were not considering doing much more. The realtor suggested home staging.
We started with a consultation in which I recommended painting over some colors I knew would not be appealing to buyers, installing some missing lights, removing most of the existing furniture and personal items , having it cleaned, having the yard work done and for me to stage it. I believe the maintenance and painting probably cost them about $500. The consultation, staging and accessory rentals cost about $1500. So, the owner spent about $2000 to prepare it for market.
So, what happened? After I staged the home, the seller received 2 over asking price offers within 24 hours and 15 offers in 7 days. They sold the house for 30K over asking price! So not only did they make up for the 20K the realtor thought they could not get to meet their asking price, but they also made an additional 30K. That is 50K more than expected, because they spent 2K on preparing and staging.
Note this was a small house, so costs to prepare or stage and prepare larger houses can vary quite a bit based on the size and what they need. At the same time, larger houses have a much higher sales price and greater opportunity for the seller to make even more on the sale.
Spending money on home staging is kind of like going on a diet. You have to put up with a little short-term pain of spending some money up front to get the big pay-off in the end. Or instead, maybe I should say home staging is like going on a healthy diet….you know it is the right thing to do to get a return of perfect health, and with home staging to get the return of your best sales price. It is simply hard to get started!
So, are you going to hang out eating cookies all day or do what is good for you?
So Are You Going to Eat Cookies All Day?
Get your online home staging consultation or staging service today. Click on the pictures to learn more. For in person consultations or staging, call for a custom quote
Become a Home Stager
Interested in becoming a home stager? I recommend the Staging Diva Home Staging Training program!
FAQs for Realtors on Home Staging
FAQs for Realtors on Home Staging – What you need to know about cost, time, value, and how home staging leads to more listings.
Most Realtors have heard of home staging and how it can help sell a home faster and for more money but many Realtors still have questions. Here are answers to some common questions about how home staging works.
WHAT IS HOME STAGING?
What is home staging?
Home Staging is a marketing tool that uses decorating to show off a home’s best features while downplaying its flaws. Done right, staging creates an emotional connection between home and buyer, leading to a faster sale at maximum value.
Home Staging by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Is staging just for vacant homes?
Home staging is for all homes, occupied or vacant. Staging a home with what a home seller already has is always the preferred choice, as it leads to greater savings on rental furniture and labor fees.
Usually the first question I get! A better question might be can home staging help me sell faster and for more! Think of home staging as an investment, rather than a cost.
That investment will depend on the size of the house, if it is vacant or occupied, if the stager will do everything or just a consultation, followed by the seller doing the bulk of the work. It also depends on the seller having suitable furniture and accessories or if items need to be rented.
Stagers charge a fee for a consultation and give an estimate (based on an hourly fee, or a flat fee) if additional time is needed. A monthly rental fee may apply for furniture and/or accessories.
On average, stagers charge $300-$500 for that initial “working” consultation and about $100/hour for their time after that. Furniture and accessory rental costs vary based on what is needed to properly showcase the home.
Just like a home seller shouldn’t pick a real estate agent based on the highest quoted sale price for your home, a stager should not be picked based on the lowest bid. In both cases, the agent and the stager may be quoting that price just to get the job. You get what you pay for. Quality counts.
Who pays for home staging?
Some popular options include:
the home seller pays all
the real estate agent pays for a consultation
the real estate agent reimburses the home seller at closing for an agreed amount (i.e.: for the initial “working” consultation).
the real estate agent pays all or part of the staging
More and more Realtors are covering the cost of a consultation as part of their marketing plan, leaving any further investment up to the home seller. For clients that like to DIY, a consultation may be all they need to properly prepare their home for sale. See the article, “Who Pays for Home Staging” for more detail.
As a Realtor, why should I pay for home staging or a consultation?
Many savvy Realtors pay for the initial consultation and their clients pay for any additional staging services.
While getting a higher price is paramount for home sellers, it may not make a big difference in a Realtor’s commission, but certainly makes for happier clients and more referrals! Ultimately, selling faster will be great for you and your client because everyone gets paid faster. It also lowers marketing expenses for you and holding costs for your client. Home staging is an investment. With little money up front, you should be able to list the property for more and sell faster.
How can I help my clients understand the value of home staging?
Help your sellers see that staging will cost less than that first price reduction. The increased sales price of their home, faster closing, and reduced holding costs, will more than cover the staging investment and all with a whole lot less stress!
My sellers have a very limited budget. How can they afford the services of a professional home stager?
Think you can’t afford to hire a professional home stager? In today’s market, you can’t afford not to. For the most budget friendly option, invest in a home staging consultation. Home sellers can do the work themselves based on the advice of a professional home stager. For the best results, have the stager return for a final checkup prior to photos.
How much does it cost to do “Lite Staging”?
Putting a few decorative items or sparse furniture in an otherwise vacant house is often more distracting for buyers than not adding anything at all. “Lite” staging or “vignette” staging of small areas is generally not a good investment as it does not help make that emotional connection which sells the home. It also does not highlight the home’s best features, give buyers a sense of how big the space is, or how their furniture might fit in the space.
PROCESS AND TIMELINE
How long does it take to stage a home?
This varies based on the size of the home, what is needed to best market the property, and the experience of the stager.
Overall, I find that an average occupied home can be staged in 8 hours or less, and a vacant home in 2 days or about 16-18 hours. If you plan to stage a vacant home, it is best to call the stager at least 2-3 weeks prior to listing. An occupied home may require less lead time, based on the staging needs. For best results, call the stager as soon as possible.
What is the home staging process for a vacant home?
Generally, staging can be completed within 7-14 days after the initial consultation and all needed repairs and updates are complete.
Consultation– Up to 2 hours
Pre-staging- (usually 1-2 weeks). Home seller works on the consultation task list to get the home cleaned, de-cluttered, maintained, and completes updates such as painting, replacing flooring or lighting etc. The stager prepares the staging plan, coordinates with furniture rental companies, and prepares art, accessories, and furniture for transport.
Staging- 1 to 2 days on site.
De-staging- 2-3 hours. Prior to closing and after inspection is complete and/or contract is signed.
What is the home staging process for an occupied home?
Consultation– Up to 2 hours.
Pre-staging- (usually 1-2 weeks). Home seller works on the consultation task list to get the home cleaned, de-cluttered, maintained, and completes updates such as painting, replacing flooring or lighting etc. The stager prepares the staging plan, coordinates with furniture rental companies, and prepares art, accessories, and furniture, if applicable, for transport.
Staging- As little as a few hours or up to a full day.. Sometimes it can be done directly after the consultation.
De-staging- (usually 2-3 hours, if the seller has rented furniture or accessories). After inspection is complete and/or contracts are signed
Please visit my Services page and call to discuss details.
What does a consultation include?
A consultation gives your sellers a complete list of everything they can do to prepare their home, both inside and out – whether it is vacant or occupied. With this information, the home owner can then decide how much work they will do themselves and how much they would like the stager to do. Recommendations include:
cleaning
decluttering
maintenance
paint colors
flooring
lighting
furniture and accessory placement to highlight each space or focal point
purchases, if needed, for bedding, towels, or other items
contractors
advice for keeping the home show ready
curb appeal
preparing for the photo shoot
A professional consultation can help reinforce information you, as the Realtor, already provide.
It is always faster and more effective to hire the right professional for the job. If you wouldn’t recommend a home seller list as For Sale By Owner (FSBO), then it’s probably not a good idea to do the staging yourself. Even if you are a home stager, you still may wish to avoid staging the clients’ home and having those difficult conversations about cleaning, odors, pets, animal heads and the like to maintain a great relationship with your client. Wouldn’t your time be better used marketing your current listings and finding more?
Should every house be staged?
All houses can benefit from a 2-hour home staging consultation. There is always something that can be done to raise the perceived value of a home in the buyer’s eyes. A small investment in a home staging consultation can increase buyer appeal, reaping large rewards in the final sales price.
Does every room need to be staged?
Every space in an occupied home should be staged for a consistent look-and-feel throughout. For vacant homes, it is critical to stage the main rooms, awkward spaces, and any areas that add value to the sales price such as a potential rental unit. When rooms are left empty, buyers may wonder if the seller has already moved out or is desperate to sell encouraging low offers.
As the Realtor, do I need to be at the consultation?
Some agents never attend, some always attend, and others attend occasionally or a few minutes only. The real key to success is the home owner’s willingness to go along with the staging recommendations, and not whether the agent attends the home staging consultation. For more detail, see a great article by Susan Atwell on this subject.
Does the stager coordinate all the contractors such as painters, maintenance people, flooring specialists, etc.?
Stagers can recommend trusted, professional contractors. For owner occupied homes, the home owner will find it faster and more convenient to coordinate these contractors themselves. For home sellers living away from the property, the stager can easily coordinate all.
VALUE
Can home staging help me sell my listing faster and for more money?
What should I tell a client that wants to list first and stage later if their home does not sell?
The same thing you tell a client who wants to “test” the market with an unrealistic listing price, just to inevitably reduce the price later. The longer a home is on the market, the less desirable it is. Just like food, a listing becomes stale in a very short time. You can also add that the Real Estate Staging Association Home Staging National Statistics Report found that homes that were staged first before listing, rather than after listing, spent 90% less time on the market. See the article, the “Big Bang Theory of Home Staging”.
Why should I invest in home staging in a seller’s market?
Home staging works in every type of market. Even in a seller’s market, there will always be listings that do not sell quickly. Staged homes generate more interest on the web and in person, by creating move-in ready homes that feel fresh, spacious, and up-to-date. All these conditions lead to higher offers, potential bidding wars, and greater profits for you and your clients.
Can home staging get me more listings?
YES! Would you like to tip the scales in your favor when competing for a listing? Want to know what top producing real estate agents do? Offer your sellers an affordable home staging consultation. Position yourself as a forward thinking agent that:
Gives extra value.
Goes the extra mile.
Is a savvy marketer.
Is known for having the best listings.
What should I look for when selecting a home stager?
Even though there is no legal licensing or training requirement to become a home stager, do your homework and look for a professional with training, experience, and good reviews.
An accomplished stager will have both training and proven natural talent to get you great results. See the article on tips to hiring a great stager.
Now that you know everything you need to about home staging, you know it is a no -brainer if you want to sell fast and for more. All staging starts with a consultation which can be in person or online. Feel free to call if you have questions and would like to discuss what would be best for you.
Interested in becoming a home stager? I recommend the Staging Diva Home Staging Training program!
FAQs for Home Sellers on Home Staging
What you need to know about cost, time, value, and how home staging leads to a faster sale.
What is Home Staging?
What is home staging?
Home Staging is a marketing tool that uses decorating to show off a home’s best features while downplaying its flaws. Done right, staging creates an emotional connection between home and buyer, leading to a faster sale at maximum value.
Is staging just for vacant homes?
Home staging is for all homes, occupied or vacant. Staging a home with what a home seller already has is always the preferred choice, as it leads to greater savings on labor and furniture rental fees.
How much does home staging cost? Photo by 金 运 on Unsplash
Usually the first question I get! A better question might be can home staging help me sell faster and for more! Think of home staging as an investment, rather than a cost.
That investment will depend on the size of your home, if it is vacant or occupied, if the stager will do everything or just a consultation, followed by you, the seller, doing the bulk of the work. It also depends on whether suitable furniture and accessories are present in the home or if items need to be rented.
Stagers charge a fee for a consultation and give an estimate (based on an hourly fee, or a flat fee) if additional time is needed. A monthly rental fee may apply for furniture and/or accessories.
On average, stagers charge $500-$600 for that initial “working” consultation and about $125/hour for their time after that. Furniture and accessory rental costs vary based on what is needed to properly showcase your home.
Just like a home seller shouldn’t pick a real estate agent based on the highest quoted sale price for your home, a stager should not be picked based on the lowest bid. In both cases, the agent and the stager may be quoting that price just to get the job. You get what you pay for. Quality counts.
Staging will always cost less than your first price reduction. An increased sales price of your home, faster closing, and reduced holding costs, will more than cover the staging investment and all with a whole lot less stress!
Who pays for home staging?
Some popular options include:
the home seller pays all
the real estate agent pays for a consultation
the real estate agent reimburses the home seller at closing for an agreed amount (i.e.: for the initial “working” consultation).
the real estate agent pays all or part of the staging
More and more Realtors are covering the cost of a consultation as part of their marketing plan, leaving any further investment up to the home seller. If you like to DIY, a home staging consultation may be all you need to properly prepare your home for sale. See the article, “Who Pays for Home Staging” for more detail.
Why should I pay for home staging or a consultation?
Home staging is a worthwhile investment. You are, after all, the one who will gain the most financially from a higher sales price. In addition, selling faster will be great for you because you get paid faster. It also reduces your holding costs (mortgage, utilities. taxes etc.) while your home is on the market.
Your Realtor may include paying for the initial consultation as part of their marketing plan.
I am on a very limited budget. How can I afford the services of a professional home stager?
Think you can’t afford to hire a professional home stager? In today’s market, you can’t afford not to. For the most budget friendly option, invest in a home staging consultation. Home sellers can do the work themselves based on the advice of a professional home stager. For the best results, have the stager return for a final checkup prior to photos.
How much does it cost to do “Lite Staging”?
Putting a few decorative items or sparse furniture in an otherwise vacant house is often more distracting for buyers than not adding anything at all. “Lite” staging or “vignette” staging of small areas is generally not a good investment as it does not help make that emotional connection which sells the home. It also does not highlight the home’s best features, give buyers a sense of how big the space is, or how their furniture might fit in the space.
What is the process to stage a vacant or occupied home? Photo by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
What is the Process and How Long Does it Take?
How long will it take to stage my home?
This varies based on the size of your home, what is needed to best market the property, and the experience of the stager.
Overall, I find that an average occupied home can be staged in 8 hours or less, and a vacant home in 2 days or about 16-18 hours. If your home is vacant, it is best to call the stager at least 2-3 weeks prior to listing. An occupied home may require less lead time, based on the staging needs. For best results, call the stager as soon as possible.
What is the home staging process for a vacant home?
Generally, staging can be completed within 7-14 days after the initial consultation and all needed repairs and updates are complete.
Consultation– Up to 2 hours
Pre-staging- (usually 1-2 weeks). Home seller works on the consultation task list to get the home cleaned, de-cluttered, maintained, and completes updates such as painting, replacing flooring or lighting etc. The stager prepares the staging plan, coordinates with furniture rental companies, and prepares art, accessories, and furniture for transport.
Staging- 1 to 2 days on site.
De-staging- 2-3 hours. Prior to closing and after inspection is complete and/or contract is signed.
What is the home staging process for an occupied home?
Consultation– Up to 2 hours.
Pre-staging- (usually 1-2 weeks). Home seller works on the consultation task list to get the home cleaned, de-cluttered, maintained, and completes updates such as painting, replacing flooring or lighting etc. The stager prepares the staging plan, coordinates with furniture rental companies, and prepares art, accessories, and furniture, if applicable, for transport.
Staging- As little as a few hours or up to a full day. Sometimes it can be done directly after the consultation.
De-staging- (usually 2-3 hours, if the seller has rented furniture or accessories). After inspection is complete and/or contracts are signed
Please visit my Services page and call to discuss details.
What does a consultation include?
A consultation gives you a complete list of everything you can do to prepare your home, both inside and out – whether it is vacant or occupied. With this information, a home owner can then decide how much work they will do themselves and how much they would like the stager to do. Recommendations include:
cleaning
decluttering
maintenance
paint colors
flooring
lighting
furniture and accessory placement to highlight each space or focal point
purchases, if needed, for bedding, towels, or other items
It is always faster and more effective to hire the right professional for the job. If your Realtor is not a professional stager, it is better for your bottom line to hire a professional. Wouldn’t you rather have your Realtor spending his/her time finding the ideal buyer for your home than staging it?
Should every house be staged?
Every home can benefit from a 2-hour home staging consultation. There is always something that can be done to raise the perceived value of your home in the buyer’s eyes. A small investment in a home staging consultation can increase buyer appeal, reaping large rewards in the final sales price.
Do I need to stage every room?
Every space in an occupied home should be staged for a consistent look-and-feel throughout. For vacant homes, it is critical to stage the main rooms, awkward spaces, and any areas that add value to the sales price such as a potential rental unit. When rooms are left empty, buyers may wonder if you have already moved out or are desperate to sell, encouraging low offers.
Does my Realtor need to be at the consultation?
Some agents never attend, some always attend, and others attend occasionally or a few minutes only. Your agent is always welcome to attend any or all of the consultation but the real key to success is your willingness to go along with the staging recommendations.
Does the stager coordinate all the contractors such as painters, maintenance people, flooring specialists, etc.?
Stagers can recommend trusted, professional contractors. For owner occupied homes, you as the home owner will find it faster and more convenient to coordinate these contractors yourself. For home sellers living away from the property, the stager can easily coordinate all.
Do you rent furniture and accessories so I can stage it myself?
Most stagers are not rental companies and do not offer this service separately if they are not staging your home. When staging your property, your stager can coordinate furniture rentals and may have accessories for rent for your staging.
Is it important to find a stager that has their own inventory of furniture and accessories?
For vacant homes, the most important thing is the end product and that the furniture matches the style, size, and purpose of each room. Stagers may have or can rent up-to-date furniture and accessories that are perfect for your property.
What should I look for when selecting a home stager?
Even though there is no legal licensing or training requirement to become a home stager, do your homework.
An accomplished stager will have good reviews, training and proven natural talent to get you great results. See the article on tips to hiring a great stager.
What is the value of home staging? Photo by Morning Brew on Unsplash
What is the Value of Home Staging
Can home staging help me sell my home faster and for more money?
Should I list first and stage later if my home does not sell?
The RESA Home Staging National Statistics Report found that homes that were staged first before listing, rather than after listing, spent 90% less time on the market. The longer a home is on the market, the less desirable it becomes. Just like food, a home for sale becomes stale in a very short period of time. See the article, the “Big Bang Theory of Home Staging”.
Why should I invest in home staging in a seller’s market?
Home staging works in every type of market. Even in a seller’s market, there will always be homes that do not sell quickly. Staged homes generate more interest on the web and in person, by creating move-in ready homes that feel fresh, spacious, and up-to-date. All these conditions lead to higher offers, potential bidding wars, and greater profits for you.
What can you expect if you have your home staged? Photo by Jan Tinneberg from Unsplash.
What Should I Expect?
The truth is that nothing is more inconvenient and stressful than selling your home. A good home stager will be a great asset to your home selling team. They will make your house look great, help you make the most money by selling quickly, and be a great coach and supporter to you throughout the process. Their number one goal is to help you!
Professional photos will highlight your for-sale home making your listing outshine the competition. The combination of home staging and professional photos will capture a buyer’s interest online, compelling them to visit your property! See my article, “Preparing for your Photoshoot”to make sure your rooms and the photos look fabulous. Your Realtor may pay for professional photos.
Will I be able to live in my staged home?
Keeping your house “show ready” can be stressful. Your stager will give you helpful tips for staying organized and comfortable while living in your staged home. And, best of all, you’ll never have to turn down a showing because you’ll be able to show your property at a moment’s notice.
Now that you know everything you need to about home staging, you know it is a no -brainer if you want to sell fast and for more. All staging starts with a consultation which can be in person or online. Feel free to call if you have questions and would like to discuss what would be best for you.
