Every initial inquiry about home staging usually begins with, “What’s the cost?”
Likewise, if you offer a service or product, you’ve likely been asked the same.
While the cost of home staging might catch some off guard, it’s essential to consider its value. Thinking it’s “too expensive” is relative. Compared to the price drop on your home? It’s a wise investment!
“Home staging is more expensive than I expected.” More expensive compared to what? Not your first price reduction.
I completely understand the instinct to seek the best deal possible. A recent client expressed that the staging costs exceeded her expectations, but she chose to proceed. She recalled instances where investing a bit more yielded significant returns and satisfaction.
She’s insightful! She hoped for a specific selling price, yet a realtor confided that, given its present state, her home might fall short by $20K. Homes that don’t outshine the competition often linger on the market, frequently leading to reductions of around $10K. This protraction not only causes stress but also escalates costs, including mortgages and utilities.
The outcome? After staging, her home attracted two offers above the asking price within a day and 15 offers in a week, finally selling at a price $30K beyond her initial expectation!
Her investment in staging yielded a return 30 times its cost. Rather than potentially losing $20K, she sold rapidly, netting an extra $30K. So, is staging an expense you can overlook?
Consider another scenario: After staging a client’s home, it was snapped up on its very first day on the market at the full asking price. Although they didn’t secure an amount above their initial price due to maintenance and repair needs, the swift sale spared them the hassle of countless showings and the stress associated with it. Moreover, they saved a considerable sum on monthly maintenance costs.
“Home staging is too expensive. That belief is going to cost you.”
In another case, I staged a home that had been on the market several years without selling. In the beginning, the owner did not want to spend money on staging and tried to sell it vacant. No luck. They had numerous price reductions. After a year or more they decided to stage with a lower priced staging service that did minimal staging in some of the rooms. No luck. Finally, two years later they contacted me. After doing a professional staging job, the house sold in 6 weeks. That was actually very fast considering the home had been on the market for years and had the stigma of “what is wrong with that house that it has not sold yet”. Think of all the money and time this seller lost in trying to save a little on home staging costs.
How much are you prepared to shave off your sales price for a cut-rate staging service, or by skipping staging altogether?
Is the immediate savings on staging worth the potential loss in your final sale price? What truly matters: a short-term saving or a quicker, more profitable sale in the long run?
Ready to drop your expensive belief?
Get your online home staging consultation or staging service today. For in person consultations or staging, call for a custom quote.
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Interested in becoming a home stager? I recommend the Staging Diva Home Staging Training program!
Here is the crazy story of how I started Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
You never know when inspiration will hit. The question is, will you take action and do something about it?
My inspiration came in a surprising way, from one of those silly “Facebook” quizzes. You know, one of those games that tell you who you were in a past life or what your handwriting says about you etc. One day I played “What is your true profession”. The answer was “Designer”. Whoa! This made me take a step back and think.
I had been working as a wildlife biologist for 25 years at the time, but back in 1980 had gone to school and gotten a B.A. in Interior Design. It was a passion I always had, but after getting my degree decided to pursue traveling and other interests. Life got in the way and I never did alot with it besides a few jobs, designing my own homes or helping friends.
Later, I pursued another degree in wildlife biology because I love animals and the outdoors, and took another path. Although I enjoyed it, I missed being involved in creative work. Working for the government did not encourage or inspire much creative thinking!
Over time, creative pursuits such as dance, music and art took on more importance in my life. Thoughts of starting another business (I already had a Bed and Breakfast) were in the back of my mind without a real idea of what it would be, just that I wanted something that would bring more fulfillment to my life.
When I got “Designer” as the answer to my true profession, I thought about that path not taken and wondered how my life would have turned out if I had chosen that path years ago. I do not know if it would have been the wiser choice, or if everything I had done was just preparing me for that path now, but something about that quiz totally spurred me to action! Why not now?
And while I still worked as a wildlife biologist until December 2018 when I retired, and continued to operate my B&B, I was thrilled to have this new adventure in my life and so glad I took action!!
My business started off focused on home staging, and evolved into adding Interior Design. With my experience running a Bed and Breakfast, I added vacation rental design and staging. I became more fascinated with color, and became a certified color strategist and added color consultations. That evolved into learning Edesign and adding online home staging, Interior design and color consulting.
On my first day of retirement from being a wildlife biologist on January 1, 2019, I discovered fractal art and started creating my own art. Soon I created stores for my art and home decor on Society 6, and Pixels.com. Both stores include art a wide variety art and home decor products.
That evolved into creating wearable art on Le Galeriste.
In each case, inspiration hit, I took action and I am amazed now at all twists and turns, new adventures in creativity and life that have evolved in less than 5 years from an idea inspired by a simple Facebook quiz.
Sometimes you just never know where your path will lead.
What inspires you and have you taken action?
Whether it is to start a new business, change your existing business, start a new path or hobby… I hope inspiration finds you and you jump in with both feet
Home Sellers, Build Your Home Selling Team! Part 1- Find a Home Stager
Ready to put your home on the market? Assemble a top-notch team to ensure a smooth and profitable sale. Your squad should include an expert home stager, a skilled real estate photographer, and a Realtor who excels in marketing and truly champions your interests.
Wondering how to pick the perfect team? Begin with your home stager. I recommend taking the initiative as a seller to make this selection. Choose the best in the business! For insights on why this matters, check out my blog post titled Why Hire a Professional Home Stager to find out more.
Considering selling your home? Proper home staging can significantly boost your final asking price. In fact, effective staging not only recovers its cost but often yields a profit! Additionally, you might be eligible to deduct staging expenses as advertising costs from your home sale taxes.
However, a word of caution: avoid Realtors offering staging services unless they’re professionally trained. Ineffective staging won’t produce the desired effect. An exceptional Realtor will likely suggest, and perhaps even cover, the cost of a professional home staging consultation.
Exercise caution if your Realtor offers to choose and fund the staging. While it sounds enticing and can lure clients, many just opt for the most affordable stager. Some might even inflate this cost for you. Remember, cheaper options can result in an unappealing presentation, leading to prolonged market time, several price cuts, and mounting monthly expenses.
Often, Realtors request “light staging” or “minor fluffing,” a minimalistic approach to make a property appear staged on a budget. This strategy, which might involve sparse furniture or sporadic décor, isn’t effective. Instead of a charming home, it renders the property peculiar both online and offline.
Your best bet? Personally hire a top-tier stager. This investment, done correctly, offers maximum returns.
For tips on hiring the best home stager, refer to my article, “Five Common Mistakes Homeowners Make When Hiring a Home Stager.
Learn More About Home Staging
Get Your Home Staging Consultation Today
Secure your online or in-person home staging consultation or service today. Click the images for more information. For comprehensive staging services, please call for a custom quote.
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?
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.
Interested in becoming a home stager? I recommend the Staging Diva Home Staging Training program!
Ready to Sell: How to Get and Keep Your Home Clean
Selling your home is no easy feat. But before you can juggle offers, nail negotiations, and work on closing, you have to get your home ready for the market. Staging your house is one of the most important parts of the sales process. By making sure your property is at its best for a photoshoot, you increase your chances of finding a buyer willing to pay a great price.
Here are some tips for getting your home clean and tidy for listing:
Buyers want to be able to see all the best parts of a property. By making your space as clean and tidy as possible, you allow them to imagine their lives in your house. This means it’s more likely to catch their attention, get an offer, and sell for the price you’re dreaming of.
You know that home staging is a must if you want to sell fast and for more. What are you waiting for? A price reduction? No, we don’t like those! Let’s stage it:)
Home Staging Consultation- In Person or Online- Learn MoreRunning a home based business, like a Bed and Breakfast or vacation rental? Increase your income and bookings and attract your ideal guests .2 hours. Add a website review.Learn MoreGreat if your space needs a lot of remodeling or updates that you choose to leave o the buyer. Help them see the possibilities. Learn More.Help buyers visualize the possibilities in a vacant space so they can visualize it as their future home. Learn More.
