Home Staging Costs

Maximizing a home's appeal is crucial when putting it up for sale. Home staging, a strategic process of enhancing a property's visuals and aesthetics, helps to attract potential buyers and maximize market price. Effective staging can significantly increase a property's perceived value and reduce its time on the market, making it a valuable investment for sellers.

How Home Staging Works

Home staging is an important step in the homeselling process. It uses interior design and real estate marketing techniques to make the property more appealing to potential buyers. Home staging showcases a home's full potential by neutralizing the decor and creating an inviting space, increasing the odds of attracting buyers and securing a higher sale price. Here's a breakdown of how home staging works:

1. Combination of interior design and real estate marketing

Home staging uniquely blends interior design principles and marketing strategies. It goes beyond simply decorating a space and involves understanding the property's specific features and target market.

2. Neutralizing decor

One of the primary objectives of home staging is to depersonalize the space using neutral decor. This means removing personal items, family photographs, and anything else that may distract buyers from envisioning themselves living in the home.

3. Creating an inviting space

Home staging aims to make the property feel warm, welcoming, and inviting to potential buyers. This involves strategically arranging furniture to maximize the flow and functionality of each room. Focus on creating a sense of balance, proper lighting, and highlighting the key features of the house.

4. Rearranging furniture and renting additional items

In some cases, the existing furniture may not work for staging or not showcase the home's full potential. Home stagers may rearrange or supplement the furniture by renting additional items.

The Benefits of Home Staging

Home staging strategically prepares a property for sale by enhancing its appearance and creating an inviting atmosphere for potential buyers. By showcasing a home's best features and optimizing visual appeal, staging offers numerous benefits that can significantly impact the selling process. Below are some key advantages of home staging:

1. Encourages buyers to picture themselves living in the home

Home staging aims to create an emotional connection between buyers and the property. By carefully arranging furniture, decor, and accessories, staging helps buyers envision themselves living in the space.

2. Increases the likelihood of receiving higher and multiple offers

Well-staged homes tend to attract more attention from potential buyers. When a property is professionally staged, it stands out from competing listings and leaves a lasting impression. The enhanced presentation can generate increased interest and a larger pool of potential buyers.

3. Starts a bidding war

A beautifully staged home can sometimes spark a bidding war among interested buyers. When multiple parties are interested in a property, competition drives up the price. Bidding wars often create an advantageous selling situation for the homeowner, potentially leading to a final sale price that exceeds the initial listing price.

4. Highlights a property's best features and minimizing drawbacks

Staging lets sellers emphasize a home's strengths while downplaying any potential weaknesses. Professional stagers have an eye for showcasing the property's unique features, such as architectural details, spaciousness, or desirable views.

5. Accelerates the selling process

When a property is staged to perfection, it tends to spend less time on the market. Staged homes often create a sense of urgency and make a memorable impression on potential buyers.

How Much Does It Cost to Stage a House

Home staging costs vary depending on several factors, including the location and services required. However, the average national cost to stage a home is approximately $1,444. Remember that this is just an average; actual costs can range from $631 to $2,312.

1. Initial Consultation Fee

Expect to pay an initial consultation fee when hiring a professional home stager. This fee typically ranges from $150 to $600, depending on the stager's expertise and the project's scope.

2. Hourly Labor Fee

Home staging often involves tasks such as decluttering, rearranging furniture, and enhancing the overall aesthetics of the space. Stagers charge an hourly labor fee ranging from $25 to $150 per hour. You can expect to pay around $75 per hour on average for labor.

3. Average Project Cost

The overall house staging project cost typically falls between $800 to $1,000. This cost usually excludes rental fees for furniture or decor items.

4. Decluttering and Rearranging Cost

Decluttering and rearranging existing furniture and decor to create a more appealing look is crucial for home staging. The cost for these services is typically around $800.

5. Furniture Rental Cost

It may be necessary to rent furniture and decor items to enhance the visual appeal of a home. The initial cost for furniture rentals is usually about $2,000. If you need to continue renting the furniture and decor items monthly, it can cost between $2,000 to $2,400.

6. Additional Projects

Depending on the property's condition, the home stager may suggest other projects to improve its marketability. These projects can include painting, cleaning, or minor repairs. Additional project expenses should count towards the overall home sale budget and are typically not included in home staging costs.

These figures are estimates, and the actual cost of staging a home may vary based on several factors. Consult with local home staging professionals or request quotes from reputable staging companies to better understand home staging costs in your area.

Who Pays for the Staging of a House?

When staging a house, the seller is responsible for covering the costs. Staging involves arranging furniture, decor, and other elements to enhance the appeal and marketability of a property. However, in some cases, the seller and real estate agent may split the cost of staging. This arrangement depends on the agreement between the seller and the agent. While sellers typically bear the staging expenses, you should discuss and negotiate the financial aspects with your agent to determine if you can share the costs. 

Bottom Line

Home staging is a highly effective marketing strategy when selling a home. By carefully arranging furniture, selecting decor, and optimizing a property's aesthetics, home staging helps to create a positive first impression on potential buyers.

While home staging can enhance a property's appeal, you should always consider the cost involved and the potential return on investment (ROI). Home staging costs can vary depending on the property size, the extent of staging required, the region's market conditions, and other factors.

A knowledgeable and experienced real estate agent can guide homeowners through the home staging process. Real estate agents deeply understand market trends and buyer preferences and can provide valuable advice on staging techniques to maximize a property's appeal.

If you're looking to sell your property, Redy can help you easily connect with motivated local real estate agents. Our first-of-its-kind marketplace connects home sellers with top agents who submit proposals to represent their home sales. Each proposal includes a listing term, commission rate, information about the agent, and cash bonus. By putting all the negotiating cards on the table – and having the agent invest in the home sale upfront – we empower home sellers to make more informed decisions.

Consider the benefits of home staging, evaluate the potential return on investment, and work with a trusted real estate agent to make the most of your home sale. Create a free Redy account today to find an experienced realtor to guide you through the home staging process.

To learn more about selling your home, visit our Home Seller Resources >