In this article, we will cover and discuss what is home staging for home sellers and its benefits. Home staging is window dressing a home to maximize its appeal for potential home buyers. Home staging is a form of art. Professional home staging consultants’ mission is to create illusions. What is home staging to make the home appear better than what it actually is?

The basic explanation of what home staging is, it is nothing more than re-arranging furniture and doing a full-blown cleanup of the entire home.

A home that is staged by a creative professional will make the home look larger than it actually is. It will make it look homier and will differentiate the subject home from the competition. Professional home staging consultants need to be creative and artistic when taking on a particular project. In the following paragraphs, we will cover and discuss what is home staging and how staging a home works.

How Home Staging Works

Home staging is a strategic approach to preparing a property for sale in the real estate market. Staging aims to make the home appealing to the most potential buyers, selling the property faster and for a higher price. Here’s a comprehensive look at how home staging works:

Key Components of Home Staging

Decluttering and Cleaning: Remove Clutter: Clear out unnecessary items to make the home look more spacious and organized. This includes removing personal items, excess furniture, and anything that detracts from the home’s best features. Deep Cleaning: Thoroughly clean the entire home, including windows, carpets, and fixtures, to make it look well-maintained and inviting. Remove personal photos, memorabilia, and customized decor to allow buyers to envision themselves living in the space. Neutral colors and decorations appeal to a broader audience.

Repairs and Maintenance

Fix Issues: Address minor repairs such as leaky faucets, cracked tiles, or broken doorknobs. A well-maintained home gives the impression of a cared-for property. Updates: Consider updating outdated fixtures, applying a fresh coat of paint, and ensuring all appliances are in good working order.

Furniture Arrangement

Optimal Layout: Arrange furniture to highlight the flow of the space and make rooms look larger. Create distinct areas for different functions (e.g., a reading nook and dining area). Use appropriately sized furniture to make rooms feel balanced and spacious.

Enhancing Curb Appeal

Exterior Touch-Ups: Ensure the exterior of the home looks inviting. This might include landscaping, cleaning the driveway, and adding fresh paint to the front door. The entrance should be welcoming, setting the tone for the rest of the home.

Strategic Decor

Art and Accessories: Use art, mirrors, plants, and other accessories to add warmth and character to the home. These elements should enhance the space without overwhelming it. Ensure the home is well-lit with natural light and strategically placed lamps to create a bright and inviting atmosphere.

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Steps to Home Staging

Consultation with a Professional: Initial Assessment: A home stager will tour the property and recommend what needs to be done to prepare it for sale. Staging Plan: The stager creates a detailed plan outlining the changes and updates needed. Begin by decluttering, cleaning, and depersonalizing the space. Address any necessary repairs and updates to ensure the home is in good condition. Arrange furniture and decor according to the staging plan. This may involve bringing in rental furniture or using existing pieces in new ways. Add final touches such as fresh flowers, scented candles, and neatly arranged accessories.

Photography and Marketing

Professional Photos: Hire a professional photographer to capture high-quality images of the staged home for marketing materials and online listings. Use the staged photos to create a compelling online listing highlighting the home’s best features.

Benefits of Home Staging

Faster Sales: Staged homes sell faster than non-staged homes because they make a positive first impression and attract more potential buyers. Higher Selling Price: Well-staged homes often sell for a higher price as they appear more desirable and move-in ready. Competitive Edge: Staging helps a home stand out in a competitive market, making it more likely to attract offers. By following these steps and understanding the principles of home staging, sellers can enhance the appeal of their property and increase their chances of a successful sale.

What is Home Staging and its Benefits

Like with anything else, if homeowners decide to sell their home fast, it needs to show well. It needs to stand out better than the competition. Especially if the comparable sales are similar in square footage and price. A professionally staged home with a higher market price can sell faster than a similar or same type of home with a lower price. This is because it presents better than the lower-priced home.

What Does Home Staging Include?

Not all realtors recommend home staging for their clients. Many sellers do not realize what is home staging. However, most sellers are all for the realtor doing whatever they need to sell their home fast. Home staging is normally paid for by the listing real estate agent. A frequently asked question by our clients is what does home staging include? Ronda Butts, a senior loan officer at Gustan Cho Associates and a licensed real estate agent in Florida said the following:

There are realtors who use home staging all of the time. Home sellers who investigate the realtor’s track record can top-producing realtors often implement home staging for their listed homes.

The majority of the homes that come up on the market are all clean and present well. Home staging is beyond having the clutters removed and the home cleaned and the lawn manicured. Home staging is all about creating an optical illusion where the subject listed property is not a house but a home to a potential home buyer and their family. A home can be staged in various ways and sometimes, home staging can be quite costly. Many realtors recommend home staging, especially for homes that are vacant.

What Should You Not Do When Staging a House?

When a person moves his family out of their home, a vacant home can become a hard sell. Furniture and Wendy knacks can be rented where the home presents much better and homier than it would vacant. Many home buyers, especially first-time home buyers, gravitate toward a home where it is furnished and free of clutter. Clutter is another major issue where it makes a home much smaller than it actually is.

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What Is Home Staging The Exterior

Home staging is not just limited to the interior of the home. The home should be well-manicured and the lawn should be cut often. Patios and decks should be free of weeds. Flower beds should also be free of weeds and if possible, should be freshly mulched. The exterior of the home should be pressured washed if possible and all windows should be cleaned, both exterior and interior. Clutters should be removed. Bicycles, toys, multiple cars in the driveway, garbage cans, and other unappealing items should be relocated. The garage should be cleaned out too. Many homeowners use their garages as storage spaces.

How Much Does Home Staging Cost?

A creative home seller can do their own home staging. However, many homeowners who plan on selling their homes hire a professional home staging consultant. Many realtors work with professional home staging consultants. Some creative realtors do the home staging themselves. Home staging costs can be very nominal.

How Much Does Home Staging Cost?

What is home staging and how much does it cost? Home staging can cost thousands of dollars depending on the degree the home needs to be staged. Multi-million dollar property homeowners can spend tens of thousands of dollars on home staging. Vacant homes that are listed should definitely be staged if the sellers want top dollar for their property.

Who Pays For Home Staging?

That depends on the deal homeowners work out with their listing agent. The listing agent may not pay for any of the home staging costs and have homeowners pay for it. There are a real estate listing agents that will split the home staging costs with homeowners. Some realtors even pay for the home staging costs themselves in lieu of a longer listing agreement. Home staging is a great marketing tool but can be quite costly.

FAQs: What is Home Staging

• 1. What is home staging? Preparing a home for sale through home staging increases its appeal to potential buyers. This process includes rearranging furniture, decluttering, and enhancing the home’s overall inviting and well-maintained appearance. The objective is to establish a pleasing atmosphere that enables potential buyers to visualize themselves residing in the home.
• 2. Why should I stage my home? Staging a home can accelerate sales and lead to a higher selling price. A properly staged home creates a favorable initial impact, distinguishes itself in a competitive market, and can emphasize the property’s most attractive attributes, enhancing its appeal to prospective buyers.
• 3. How does home staging work? Home staging involves several key steps: decluttering and cleaning, repairs and maintenance, furniture arrangement, enhancing curb appeal, and strategic decor.
• 4. What are the benefits of home staging? Home staging offers numerous advantages, such as quicker sales. Staged homes frequently command a higher selling price because they seem more appealing to potential buyers. Furthermore, staging gives a competitive advantage by helping a home distinguish itself from similar properties on the market.
• 5. What should I avoid when staging my home? When staging your home, avoiding a few common mistakes is important. Leaving the home vacant can make it harder to sell; renting furniture can help make the home feel more inviting. Don’t ignore clutter; it makes spaces feel smaller and less appealing. Keeping the home tidy and organized is crucial. Additionally, paying attention to the exterior is a mistake. The home’s exterior should be well-maintained, with manicured lawns and clean patios or decks.
• 6. How much does home staging cost? The price of home staging can differ significantly. Homeowners might carry out basic staging at a low cost. In contrast, professional staging can cost anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Extensive staging may be necessary for high-end properties, resulting in considerable expenses.
• 7. Who pays for home staging? The home staging cost is typically negotiated between the homeowner and the listing agent. Some agents might cover the cost, split it with the homeowner, or require the homeowner to pay for it entirely. This can depend on the specifics of the listing agreement.
• 8. What does home staging include? Home staging encompasses various elements to optimize a home’s appeal. This can involve rearranging existing furniture or bringing in rented pieces to best use the space. It also includes enhancing the home with decor such as art, plants, and other accessories. Additionally, ensuring that the home is immaculate and all minor repairs are taken care of is critical to staging. Improving the home’s exterior appearance or curb appeal is also a significant aspect.
• 9. Can I stage my home myself? A creative homeowner can stage their home independently by following basic staging principles. However, hiring a professional home staging consultant can provide a more polished and effective presentation, especially for higher-end properties or competitive markets.
• 10. Is home staging worth the investment? Investing in home staging can significantly impact selling a property. It may lead to a quicker sale and a higher selling price, potentially balancing out the costs. A properly staged property creates a strong first impression and shapes potential buyers’ perceptions.

This blog on what is home staging was written by Ravinder Sharma, Digital Marketing Manager at Gustan Cho Associates