Is Staging Your Home Worth the Time and Cost?

If you’re considering selling your home in the near future, how seriously are you thinking about staging? In the real estate industry, it’s widely accepted by experts across different fields that staging nets you more money for your sale, but some homeowners see it as a waste of time and money. If you’re on the fence about staging, here’s the truth: A few thousand dollars upfront can get you a two-to-one return on your investment and save you tons of time in the long run, which is why we recommend that most sellers stage their properties. Here are the three most important benefits of staging you don’t want to throw away:

1. Staging minimizes issues and highlights features. No home is 100% perfect, but staging allows you to move the focus away from the flaws and towards the strengths. Small or oddly-shaped rooms, dated appliances, and old fixtures can all be mitigated by proper staging. Items that would normally be sticking points at negotiations might be looked over by buyers who are attracted to your property’s highlighted features, so if you want a smooth home sale, we highly recommend staging.

“No home is 100% perfect, but staging allows you to move the focus away from your flaws and towards your strengths.”

2. Staging turns your home into a shopping experience. Have you ever visited a model home? If you have, you know they have a clean, neutral feel that encourages you to look at the property as a product instead of as a messy place where life happens. Your home probably has some unique personality traits that could be a turn off for certain buyers. By depersonalizing your home with staging, you can avoid these issues and present your home as a blank slate buyers can project their desires on to.

3. The data proves staging nets you a great return on investment. There’s a reason why all home experts recommend staging; according to one estimate, putting 1.3% of your sale price into staging can net you an extra 7.1% on your final offer. Not only will you see a great return, but your home will sell faster and attract more buyers.

Whether you’re planning on selling soon or years down the road, it pays to plan ahead. Staging is a part of the selling process, right along with professional photography and open houses. If you have questions, reach out to us. We’re here to help.