Home staging is the process of preparing a home for sale by highlighting its best features and creating an environment that speaks to a buyer’s psychology. Think of it like packaging a product. To stand out in a competitive market, it has to be as appealing as possible and stand out from the crowd. Home staging focuses on what the buyer will need to see and feel when they walk through a home to inspire them to make an offer right away.

Home staging is about making a home appealing to the widest range of buyers possible while decorating focuses on one person’s personal taste. In home staging, everything is kept neutral so that buyers can imagine their own décor in its place rather than getting distracted by someone else’s style. While the homeowner may love their décor, some buyers may have a hard time picturing their own décor in its place and become turned off from the home entirely.

Several studies show that home staging helps homes sell faster and for more money than non-staged homes. Once staged, homes spend an average of 73% less time on the market and buyers are willing to spend 1% to 5% more of the dollar value on a staged home than a non-staged home. In the competitive housing market of today, home staging is one of the best marketing strategies at your disposal.

Every home can benefit from home staging to increase its appeal to buyers. Even the most beautifully decorated and organized homes can benefit from it because what makes a home appealing while it’s on the market is different from what makes it appealing while someone is living in it. Empty homes benefit from staging too. Having actual furniture to see in a space makes it easier to visualize the room better.

While decluttering is an important part of home staging, it is only one step in the process. There are many components that make home staging effective for marketing your space, such as repairs, color schemes, décor and other details that create a sense of home that is appealing to most buyers.

Usually, home staging incorporates a homeowner’s existing furniture and décor. If there are any items that do need to be removed, however, we recommend storing them in a storage unit or at a friend or family member’s home until you’re ready to move.

The cost of home staging is LESS than your first price reduction. I offer a variety of services to fit everyone’s needs, such as home staging guidelines, soft staging, and full-service staging. Keep in mind that the investment you make will come back to you when your home sells faster and for top dollar.

Most staged homes end up selling for the listing price or sometimes even above it. A staged home has a higher perceived value, so you can also list the home for what it’s truly worth. A non-staged home will look like it needs more work, which often leads to more negotiations on the listed price for repairs. This leads to selling at a reduced price than what you originally asked for.