To Stage or Not to Stage...is Staging Worth It?
Let me start out by saying staging is not cheap, but is cheap the outcome you are looking for? Or, is getting the most return on the biggest asset in your life the outcome you want?
Let’s get into the weeds. Now that we have got the idea of staging being an expense out of the way, let’s go a bit deeper.
According to a recent Architectural Digest article "Home Staging Statistics Article," Staging your home makes it more desirable. Data indicates that buyers are likely to pay more for a staged home than one without furniture. Staging is a small investment that can deliver a positive return on investment (ROI).
- About 75% of sellers see an ROI of 5% to 15% over the asking price when they choose to stage their homes professionally before they put them up for sale.
- Investing 1.3% in staging results in a 7.1% average over-list return, according to a 2021 survey.
- Staging helps increase the sale price by up to 20% on average based on a 2022 report.
- Sellers who chose not to staging their homes experienced an average home price reduction of five to 20 times greater than the staging investment would have been.
After reading this you probably get that it’s a good idea, but you are still waiting for me to tell you how much extra this is going to cost? Well, first let me start off by saying that staging is not a one size fits all. In fact, there are many ways to stage a home. We can stage your entire home. Partially stage a few “key” rooms. Depending on your furniture style and condition of your current furniture, we could “mix-in” certain pieces of yours with other staged pieces to keep the cost down. I have even been able to use all of the existing furnishings by rearranging, decluttering, depersonalizing and refreshing linens and table décor. Now for the cost, an article in the California Business Journal "How Much Should You Budget For Saving" sites costs between $500 to $5000+. In my local experience I would say for the average home you should plan to spend around $2,500 for partial staging and upwards of $6500 for full staging.
Still have some lingering questions? Here are a few frequently asked questions that my clients have asked me:
Q - Can I live in my house with staging furniture while my house is on the market?
A – Yes, some staging companies allow for this. One of my go-to staging companies did this for a client of mine in East Petaluma (Pictured in this article). Akaisha (the stager) showed me and my client how to put the staging bedding over her bedding so we could prepare for photos or when we had a showing.
Q – Can the Staging Company get paid through Escrow when the house sells?
A – Yes, some staging companies allow for this.
Q – What if my house doesn’t sell right away?
A – In most cases the Staging Company will contract with the homeowner for 90 days. If your home doesn’t sell in that timeframe, they can do an extension for a reduced price. But if your home is still on the market after 90 days and you are my client, we would have had a strategic conversation way before that time to reevaluate and restructure our strategic plan.
Q – Can the seller or buyer purchase the staged furniture?
A – In many cases the answer is Yes. It’s just a matter of asking the Staging Company.
Q – How do I know if staging my home is right for me?
A – Give me a call for a no judgement/no obligation Home Visit. I would be happy to evaluate your home and come up with a plan that will work for you.
Kathleen Rose Stafford, Realtor
Vanguard Properties
707-841-0268
