The real estate market is a bustling sphere of competition, and standing out among countless other listings can be challenging. One effective way to give your property an edge is through home staging.

But how much will it set you back? Here's a deep dive into the costs and benefits of home staging.

How much does it cost to stage a house?

Selling a house involves many intricate details, and making your property appealing to potential buyers can significantly influence the selling price. Home staging has emerged as an effective strategy in this regard. Here's a more detailed breakdown of the home staging process and costs.

Initial Consultation Fee

A home staging consultation is an appointment where a professional will walk through your home (hopefully long before it is listed for sale), and they will give you tips and advice on improving your home's marketability for sale. Every great endeavor begins with a plan, and home staging is no different.

Cost: Between $150 to $600, largely depending on the stager's expertise and location.

What's included:

• Home Assessment: A professional home stager evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of your property.
• Recommendation List: A comprehensive list suggesting improvements, ranging from furniture rearrangement to potential renovations.
• Photographic Analysis: Some stagers take photographs to discuss visual appeal and possible changes.
• Follow-up Session: Revisiting the property to ensure the recommendations are effectively implemented.

Full Home Staging Costs

Transforming an empty space into a dream house requires meticulous effort.

Cost:

• Small homes/condos: $2,000 - $3,500 per month.
• Mid-sized homes: $3,500 - $5,500 per month.
• Large homes: $5,500 and upwards per month.

What's included:

• Furniture Rental: Stylish furniture that aligns with current market trends.
• Decor and Accessories: Enhancing aesthetics with decorative pieces.
• Space Planning: Efficient use of space to enhance flow and functionality.
• Theme Coordination: Ensuring a consistent style or theme throughout the house.

Partial Home Staging

Sprucing up specific parts of the house can make a significant difference.

Cost:

• Few rooms: $500 - $1,200 per month.
• Key rooms only: $1,200 - $3,000 per month.

What's included:

• Furniture Augmentation: Adding or replacing furniture to enhance the room's appeal.
• Accentuating Features: Highlighting the room's standout features, such as a fireplace or a bay window.
• Lighting Enhancements: Improving lighting fixtures or adding lamps to brighten spaces.
• Art and Decor Additions: Elevating the space's ambiance with selective artwork or decorative pieces.

Occupied Home Staging

Enhancing a lived-in space can be a unique challenge but equally rewarding.

Cost: Typically, a flat fee one-time fee of $400 - $700.

What's included:

• Furniture Rearrangement: Reconfiguring the current layout to maximize space and appeal.
• Decluttering: Organizing and removing excess items to create a spacious feel.
• Personal Items: Offering advice on which personal items to store away during house viewings.
• Style Integration: Integrating the homeowner's style with staging techniques to ensure authenticity.

Accessories and Decor Rental

Sometimes, a little touch here and there is all you need.

Cost: Ranges from $50 to over $500 per month.

What's included:

• Specific Item Rental: Renting particular items like upscale lamps, mirrors, or contemporary art pieces.
• Seasonal Decor: Offering seasonal touches to make the house feel timely and relevant.
• Feature Highlighting: Using decor to emphasize particular architectural features.
• Style Guide: Providing homeowners with a guide on how to use rented items effectively.

Additional Services

Beyond mere aesthetics, some stagers offer a holistic approach to making your house market-ready.

Cost:

• Painting: Between $500 - $3,000.
• Professional cleaning: Ranges from $100 - $400.
• Landscaping: Starting from $100 to $1,000 and above.

What's included:

• Renovation Tips: Recommendations on small renovations that significantly increase home value.
• Curb Appeal Enhancements: Suggestions on how to improve the home's exterior appearance.
• Networking: Some stagers might have connections with professionals like painters, cleaners, or landscapers and can negotiate better deals on behalf of the homeowner.

Digital and Virtual Staging

Real estate has been included as technology continues to revolutionize industries. Virtual staging is the process of using digital tools to furnish and decorate a property.

Cost: Typically ranges from $50 to $200 per room or photo.

What's included:

• Digital Furniture and Decor: 3D models are used to decorate the space instead of physical furniture.
• Photo Enhancements: Improving property photos' brightness, contrast, and overall appeal.
• Virtual Tours: Some companies offer 360-degree room views, allowing potential buyers to "walk through" the staged property online.
• Revisions: Many virtual staging services include an option for revisions based on client feedback.

Specialty Staging

Specific properties, like luxury estates or historically significant homes, might require specialized staging to match the property's unique characteristics.

Cost: This can vary significantly but often starts from $7,000 and can go well beyond, depending on the property's requirements.

What's included:

• Bespoke Furniture and Decor: Sourcing unique or high-end items that complement the home's distinctive features.
• Historical Accuracy: For period properties, ensuring the decor and furniture match the era in which the home was built.
• Artistic Collaborations: Working with artists or designers for custom pieces or installations.
• Lifestyle Staging: Creating scenes that depict the lifestyle a potential buyer might aspire to, such as a fully set dining table or a study with vintage books and a classic typewriter.

DIY Staging Support

Some staging professionals offer DIY guidance for homeowners who want to be hands-on.

Cost: Workshops or guidance packages might range from $100 to $500.

What's included:

• Workshops: Classes teaching basic staging principles and techniques.
• Resource Lists: Lists of recommended affordable decor, furniture retailers, or rental services.
• Styling Tips: Guidance to arrange furniture, style rooms, or incorporate decorative elements.
• Feedback Sessions: Offering a review of the homeowner's staging efforts and suggesting improvements.

Maintenance and Updates

For homes that might be on the market for extended periods, some stagers offer maintenance services to the homeowners spend ensure the property remains in peak showing condition.

Cost: Monthly fees can range from $100 to $1,000 based on the extent of the services.

What's included:

• Regular Cleaning: Ensuring the home stays spotless, especially if it's vacant.
• Seasonal Updates: Swapping out decor or staging elements to fit the current season or holiday.
• Freshening Up: Replacing any worn-out items or updating decor based on feedback or changing market trends.
• Landscape Maintenance: Keeping gardens, yards, and outdoor spaces in pristine condition.

Several Factors Influence the Cost Associated with Staging a Home

When budgeting for home staging, consider these critical determinants:

1. Size of the Home

Unsurprisingly, the size of your property plays a crucial role in the staging cost. Homes with more rooms or larger spaces generally require more furniture, decor, and time, thereby increasing costs.

A studio or one-bedroom apartment might require less investment due to limited square footage.

2. Geographic Location

Where your home is situated can significantly impact staging costs. Due to increased demand and higher living costs, major cities or affluent neighborhoods may have higher staging fees for urban areas.

For rural areas, homes in more rural or suburban locations might enjoy more competitive rates.

3. Duration of the Staging

How long you plan to keep your home staged affects costs, especially if you're renting furniture and decor. If you're optimistic about a quick sale, consider your furniture rentals on a short-term contract.

Homes in slower markets or off-peak seasons need staging for several months.

4. Vacant vs. Occupied

Whether or not you're living in your home during the sale process can influence the staging approach and price. Typically for vacant homes, these require full staging, encompassing how many rooms and empty house spaces.

For occupied homes, stagers might work with existing furniture, only adding a few accents or pieces, which can be more budget-friendly.

5. Style of the Home

A home's architecture and inherent style can dictate the type of staging required. For modern homes, contemporary homes might require trendy, sleek furniture, and historical or period homes might demand period-appropriate furniture and decor to enhance their authentic charm, which can sometimes be pricier.

6. Extent of Services Required

Staging can range from merely rearranging existing furniture to a full-scale revamp. For minimalist staging, using existing items and making minor tweaks, and for full-service professional staging, sourcing and renting furniture and decor, and even handling repairs or renovations.

7. Special Requirements

Sometimes, homes have unique features that require additional attention. For pools or outdoor spaces, enhancing these spaces might entail extra costs but can add significant appeal, and for special rooms, think wine cellars, home theaters, or art studios. These might need specialty staging.

8. Seasonal Demand

The real estate market has its peaks and valleys, and staging costs can fluctuate based on demand. For peak seasons, during busy real estate months, stagers might charge premium rates due to high demand, and for off-peak seasons, you might find discounted rates during slower periods.

9. Stager's Experience and Reputation

The professional's expertise can be a deciding factor in the pricing structure. Those with a robust portfolio and reputation command higher fees for veteran stagers, and for newer professional home stagers, they offer competitive rates to build their client base.

10. Customization and Additional Services

Beyond basic staging, some homeowners opt for customized services to enhance their home's appeal further. This technology-driven approach has its own pricing structure for digital or virtual staging.

For add-ons, services like professional photography, video tours, or 3D mapping can add to the cost.

Who Pays for Home Staging

Traditionally, the seller bears the cost of home staging. However, in some cases, realtors might include home staging services as part of their package to make the home sell the listing more attractive.

Discussing this with your real estate agent is always a good idea, as they might have partnerships or deals with local home staging professionals.

How to Save Money on Staging Costs

If you're staging professional or on a budget, these tips can help you minimize staging costs:

1. Declutter and Clean

Before considering new furniture or decorations, start with what you already have. Remove personal items, unnecessary furniture, and clutter.

A clean, open space looks more extensive and more inviting. A thorough cleaning can make your home look newer and more appealing.

This includes:

• shampooing carpets
• washing windows
• dusting every nook and cranny

2. DIY Where Possible

You don't need to be an interior designer to make impactful changes. Simply rearranging your current furniture can make a space feel refreshed and more open.

Fix any minor damages or wear and tear yourself. This includes patching holes, touching paint, or oiling squeaky doors.

3. Staging

Instead of staging the entire home, focus on the key rooms that influence potential buyers the most. Concentrate on main areas like the living room, primary bedroom, and dining room.

These are often the deal-breakers for many prospective buyers.

4. Use Multipurpose Items

Items that serve dual purposes can be both cost-effective and space-saving. Lole ottomans with storage units can be used as seating, a coffee table, and a storage unit, and for room dividers, useful in open spaces to delineate areas without the need for large furniture.

5. Rent Furniture and Decor

Instead of purchasing new items, consider renting a flexible option like many companies offer rental packages tailored for home staging, allowing you to pick and choose as per your requirements. Rental companies often stock trendy pieces that can make your home appear modern and stylish.

6. Virtual Staging

Leverage technology for a cost-effective alternative:

• Digital Enhancement: Using the software, designers can virtually add furniture and decor to photos of your empty home.
• Cost-Effective: Often, virtual staging is a fraction of the cost of traditional staging, especially for properties where in-person visits might be less frequent.

7. Repurpose and Upcycle

Before buying new items, think about how to give your old belongings a new life. An old dresser or coffee table can be transformed with a fresh coat of paint. Update old chairs or sofas with modern fabric to give them a new lease on life.

8. Shop Smart

If you need to purchase items, be strategic for discount stores and look for deals at discount or second-hand stores. Often, you can find stylish pieces at a fraction of the original price, and for the online marketplace, websites or apps like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or OfferUp often have local listings for furniture and decor at reduced prices.

9. Use Free Resources

Make the most of available free resources:

• Online Guidance: Countless blogs, YouTube channels, and websites are dedicated to home staging tips and DIY tricks.
• Free Workshops: Some stores or community centers offer free workshops on home decoration or DIY projects.

10. Negotiate with Staging Professionals

If you're hiring a professional stager for bundle services, check if they offer discounts for bundling services like staging, photography, or consultations and for flexible pricing. Some professional stagers might be willing to negotiate their prices, especially during off-peak seasons.

Is Home Staging Worth the Price?

In most cases, the answer is a resounding yes. According to the Real Estate Staging Association, 75% of the sellers who invested 1% of the higher sale price of the home's value in staging saw an ROI between 5% and 15%.

Those are strong numbers! Staged homes sell faster and for a higher price than their non-staged counterparts national average.

A survey by the National Association of Realtors found that most realtors believe that professionally staged home show homes increase the value buyers are willing to offer by 1-10%. When you consider this potential return on investment, the cost of staging often justifies itself.

Moreover, buyers often find it easier to visualize themselves in a staged home, making them more likely to put in an offer. In the age of online listings, where photos play a pivotal role in personal showings, a beautifully staged home stands out and attracts more potential buyers.

Bottom Line

Home staging is a great way to help potential buyers see the value in your home and envision themselves living there. However, it can be expensive and time-consuming.

That's why virtual home staging professional is such a great option. It allows you to make changes to your home without making any physical changes, and it's much more affordable than traditional home staging.

Virtual restaging is worth considering if you want to ensure your home looks its best when potential buyers come to take a look.

Need help with virtual home staging? Reach out to us.

By working with a professional stager, sellers can ensure that their property stands out in the crowd. So get started today!