What Big Data Says About Home Staging

Home staging became a trend when the market crash left a huge number of inventory that were ripe for the picking. Most brokers stage houses to give clients a realistic feeling of living in the house. While this may seem like an unnecessary expense, the data shows that home staging actually has some positive effects. Here’s what we know:

• Buyers are willing to offer more money for a staged home.
• A majority of buyers feel that staging helps them visualize living in the house.
• Half of buyers feel that the chosen décor will influence their decision to buy the house.
• Realtors report that buyers are indeed affected by home staging, either positively or negatively depending on taste.
• Staged homes sell faster than empty homes. They are 50% more likely to sell than non-staged homes.
• Staged homes rarely drop in price because they sell fast. The longer a house is on the market, the lower the value becomes as time goes by.
• Staging homes increases the perceived value of the property.
• A clean lawn and blooming garden increases the chances of selling staged homes as well.
• Staged homes sell for 6% more than the original asking price.
• Buyers are likely to give higher bids when they go to open houses of staged homes.

How much does it cost for home staging?

There are two types of staged houses – one with leased items and one with originally purchased items. Many sellers opt to sell their homes with the furniture to increase the value. More so if the house contains antiques and expensive materials.

Professional home stagers charge around $300 and above for consultations. The service itself starts at $500 per room on a monthly basis. The cost seems to be worth it because the house may sell for a higher price and will stay on the market for a shorter amount of time.

Can you stage using your own items?

Yes, you can. There is an advantage to staging the home using the original owners’ items. This shows the buyers a peek at what the community seems like and how the people in the neighborhood live. Using original items also gives two benefits to viewers. They can visualize their own décor easier and you don’t need to spend on professional home stagers.

How do you improve your home for staging?

When using your own furniture and décor, it’s best to remove all clutter. Consider it the first step of your move. Make the house seem as generic as possible so that the buyers can freely imagine changes they want to make.

Remove photos of the family and attention-getting items like souvenirs and artwork. It is best to show a cookie cutter home if you are using your own items.

If you are using a staging company, you can collaborate and tell them what kind of people are in the neighborhood, what the common décor is used, and what buyers can expect from the community and economy. In turn, the stagers will help you identify the type of people who will be looking at your home and how they would want to see it.