The Benefits of Home Staging
Buying a home is one of life’s biggest purchases. When a buyer walks into a home on the market, they need to be able to picture themself living there—where their furniture could go, how they’ll walk around the space, what decorations they can imagine on the walls… That’s where home staging comes in. A home stager curates a home from top to bottom, selling buyers on a dream of what that home could ideally look like at its best. Here, we get into what exactly home staging is, how it came about, and how it can benefit both buyers and sellers.
What Is Home Staging
Home staging is pretty straightforward: It’s the act of setting up a home in an attractive way. A stager’s job is to decorate and furnish the home in a way that attracts as many buyers as possible. This usually involves removing all of the homeowner(s)’ belongings and bringing in new, neutral furniture and decorations, but sometimes it might mean embellishing whatever’s already in the home. Essentially, home stagers help buyers imagine what their life could look like living—in the best possible way—to maximize their return on investment. Case in point: 86% of potential buyers find it easier to visualize a property when it is staged.
History of Home Staging
50 years ago, home staging was unheard of. Real estate agents did little more than tidy up the home to show it off to potential buyers. But that all changed with a Seattle real estate agent who saw the potential in staging a home to sell buyers on a vision. Additionally, with the internet and the ability to browse through thousands of homes online, sellers had to up their game—and staging soon became an expectation. The industry exists because buyers can’t see the potential in an empty house. And, now, virtual staging, in which computer-generated furnishings are superimposed in unfurnished properties, is also gaining popularity with online listings.
Home Staging Benefits
Industry surveys say home staging can boost a home’s price by up to 5%—and reduce the time it takes to sell, as setting up a home in a clean, well-appointed way enchants buyers. In the end, your house is a product as soon as you put it on the market, so it makes sense to make it look as nice as possible.
Fun facts: Typically, homeowners see a 5–15% ROI when they choose to professionally stage their home before selling it on the market—and staged homes spend 73% less time on the market than non-staged homes.
Home Staging Tips/Fun Facts
- Monthly rental fees for furniture and other decor should cost between 1–3% of the home’s asking price.
- Stagers will tail furnishings to the style of the neighborhood.
- Everything in a staged home should be presented as a blank slate—so neutral colors, no family photos or other personal mementos, etc. The goal is to appeal to as many buyers as possible.
- That bowl of lemons or fruit on the kitchen counter? That’s a common home staging move to trick the buyer into thinking they might be able to live a more healthy life in the home.
- A hammock in the backyard is another trick that elicits a relaxing lifestyle.
- A home’s scent is so important. No one wants to smell cat litter or cooked food when they walk into a home, so home stagers will go the extra mile to make sure it smells nice.
Make Your Home Look Its Best
All in all, home staging is a smart investment for sellers to create a welcoming environment for buyers. A home stager will help you tell a story, and make your house irresistible to anyone and everyone who enters. Home staging is just one of the many perks of working with us at Hillman Real Estate Group! Call or email us today to learn more: 919-877-6708 or Renee@HREGSells.com