So, you have decided to sell your home. The myriad of questions such as how much to sell for, who do I list with, when do I put in on the market are running through your mind a mile a minute, and rightfully so. All of that aside, one of the lingering questions asked by sellers is “Should I stage my home?”
There are 4 options to consider when listing a home. 1.) Show your home vacant after moving out. 2.) You are currently living in the home, therefore your belongings are on display. 3.) Hire a staging company. 4.) Market your property through the use of virtual staging. (We will discuss)
Care to take a guess which one costs the most? But, does it add value? That depends on several factors. Let’s discuss.
In today’s market, if you have a home priced right, you might have 10 offers before the staging trucks even arrive at your location. But the market we are currently in is somewhat of an anomaly, so in fairness, let’s consider selling factors at a pre-pandemic level.
According to HUD, (the Department of U.S. Housing and Urban Development) research indicates staged homes spend over 70% less time on the market than non-staged homes and can sell for as much as 17% more than a non-staged home. With an increase in mortgage rates, many believe we are close to seeing the market we knew just 2 short years ago. According to the Website Angi, the average cost for staging a home in the U.S. is $1603 and can range between $700-$2700, depending on the size of the home. More luxurious multi-million dollar listings can be much more expensive to stage. Because larger more expensive listings tend to stay on market longer, it's conceivable, and in popular opinion, that staging on a least some scale, would be the smart choice.
If you don't have financial resources to utilize staging, another option is to simply grin and BARE it. For what it's worth, I've listed several homes in Houston and Tampa and only one has been staged. It's really not a perfect science. It's an opinion. In my opinion, if you market and prepare accordingly while setting a realistic market price perspective, staging quite simply, while possibly helpful, isn't fully necessary. AGAIN, this is strictly an opinion, so remember, what's good for the goose isn't necessarily good for the gander. This is a decision made by you, not your REALTOR. There are several different options and companies available when considering virtual staging.
If you don't have financial resources to utilize staging, another option is to simply grin and BARE it. For what it's worth, I've listed several homes in Houston and Tampa and only one has been staged. It's really not a perfect science. It's strictly an opinion. In my opinion, if you market and prepare accordingly while setting a realistic market price perspective, staging quite simply, while likely helpful, isn't fully necessary. AGAIN, this is strictly an opinion, so remember, what's good for the goose isn't necessarily good for the gander. This is a decision made by you, not your REALTOR.
Soon to be gone, are the days of many homebuyers drastically overpaying for homes, but the debate will continue. To stage or not to stage is honestly just the opinion of the seller. I do believe certain homes (luxury listings) should utilize staging but for less than $500k, opt for proper planning, pricing, virtual staging and marketing. $1700 may not sound like a lot, but each buyer and seller is different. Do what's right for you both emotionally and financially.
The opinions shared and/or suggested are my own, and not necessarily shared by my brokerage. Contact me today for a brief consultation to see if the time to buy/sell is right for you.