What is ‘home staging’ and do you need it when selling your home?

Making your home look its best when you’re preparing to put it on the market, to attract potential buyers and ultimately the optimum sales price, is a no-brainer. But how far should you go, and how much should you spend on a temporary makeover? 

Know your home

One of the main reasons you engage a real estate agent to sell your home is for their in-depth knowledge of the property market. They know all about the current demand for the type of home you’re selling in the Hills District, and work with you to achieve the best results from the sale. At Westons Property & Co, we know that it’s never a case of ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to presenting your property for sale. For example, if you’re selling a contemporary home or one that has recently been updated, it can definitely be worth investing in the services of a ‘home stager’ or ‘property stylist’ (they are the same thing, by the way), to add that extra ‘lifestyle’ appeal. However, if your property is due for a complete reno and you’re selling it for the value of its position, styling it for sale is probably a waste of time and money. 

Give your home a facelift

Assuming you’re selling a home that is in good decorative order, there are several things you can do to increase its appeal to prospective buyers. Decluttering, and cleaning all the windows, paintwork and surfaces, is a good start, as is a fresh coat of paint. You might add a few cosmetic touches yourself (just don’t overdo the cushions, throws and fruit bowls), but most of us benefit from a professional, unbiased look at our furniture and furnishings and how to organise them so rooms present in their most appealing light. 

So, what do home stagers or stylists actually do? Because they usually have a background in interior design, they know what appeals to a wide range of people. Their job is simply to maximise the appeal of your home for both the sales campaign photography and inspections – whether virtual or in person. And the presentation of your home on the internet has never been so important – more than 90 percent of prospective buyers do their initial research online. The home stager will look at your existing furniture, fittings, colour scheme and décor and assess how the overall look can be improved, in a ‘partial staging’ (concentrating on two or three rooms, for example) or a ‘full staging’ of the entire home. They might suggest storing items of furniture, focusing on a particular feature in a room, maximising the use of natural light, and adding or replacing artwork, plants and accessories. If you go for the full home-staging treatment, the stylist will bring in carefully sourced, on-trend furniture and accessories that remain in place for the duration of the sale campaign.  

Is home-staging cost effective?

Some experts estimate staging can add an extra 5 to 15 percent to a property’s sale price and reduce the time it spends on the market. These estimates are mostly based on overseas studies, such as the 2020 Home Staging Association UK & Ireland survey of 330 property professionals.

The cost of using a home stager includes the initial consultation, styling advice, and the hire of any furniture and accessories – naturally, the price depends on the extent of the service you request but generally an initial consultation costs between $150 and $500. It’s important to get two or three quotes and ask friends, family (and us) for personal recommendations.

If you are considering selling your Hills District home and would like some free tips on which areas of your property to update or renovate in advance of putting your home on the market, please do not hesitate to get in touch.