It’s a well-known fact that home staging helps sell houses, but are professional home stagers really worth the cost?
The truth is, a lot of home staging can be done yourself. But professionals have a well-trained eye for how to make your home look like it belongs in the pages of a magazine. Here’s everything you need to know about professional home stagers and whether or not it’s worth it to hire one to help you sell your house.
What is Staging?
Staging a house is a way of making the home look more visually appealing by bringing in furniture, art, and other decor that appeals to a broad number of people. Proper staging will show off a home’s positive features while minimizing the flaws.
Staged homes appear better in photographs and look great in online listings. Buyers are better able to visualize themselves living in a staged home, and oftentimes homes that are staged sell for more money than similar homes that aren’t staged. According to the National Association of Realtors, the increase in offer amount for staged homes is 17% on average.
How Much Does Professional Staging Cost?
The cost of professional home stagers varies drastically depending on a few factors. The city and state where your house is located is important, as large metropolitan areas are naturally more expensive. It also matters if the home is vacant or currently occupied. Vacant properties do not show well and will require much more furniture and decor to be brought in, making it quite a bit more expensive than staging an occupied house.
Costs of staging also depend on how much of your house you want the stager to improve. You’ll get the biggest bang for your buck by focusing on the living room and kitchen, but it can also be beneficial to have the entire house staged. Every stager charges differently – some by room, some hourly, and others just have a set fee – so it’s important to discuss your hopes and expectations with them and get an estimate on cost before you proceed.
Professional Staging or DIY?
Staging your home on your own might seem like a simple task, but it’s more time intensive than you might think. Here’s a look at some of what’s included in staging:
- Decluttering
- Cleaning
- Removing furniture
- Painting
- Decorating shelves
- Improving curb appeal
And that’s only the beginning. When making the decision of whether to hire a professional home stager or to do it on your own, it’s important to consider the time, expense, and skills that staging your own home requires. If you feel like you’re up to the task, go right on ahead. If not, a professional stager is a safe (albeit expensive) option.
Patriot Home Buyers Can Help
Do you need to sell your house but can’t afford to hire professional home stagers? Patriot Home Buyers can help! We buy homes in any condition, no staging required. Simply tell us a little about your home and if it qualifies, we’ll make you a cash offer within 24 hours. It really is that easy! We buy homes in Metro Atlanta, Georgia. Contact us today to get your cash offer!