Staging Pros & Cons: Should I Stage My Home to Sell?
If you've ever tuned in to one of the many design shows on HGTV, like Flip or Flop or Property Brothers, you'll notice that each home featured is staged to perfection by the end of the episode. Why is that, exactly? In a recent article by the National Association of Realtors, 23% of buyers' agents claim that staging increases the value of homes for sale between 1-5%. Although there may be some obvious benefits to staging your home if you're looking to sell it, that may not always be the right choice for everyone. Looking into the staging pros and cons, you may be asking yourself, “Should I stage my home to sell?” The answer may surprise you.
Home Staging Benefits
There's nothing quite like walking into a home that's staged to perfection. From the carefully placed throw pillows on the comfortable couches to the pops of color throughout in the form of decorative paintings, plant life and more, nothing says 'welcome home' quite like professional home staging. In addition to looking fabulous, home staging allows potential buyers to see what a particular home could look like, instead of an empty shell. It also helps them envision themselves in the home, relaxing by the fireplace or cooking dinner in the kitchen. In addition to these benefits, home staging also:
Helps to increase the value of the home
Makes the space feel larger and more inviting
Provides a great first impression
May shorten the length of time a home remains on the market
Home staging helps to showcase a home in a more complete light, providing buyers with a better look at what could be in each and every room.
Home Staging Limitations
Although walking into a staged home seems like a great idea, it's not for everyone or every buyer. When you stage a home, you're not only limiting potential buyers' creativity when it comes to what can be done with the space, you're also setting yourself up for increased costs, as staging does not come cheap. You'll also find that staging has other limitations like:
May take longer to get the home on the market
More difficult for potential buyers to envision themselves in the space
Costly and time-consuming, especially if you hire a professional
May not help your home sell as much as you originally hope
Staging a home doesn't always result in a home selling faster or for more money. Instead of staging a home to sell, it's recommended to hire the help of a licensed real estate agent who can help you get your home ready to put on the market. This means clearing out the home, if possible, or at least taking down any personal items, so that buyers can see themselves in your space. Realtors can also provide a professional and detailed description of your home, so that even before potential buyers walk through the front door, they're already mesmerized by your space.
In the end, the choice is yours. If you have room in the budget to employ the help of a professional home staging crew, it may help to sell your home faster, but this isn't always guaranteed. Whether you choose to stage your home or leave it as a blank canvas, a professional real estate agent will be an invaluable help in the entire process of selling your home.