Staging a home for sale has become an integral part of the home selling process, with some realtors estimating that it can add an extra 1 to 5 percent to a property’s sale price. While home staging may seem counterintuitive at first considering that you’ll have to spend some money upfront, it can pay off big. But just how much does home staging really cost? Let’s look at how much home staging costs and what’s typically included, so you can decide whether it’s worth the investment for you.
According to data from HomeAdvisor, the average cost of home staging is in the range of $752 and $2,848. However, home staging prices will vary widely depending on home occupation status, house size, the location of the house, how long you need to rent furniture or décor, and other factors.
Let’s look at some of the factors that can affect the cost of home staging in greater detail.
- Home Occupation Status
Staging a vacant house is more likely to cost more than staging an occupied one, as you’ll need to rent furniture, décor, and other items that will improve the house’s aesthetics. If you live in the house, you’ll most likely incur costs associated with decluttering and cleaning. Typically, it’s less costly to stage an occupied home compared to a vacant one.
Also, the condition of the house will determine how much you’ll spend on staging. An older home with outdated fixtures will require a substantial facelift, meaning you’ll spend much more money on staging such a home. On the other hand, a new and modern home with upgraded fittings and fixtures won’t need repairs and facelifts, so the staging costs will be lower.
- The Size of the House
As you’d expect, the larger your house, the more you’ll pay to stage it. For instance, staging a 1,200-square-foot house would cost about $1,500 to $1,800 on average. But for a bigger home, say, a 2,000-square-foot home, it would cost between $2,000 and $2,400.
- Location
Just like housing costs vary from one location to another, home staging prices also vary widely depending on your location. Staging costs more in more upscale neighborhoods. For instance, you can expect to pay between $700 and $2,000 for home staging in Bakersfield, CA, but more than $4,000 in Beverly Hills.
- Furniture Rentals
If you’ll need to rent furniture, it can be a significant expense to factor into your budget. The cost of furniture rental will depend on the type of furniture you’ll need and the length of time you’ll be renting the furniture. If you decide to purchase décor items, you’ll need to factor in the cost of décor as well.
- Cleaning and Decluttering
Cleaning and decluttering are tasks you can do on your own with the help of one or two friends. You may be able to save money by doing the cleaning and decluttering yourself. But if you have to hire someone to help you clean and declutter the space, you could spend an additional $200 to $700.
- Minor Repairs and Facelifts
A professional stager may recommend you make minor repairs and facelifts such as painting neutral colors, changing lighting fixtures, installing new plumbing fixtures, and more. Such repairs and face-lifts can be significant expenses that you must take into consideration when planning for home staging. For example, the cost of painting the interior of a 1,000-square-foot home typically ranges from $3,000 to $3,500.
- Initial Consultation
The cost of home staging typically includes an initial consultation, which costs from $150 to $500 for a two-hour session. During the initial consultation, the home stager will discuss your needs and goals and give you their recommendations.
How You Can Save Money on Home Staging
Home staging can be costly, especially if you have to make a lot of repairs and rent furniture and décor items. Therefore, it makes sense to find ways to save money on home staging. Here are two ways to save money on staging:
- Focus on the key rooms of your house
If you have a larger home, you can cut down on home staging costs by focusing only on key areas of the house, such as the master bedroom, living room, kitchen, and the entryway. According to surveys done by the National Association of Realtors, staging the master bedroom, living room, and kitchen has the biggest impact on prospective buyers. If you’re not sure which rooms will create the biggest impact on buyers, consult with your stager or real estate agent.
- Try A DIY Approach on Some Tasks
There are several tasks you can handle yourself instead of hiring someone. For tasks like rearranging furniture, decluttering, cleaning, landscaping, and even painting, you can take the DIY approach and save money. You can even skip some additional cosmetic projects, such as cabinet refacing, if your home is in decent condition.
