20 Most Common Staging Mistakes – 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty (2024)

FAQs

What should you not do when staging a house? ›

Staging can help buyers visualize themselves in a particular home while also helping properties garner higher prices than non-staged homes, according to the Real Estate Staging Association. And in a recent survey by the National Association of Realtors, more than 25 percent of Realtors said staged homes sell faster.

Too much visual interest can create a dizzying effect. When it comes to accessories, follow the “3-to-5-foot” rule for surface décor and knickknacks: surfaces in the 3-foot to 5-foot range, such as coffee tables and credenzas, should have the right balance of accents but be clear of clutter.

Staged Homes Usually Sell Faster and For More Money

Ninety-five percent of staged homes sell in 11 days or less, which is 87% faster than non-staged homes. They also sell for an average of 17% more, so you could recoup the cost of staging and then some.

Generally, when you're staging your home to put on the market, I recommend that you avoid setting the table, instead keeping the focus on the space, not your stuff. That is, after all, the entire concept behind staging to sell. You aren't selling your stuff, you're selling the house!

All prices were accurate at the time of publishing. Anyone who works in real estate has long operated by a certain rule of thumb: Professionally staged homes sell faster. That's because furniture actually makes spaces appear larger and encourages potential buyers to see themselves living there.

To recap: Staging costs for primary and secondary homes under this rule are considered to be selling and advertising expenses. This means when you engage a professional stager for staging services and furniture rentals, these costs reduce the profit of the transaction and you can have less tax liability.

What is the House 3X rule? ›

The 3X rule

If you spend more than 20% of your monthly income to pay down existing debts, you could potentially consider homes priced up to three times your household's annual income.

Keep in mind that you will be responsible for setting up and taking down the furniture and decor, which can be time-consuming and stressful.

Many real estate contracts require sellers to leave a home in “broom-clean condition.” That means that sellers should sweep up after themselves, clear out closets, shelves and cabinets, take everything out of the refrigerator, throw out all the garbage and leave the home presentable.

First impressions mean a lot. So, don't let foul smells, dirty floors or dusty surfaces make a bad one on a potential buyer. Before listing your home (and throughout the selling process), give your home a deep clean. This means cleaning toilets, wiping surfaces, mopping floors, cleaning rugs and scrubbing bathrooms.

While the seller can enjoy the ease of an all-cash offer with a sales price of $1, they may end up dealing with a lot of hassle come tax season. Some parents may try to sell their home to a child for just one dollar in order to help their child avoid estate taxes down the line.

The kitchen is by far the most important room in the house for a buyer. A well-apointed kitchen dramatically increases the value of your home. As you build your new home to meet your personal interests and needs for your kitchen, you should consider these items in your kitchen design: Modern appliances.

A home's value is affected by local real estate trends, the housing market, the home's condition, age, location and property size.

But in reality, the larger the property, the longer it stays on the market. The places that sold the quickest—on average, 86 days—were between 1,500 and 2,000 square feet and priced at about $194,000.

What happens to the furniture used for staging? ›

So what happens to all the furniture items that get cut from a stager's arsenal? They're sold off — and oftentimes at a discount. If you want to get your hands on a gently used piece of furniture at a below-market price, here's how to find home stager sales.

Proscenium stage

The proscenium stage is one of the most common and classic theater stages. The typical feature of a proscenium stage is the proscenium arch (which doesn't actually have to be in an arch shape) that frames the stage and through which the audience watches the action.

The less mess and stuff they see, the more they can focus on picturing themselves in your home. Messy homes look like they need work. If someone does make an offer, they will come in lower anticipating cleaning, painting, and updating the home. Your messy home could sell for less money.

Decluttering makes it easier to stage your home to sell. Homes that are staged tend to sell faster and for more money than ones that aren't. The additional effort put in to make your home show well usually pays off. Keep in mind that people are likely to look in closets, cabinets, and other hidden areas.

Decluttering your home will make it seem larger and more appealing to home buyers. It's a simple step that will have a major impact on how your house shows. A clean, decluttered house will give buyers the confidence that it has been well-maintained and make it look and feel better overall.

Reporting the Sale

Report the sale or exchange of your main home on Form 8949, Sale and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets, if: You have a gain and do not qualify to exclude all of it, You have a gain and choose not to exclude it, or. You received a Form 1099-S.

The costs of staging are subtracted from the proceeds of the sale of the home and decrease the total realized profit. In summary, the IRS's position is that Staging costs are a legitimate selling expense for both primary and secondary homes and are therefore tax deductible.

Nondeductible Home Expenses

Fire insurance. Homeowner's insurance premiums. The principal amount of mortgage payment. Domestic service.

What are the rules of staging? ›

Typically, this involves removing furniture (another good reason to rent storage space), but also pay attention to the room as a whole -- if there's too much furniture or decor on one side, it can feel lopsided.

Some real estate experts suggest it's best to sell an unfurnished house, whereas a majority of them agree that it's best to lightly furnish it to attract buyers. However, if you're in a rush to move out, don't furnish the property.

Staging an empty house is just as important as staging a fully furnished one. It might even be a bit easier to do since there's no need to depersonalize the space or find somewhere to hide any clutter. The goal when you stage a home without furniture is to highlight those features that you do have.

The elements that are of concern to staging include - theming and event design, choice of venue, audience and guests, stage, power, lights and sound system, audiovisual and special effects, catering, performers, crew, hospitality, the production schedule and recording the event.

That's pretty accurate, according to News & Record. An HGTV rep reportedly told the website: “The homeowners always pay for the renovation and they are given the opportunity to purchase the furnishings and décor used for the staging. What they don't purchase is removed from the home." So there you have it!

Items they rent for the staging process and then return after the home sells are deductible as part of the staging, as they do not use them for any personal use, they are used strictly for the staging process.”

Good news, IRS rules and guidelines now allow luxury home staging investments to be qualified as tax deductible.

What questions should I ask a home stager? ›