8 Home Staging Tips to Improve Your Home's Sale Price | Extra Space Storage (2024)

FAQs

How do I stage my house for maximum value? ›

Depending on the number of items in question, moving them out of sight can often suffice, provided on-site storage space is available. If you don't have on-site storage like a shed, the best way to store items while selling a house is to get a small, off-site self-storage unit nearby.

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!

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 rule is: put away your things immediately and avoid handling them more than once after you're done with them. That's it.

The best option for storing your stuff when staging and selling a home is a storage unit. It gets everything completely off your property and you can pop by whenever you need something. When it's time to move, it's easy to drop by with the moving truck and pick everything up again to take it to the new place.

What is the most commonly staged rooms when selling? ›

According to buyer's agents, it's more important to stage the primary bedroom (83%) than the kitchen (62%). If you only have the funds to stage two rooms, you may want to go with the living room and primary bedroom, as they are most likely to sway potential buyers.

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.

Successful Home Stagers believe in their own abilities. They know that they have the knowledge, training and skills to transform any home into an appealing property for sale. They are prepared and organized, and exhibit a zest for life. They are pursuing their passion, creating a career doing something that they love.

Ultimately, the financial backing in a deal determines the property's value, and it's most often a mortgage lender making the call.

Kitchen remodels: Kitchens are easily one of the most important rooms in a home, so it's no surprise people value a smart, modernized space, says Fisher. On average, kitchen remodels lead to a 72 percent ROI. The average cost of a kitchen remodel is between $25,000 and $40,000.

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.

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.

Realtor.com says that large homes get more views on its website than smaller ones: For instance, an 8,000-square-foot mega mansion saw 30% more traffic than a 1,000-square-foot house. But in reality, the larger the property, the longer it stays on the market.

Is it better to show a house empty or with furniture? ›

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.

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.

Soft staging is similar to traditional home staging but it does not include furniture. When soft staging your home, we bring in artwork and accessories to make it feel warmer and more inviting. There are many benefits to soft staging your home, such as helping your listing stand out from the competition.

Empty rooms almost always appear smaller than they really are because without furniture … it has no frame of reference. This empty room had doorways everywhere and a small fireplace that would make buyers feel like their furniture would absolutely not fit.

Staging a home resulted in a 1% to 5% increase in the home's dollar value compared to similar homes on the market that were not staged, according to 20% of seller' agents in 2023. Thirty-four percent of buyer's agents said that staging positively affects home value if decorated to a buyer's taste.

The 90/90 rule for minimalism encourages you to keep only items you've used or will use within 90 days. This minimalist rule is all about timing. When using the 90/90 rule to get rid of stuff, you'll simply want to ask yourself two straightforward questions. Have you used this item in the last 90 days?

One decluttering hack in particular might be the best way to start. Called the Five Second Rule, the idea is simple – pick up an object and if you can't remember when you last used it within five seconds then you have to get rid of it.

Take the 12-12-12 Challenge.

A simple task of locating 12 items to throw away, 12 items to donate, and 12 items to be returned to their proper home can be a really fun and exciting way to quickly organize 36 things in your house.

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.

How do you store high value items? ›

Besides enhancing the security features of a warehouse, companies should strategically place their high-value goods in secure areas. They can add protection by placing high-value goods in high-security aisles, storing it in upper bays or using pallet and stillage cages.

The three most common ways to sell are auction, private treaty, and expression of interest (EOI).

The kitchen and the master bathroom. Buyers tend to show more interest in these rooms than any other in a home.

Foyer/Entrance Hall

They are the first rooms you see when you come inside a house! And, because the foyer is directly between the outside world and your personal sanctum, you should take extra care with what you put in it.

For a room to count as a true bedroom, it must have at least 70 square feet of floor space with a minimum of 7 feet in one direction. If a room is intended for multiple occupants, there should be a minimum of 50 square feet per person.

Spring is typically when most home selling activity begins, but home sales really heat up in the summer months. Real estate is all about location, though, and where you live may have an impact on the peak selling season for your home.

I Suggest You Consider a Day in the Beginning of the Week

If you have your cleaning service come Monday or Tuesday the house will stay pretty clean all week. Then when Friday comes, it is still in pretty good shape. During the weekend, in most households, is when the mess happens.

Without taking the time to separate your delicates and your dark clothes, shove any laundry that's laying around into your washer and/or dryer to hide it away from potential buyers. Again, don't push start before your guests arrive and remember to take care of that dirty laundry when your showing is over.

What is the disadvantage of home staging? ›

What are the cons of staging your house? The biggest disadvantage would be the cost. Professional services for staging a home can be pricey, especially if your house is large and has a backyard to outfit as well. The average cost of staging a house is around $300 to $600.

More than 80% of real estate agents representing buyers said staging made it easier for their buyers to see themselves in the home, according to a 2021 survey by the NAR. And 23% of agents said that home staging led to increased offers between 1% and 5% compared to similar homes that weren't staged.

Further, staging can help increase the sale price by up to 20% on average. For sellers who decide not to stage, the IAHSP survey also shows that the average price reduction on a home was five to 20 times more than what the staging investment would have been.

Any staging costs associated with the property going back on the market and selling are deductible as it relates to that transaction. “Staging is typically what happens after the homeowner has cleaned, painted and made minor repairs.

Since the stager has to style around all of your stuff, this can amount to hours or days of extra, expensive labor. “Homeowners who are worried about affording staging need to find a stager that can help them achieve the staging goals they have within the parameters of their budget,” explains Gittens.

How long should you live in a house before renovating? ›

You Don't Want to Make Rash Decisions

Our brains can only process so many things at once, so don't rush into renovations. Many professionals recommend a one year “cooling-off” period from move in date to the beginning of renovations.