Special offer

Home Staging - Expense or Investment?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros

There are tons of home sellers who still have not made their mind up about whether they should stage their home or not. This is not just your average home owner, I am talking about investors, banks, home builders, and literally anyone who has a home listed for sale.

Most people still think of home staging as an expense, a financial burden or outlay. It is true that when you sell your house it will cost you money. Maybe repairs have to be done, and updates need to be made. Whether you hire a realtor or sell your home yourself, there is still a cost for getting your home listed and advertised so that buyers can find it. There are other costs like inspections and appraisals that a seller may incur. There are also some closing costs that the seller may have to pay for.  For every month that a house sits vacant, you incur carry costs that you will not get back. Even if you sell your house "AS-IS" you are inviting low ball offers and leaving money on the table.

As the old adage goes "It takes money to make money". Selling a home is not free. So how can you minimize your outlay and maximize your return? By having your house professionally staged before you list it.

Here are some of the returns you'll get on your home staging investment:

  1. Increased home value - Statistics show that staged homes can appraise for a higher value than non-staged homes.
  2. Increased buyer appeal - The more potential buyers that visit your home the higher your chances are for a quick sale.
  3. Increased marketability - The better a home looks the more it can sell for. When buyers become emotionally attached to a home they will pay more for it. 
  4. Minimizes the chance of taking a price reduction - Statistics show that staged homes sell faster than non-staged homes and for more money.
  5. Home Staging can be tax deductible -Considered as an advertising expense you may be able to deduct your staging investment from the sale price of the home. Please seek advise from your tax advisor to see if you qualify. (Reference IRS Publication 523)

What other marketing tool do you know of when selling your home can do so much for so little? Not many.  Home Staging increases MLS pictures which ways alot on how many people visit your house in person. After all, according to the National Association of Realtors®, 84% of buyers start their search on-line.

Often times sellers have inflated how much a home staging investment will be before they actually get a quote.  You will have expenses when you sell your home but staging is an investment that you will immediately see a return on. Hiring a knowledgeable and professional Home Stager/Property Stylist will only help increase your chances of getting your home sold quickly and for top dollar. And it may actually save you money as we know of budget-friendly decorating tips and low cost updates that will increase the appeal of your home. Really, how much is a sale worth to you?

Don't leave money on the table, get your home professionally staged today!

For more information on having your house staged, call Fresh Eye Designs, LLC at 864.351.8305.  We work with Occupied and Vacant Home Sellers to get your house sold quickly and profitably! Offering a wide array of Home Stagingservices in the Anderson, Greater Greenville, and Spartanburg areas of South Carolina, we are Greenville's Upscale Home Staging and ReStyles Company. At Fresh Eye Designs LLC, Staged Equals Sold!

Lanre-"THE REAL ESTATE FARMER" Folayan
Samson Properties - Bowie, MD
I don't make promises.I deliver results.SOLD HOMES

Tanya Venable Greenville Home Staging Spartanburg and Upstate SC Home Staging-What you need to do is move your shop to Washington DC/Maryland-Seriously. Well written piece. Five star post. It doesnt cost to stage,IT PAYS. Only if home sellers can get it in their head. I am going to re-blog this on my new Active Rain outside blog www.GetDCsold.com. It should be up and running soon. Have a great weekend Tanya. Great post.

Mar 28, 2009 08:06 AM
Ron Bridges
ERA Wilder Realty, Inc. - Sumter, SC

Tanya, good post.  I have a home I would like to have staged but they don't want to spend the money.  I'm going to show them this post.

Mar 28, 2009 02:44 PM
Donna Schoby
Liberty Bank of Arkansas - Bentonville, AR

Tanya, I just staged a vacant that has been on the market for 11 months. The Open House is tomorrow and I'm sure it will bring some interest.  The Realtor and neighbors have given great reviews. When will they see the true benefits of staging?

Mar 28, 2009 03:54 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Tanya - I too believe this is a well written piece.  Yes home staging should be viewed as an investment that will yield a return.  I tell people this, but it is good to hear it from a Home Stager.  I think people in my market could benefit from this so I will reblog it.

Mar 28, 2009 04:19 PM
Bruce & Mary Smith
Savannah Lakes Homes - McCormick, SC
REALTORS, Savannah Lakes Village McCormick SC

Tanya - It's definitely an investment!  It is also a frame of mind where the seller is able to admit that 'the way I live in a home may not be the best way to sell my home.'  Unfortunately, not all sellers buy into it!  Great post!

Mary

Mar 29, 2009 04:06 AM
Laurie Calhoun
Gloria Home Staging, Inc. - Winter Springs, FL
Seminole County FL Home Stager

Home sellers are overwhelmed at all the things they have to spend money on, so staging feels like just another expense. But you are so right -- it's an investment in getting the home sold, and an excellent investment at that. Great post!

Mar 29, 2009 08:39 AM
Lynn911.com ~ Dallas Real Estate Agent Top Team
Dallas Houses for Rent Dallas Apartment Rentals Lynn911.com - Dallas, TX

Tanya, even I with my real estate investments stage my home(s) sale or lease huge difference.

Have a great and successful week.

Mar 31, 2009 01:37 AM
Tanya Venable
Orlando, FL
SEO, Mobile SEO, and Internet Marketing Consultant

Lanre, you never know I may open a location up there. You know I am a native Marylander. I can wait to see your outside blog. Thanks for the re-blog.

Ron, I hope you showed your clients the post. And I hoped it helped.

Donna, It is amazing the interest staging can create for a house that has been on the market for a while. I know you will make it look great. People will get it, it just takes education and results to turn them into believers.

Jennifer, Thanks. I am sure alot of people in your area need that competitive edge. Thanks for the re-blog.

Mary - Unfortunately not all sellers do but they should.

Laurie - Thanks, having your home professionally staged can be a stress reliever. Let the pro's handle it because we know what sells.

Lynn - I am glad you know it works.

Apr 01, 2009 03:39 AM
Benita Gottfried
New Vision Interiors LLC - Hopatcong, NJ

Thank you for writing this post. Our biggest job as stagers is educating others and this does a good job at explaining why staging is a needed investment.

Apr 06, 2009 01:15 AM
Lara O'Keefe
North Texas Home Finders - McKinney, TX

Tanya, you make some excellent points and there is no reason that sellers of all kinds should not invest in a home stager.

Apr 06, 2009 10:09 AM
Tanya Venable
Orlando, FL
SEO, Mobile SEO, and Internet Marketing Consultant

Benita - Thanks. It definitely takes education and results to really drive the point home.

Lara - This is true, sometimes homes can sell just from the homeowners following the instructions given during a home staging consultation. You can't bet that for ROI!

Apr 11, 2009 03:20 AM