2009 Home Gain Study Questions - Does this study reflect true costs of all Home Staging services as an average of $300?

Karen: I thought the same thing, until I read the report. It is the cost of low cost do-it-yourself home improvement projects. I could easily see how some home owners would only spend $300 for a quick spruce up, if all they are doing is adding a couple of pots of flowers and a new doormat by the front door or buying a new bedspread for the master bedroom. I don't really consider that staging, but I didn't write the report :o) Also, the survey was sent out to Realtors only, not homeowners, so that may have skewed the results a bit.

For $300, maybe less in some parts of the country, the home seller can get a home staging consultation to pinpoint which repairs and updates they should take on.

Hey, Karen:

This Home Gain Study is not new by any means - it's at least the third report I have seen since throwing my hat into the Home Staging ring.  And every year, right after it comes out, I have to explain to potential clients [REALTORS and Home Owners] that Home Gain does not define the services provided for that cost. 

How does the Samuel Clemens quote go: "There's three kinds of liars: Liars, Damn Liars, and Statisticians..." Or some thing like that.  While I concur that it is good news that Home Staging is being painted in a positive light, I do not like to toss around any numbers as to increase in sales price, or time on market.  Because I do not trust Statistics if I have not gathered them myself.

Like Home Simpson says, "Oh, people can come up with statistics to prove anything, Kent. 14% of people know that."

Thanks for the Props!  Happy Friday!

Karen ~ your post brings up some excellent points.  I too think the Home Gain report may be misinterpreted by Realtors and passed on to Homeowners....and they may think that it means that you can get your home "Staged" for about $300.  A good home staging consultation can provide many DIY home sellers great suggestions on cost-effective ways to make their home more appealing and inviting...but many homes need multiple improvements including painting, light fixture replacements, landscaping work, repair of many small things that all add up.  Most of the clients that I've seen end up spending more than $300 even if they do the work themselves.  Too bad the Home Gain report doesn't come with a more detailed description of what's involved in each category.  This is the reason I've never handed it out with my marketing materials.  I personally don't think it helps us that much!

When I read that stat, I felt that it was way too low. Yes, that would cover a consultation but not much hands-on staging. I agree that they need to define the different areas of staging to represent the industry accurately.

Follwing the links in the report ......it clearly states these are DIY

♠The report sounds the quotes given on HGTV for staging a home.   They forget about the labor involved.

$700 to paint the interior walls of the house sounds right if the home owner does it himself.

Hi Karen,

It is so hard to quantify the benefits of staging. First of all, there's staging and then there's staging. We know the difference but a lot of people, including Realtors, don't.

• You can stage your brains out but if the property is overpriced it's not going to sell.
• A house can be beautifullystaged and if the exterior features a weed infested yard and broken down cars, it's probably not going to sell as quickly or for as much as a comparable, tidy, well maintained but un-staged house.
• Since most Realtors will only pay for a consultation, that's probably what they are thinking of when it comes to a staging budget.

I can only speak for myself, but I stage all of my listings and, even in this depressed market, all of my listings have sold within 30 days. Staging is product development and without it you are going to leave money on the table. How much? A lot more than the cost of well executed staging.

Since the report does define it as "do it yourself", I think it can work to our benefit.  We can reinforce the value that staging gives, offer the consult as a great tool for do-it-yourselfers (in many cases our consults are even less than $300) and they can feel good about getting a great value for their money!

Karen, this is the first time that "DIY" has been included in the header of their charts.  Their last survey in 2007 that I have been using did not say Do It Yourself in the header, nor do I recall seeing that explained anywhere. 

I am so glad they have done so because I always thought those 2007 numbers were way too low.

It is a shame that they don't define the activities going into Home Staging, so one can only guess that it could include the cost of the consultation or it could include what the homeowner spent as a result of the recommendations excluding lightening and brightening, decluttering, etc - all of the categories above.  Maybe it's just what they spent on decorative accessories like bedding and towels.

I wish they would define staging too, it's open for interpretation.  If paints not included, just what are they buying or getting, if not just a consultation?