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How costly is vacant staging?

By
Home Stager with Abella Home Staging & Redesign

How costly is vacant staging? As owner of Abella Home Staging & Redesign, I get ask that question often. When i proceed to give them an estimated projection cost, their response always is "That much!!" What they fail to realize is, how much it's costing them to have a vacant house on the market?! 

I tell them them, the more time the property spends on the market, the more carrying costs they will incur!! Here is an example (courtesy of RESA):

  • Mortgage:                          $1,800
  • Monthly expenses:                  $300
  • Total Carrying cost:            $2,100

If the average Vacant home is on the market for nine months:

  • 9 months x $2,100 = $18,900 in carrying cost!!
If you stage first you could decrease the time on the market by 7 months on average.
  • 7 months x $2,100 = $14,700 saving!!
Which leads me to say, why would anyone think vacant staging is expensive when it cost more not to stage!!!
 
There are three very good reasons to stage a vacant home:
  1. Without furniture buyers have no point of reference of where the furniture may fit.
  2. Contrary to belief the room looks smaller without furniture. 
  3. Without furniture in the room to detract your attention, you will see all the flaws!!
 
Research shows that 63% of buyers will pay more for move-in ready homes With all this information it always surprises me that sellers would rather not spend the money and let the property sit. In the end, they most likely will sell the property under market value!! 
 
So how costly is vacant staging? I've staged a home where it cost the home owner $2,300 for three months. And it sold in three months!! If you follow the formula above, I just saved the home owner over $16,000!! In my opinion it cost more not to stage!!!
 
 
                  
              Before Staging
 
 
 
After Staging

Comments (19)

Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
  1. Without furniture buyers have no point of reference of where the furniture may fit. Everyone has different lifestyles, recreational options and pocket book sizes so the quick occupancy of an empty place works best for many.

     2. Contrary to belief the room looks smaller without furniture.  Not if too much furniture.

     3. Without furniture in the room to detract your attention, you will see all the flaws!! The real house,     the good, bad and the ugly better been obvious, disclosed as flaws are not something to cover up, keep a secret.

 
Oct 10, 2011 04:05 AM
Hella Mitschke Rothwell
(831) 626-4000 - Honolulu, HI
Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker

Carmela: Excellent point. An empty house always looks a little pitiful and desparate, not cheerful. That has to translate into a lower sales price.

Oct 10, 2011 04:07 AM
Linda Urbick
RealtyOne Group - San Ramon, CA
Selling San Ramon Valley - 925-786-5132

Vacant properties have no life - they seem drab so staging is definitely important to get these houses sold.

Oct 10, 2011 04:48 AM
Carmela Abella
Abella Home Staging & Redesign - Port Jefferson Station, NY

Hella, your right it's not cheerful at all!

Oct 10, 2011 05:06 AM
Carmela Abella
Abella Home Staging & Redesign - Port Jefferson Station, NY

Linda, I just wish more clients could understand that!!

Oct 10, 2011 05:06 AM
Bryan Robertson
Los Altos, CA

Staging can make a big difference, if it's done right.  However, the seller has to price the property right otherwise they'll be stuck with expensive staging for months at a very high cost.  A well-priced home, staged well, does indeed sell fast.

Oct 10, 2011 05:24 AM
Carmela Abella
Abella Home Staging & Redesign - Port Jefferson Station, NY

Bryan, the first thing I ask my clients is "Did you take your agent advice and list it at the price they recommended?" Because I can stage the heck out of a property but it won't sell if it's overpriced!!

Oct 10, 2011 05:49 AM
Carmela Abella
Abella Home Staging & Redesign - Port Jefferson Station, NY

Barb, you got that right!!

Oct 10, 2011 07:15 AM
Wendy Tomm
Beyond the Walls - East St Paul, MB
CCSP, RESA-PRO, BBB - Wpg Realtors

Great post Carmela.  Love the photos.  I am with you it costs far more not to stage a 'vacant' property.

Oct 10, 2011 09:09 AM
Linda Thompson
Selling By Design-Staging - Fresno, CA

Great post Carmela. I am going to re blog it to localism. My area needs to hear this!!!!!!!

Oct 10, 2011 10:23 AM
Carmela Abella
Abella Home Staging & Redesign - Port Jefferson Station, NY

Thanks Wendy. That was a $500 a month for rental. It included staging the master bedroom and sold within 3mos! Well worth the cost!!

Oct 10, 2011 11:19 AM
Carmela Abella
Abella Home Staging & Redesign - Port Jefferson Station, NY

Thanks Linda, Let's hope they get the message!!

Oct 10, 2011 11:20 AM
Kathy Burke
Sensational Home Staging~~Danville, CA - Danville, CA
S.F. East Bay Home Staging

Carmela.....yes those vacant homes look sad and lonely.....well NO more with the staging in your example!  Paint & Stage = Winning Combo!!

Oct 12, 2011 10:41 AM
Carmela Abella
Abella Home Staging & Redesign - Port Jefferson Station, NY

Thanks Kathy!!

Oct 12, 2011 10:52 AM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

Points well taken Carmela and the house showed great staged! to the points of the first commentor I'd like to add/clarify some things (I hope you don't mind! my comments in bold italics):

  1. Without furniture buyers have no point of reference of where the furniture may fit. Everyone has different lifestyles, recreational options and pocket book sizes so the quick occupancy of an empty place works best for many. 
    1. A staged home will always be empty prior to closing, stagers never leave their items in a property after it closes

     2. Contrary to belief the room looks smaller without furniture. Not if too much furniture.

2. That's correct, too much furniture can also close up a space but a professional home stager takes that into consideration when staging for sale.

     3. Without furniture in the room to detract your attention, you will see all the flaws!! The real house,     the good, bad and the ugly better been obvious, disclosed as flaws are not something to cover up, keep a secret.

3. Again -true , however to suggest that professional stagers try to cover up or keep "secret" structural or other flaws is misleading and un true. Again, professional stagers never cover up or try to hide things from buyers, it will ALWAYS be caught on inspection and can be a deal breaker! We help remove objections from the minds and eyes of buyers and help them see the potential and beauty of the home itself and how they will use it. It's never about the stuff that stays but the home itself and the lifestyle the buyers will live.

Oct 13, 2011 01:33 AM
Carmela Abella
Abella Home Staging & Redesign - Port Jefferson Station, NY

Karen , point well taken.

As far furniture too much or too little is never good! Stager can asset and pick the right amount!

I should have clarified, by flaws I meant small dents, scratches or bad taping. NEVER structural! Like you stated, it will always be caught!! When I deal with home owners, I always mention, whatever problems you have with the home, you must address or it will come out with home inspection. There is no getting around it!!

Oct 13, 2011 02:15 AM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

I knew what you were referencing Carmela, it was the commentor who was suggesting otherwise and I just wanted to address his comments. =)

Oct 13, 2011 07:39 AM
Carmela Abella
Abella Home Staging & Redesign - Port Jefferson Station, NY

Thanks Karen!! Understood!!

Oct 13, 2011 09:36 AM