Home Staging Cost: Is Staging Your Home Really Worth the Price?
Staging a home can take a lot of time and a lot of effort. But is all that work really worth it? Click here to learn more about home staging cost.
The average home staging cost is $2,300 – $3,200.
That’s not cheap.
Combine that with a myriad of other home selling fees like an inspection, fix-ups, new paint, landscaping, etc., and things can really add up in a hurry. Not to mention there’s a lot of time and effort involved.
So is it really worth it?
To find out, I’m going to examine what all goes into the home staging process and the benefits of making this investment.
What Contributes to the Home Staging Cost?
There are several tasks that are performed when staging a home. Some of the more common ones include:
- Organizing and decluttering
- Thoroughly cleaning floors and countertops
- Making minor repairs like fixing cracks and holes in the wall
- Rearranging furniture
- Removing personal photos and collections
Why Stage a Home?
There’s obviously a lot involved here, and you’re going to shell out a decent amount of money. So what’s the payoff?
There are three main benefits. First, it’s going to make your home look more enticing. Whether a potential homebuyer is viewing an online listing or looking at your home during an open house, it’s going to seem more inviting and should stand out from similar properties.
Next, staging a home helps potential buyers envision themselves living there. By removing personal items and giving it a more neutral feel, this helps make a personal connection.
Finally, it helps show off your home’s potential.
Buying a home is a massive investment. In fact, the median home value in Snohomish County, Washington was just over $445,000 in 2018.
So people want to be sure that it’s the right choice and a wise investment. Home staging allows them to better grasp what it would be like to own it and carve out a life there.
Cost vs. Payoff
Let’s crunch the numbers.
You can expect to pay roughly $2,000 or $3,000 to stage your home. But when you consider the fact that the median home value in the Seattle area is nearly half a million, that should seem like a reasonable investment to most people.
Keep in mind there are other home selling fees, but the total home staging cost is fairly minimal in the grand scheme of things. The increased interest your home received from potential buyers should justify the added cost.
Studies have even found that every $100 you invest into staging has a potential return of $400.
The exception would be if you’re on a tight budget or simply feel that your home has enough existing appeal that it doesn’t really need any finishing touches. In that case, it may make more sense to leave it as is.
The Bottom Line
Real estate can be complicated, especially to the uninitiated.
Any advantage you can gain when attempting to sell your home is surely welcome.
From my experience, the home staging cost is usually worth it and should increase your chances of finding a buyer. However, it’s not for everyone, and you should look at all of the angles before making the investment.
Selling your home in the Seattle area? Get a free home valuation today.
