Home staging is dressing your house to impress. We all know how important first impressions are. When selling your home first impressions are the only ones that count. You have to draw your viewers in. A staged home can really make your property photography pop. Your images will stand out from the crowd, draw viewers in and encourage them to book a viewing.
At Green Key, we believe that a well presented and styled home will get more attention and therefore will command a higher offer and sell quicker. The reason being is that you are appealing to the buyer’s emotions. When a buyer falls in love with a home, they have to have it, their emotions lead the sale. They have fallen head over heels and are already imagining what their life will be like living in your home.
Home staging is an art. There are professional home stagers that will come and stage your home ready for sale, they use props and rearrange existing furniture. A home stager will know how to accentuate the most appealing parts of your home and draw the eye to them. They inject a bit of the ‘wow’ factor into your property.
Where can you find a home stager?
Firstly, speak to your estate agent. Your agent should appreciate the benefit of home staging and be able to offer you advice. Many agents offer this service themselves or they will know of a local stager that can help you.
If your estate agent can't help, the Home Staging Network (www.homestagingnetwork.co.uk) has a useful directory where you could find a local home stager.
How much does home staging cost?
Home stagers will offer different levels of service and prices will vary accordingly. As you can imagine, an empty property that has no existing furniture to work with will be a lot more time consuming than a house that is furnished and lived in.
Most usually charge for an initial consultation that costs around £100 - £300. When you instruct them to dress your home the cost varies from £50 - £75 an hour. Some home stagers use their own accessories, whilst others will provide you with a list of accessories to buy, therefore, the rental or purchase cost of this needs to be factored in. The good news is that any props that you do buy can be taken with you to your next home! This will give you that instant, show home feel.
It is unlikely that home staging will total more than £1000 - £2000. But, it can add thousands to your home when it sells for the maximum value, so it is definitely worth the spend. You can apply for quotes through the Home Staging Network website if you want to know more.
Can I stage my home myself?
Yes, there is no need to instruct a professional home stager. There are many websites out there dedicated to offering tips and advice on how to stage your home. Visit your local property developers show home for inspiration and ideas.
The key is to not over personalise. Your aim is to make it easy for buyers to imagine themselves living in your home. If you add too much of your own individual taste it can be off putting and distracting. Keep colours muted and simple, nothing garish.
It is important to start off with a clean and clear canvas for you to build on, accessorize and style. So, before you look at staging, make sure your home is clean and sparkling from top to bottom. Declutter and create space. Tick off any DIY jobs and if a room needs a lick of paint – do it.
If you want to know more about DIY home staging tips, please see our blog 10 quick and easy home staging tips for summer
Are you interested in home staging your property? Want to know more? Give us a ring, we would be happy to chat to you about this further. Call 01522 904 904 or drop me an email on paul@greenkeysalesandlets.co.uk. I look forward to hearing from you.
