Frequently Asked Questions

What is home staging?

Home staging prepares a private residence for sale in the real estate market. Its objective is to enhance a home’s appeal to a wide range of potential buyers, thus facilitating a quicker sale at a higher price. Staging involves various techniques to improve a property’s attractiveness, making it a welcoming and desirable prospect for potential buyers. Staging aims to make the property stand out in a competitive market by highlighting its best features. It focuses on creating an environment that resonates with buyers, prompting them to envision themselves living in the space and ultimately motivating them to make an offer promptly. Professional stagers carefully select furniture, artwork, and decor to craft an aesthetic that invites buyers to visualize a fulfilling life in the home.

What is the difference between home staging and decorating?

Decorating typically reflects an individual’s taste. Details like color coordination, furniture selection, accents, and lighting impact how a room looks and feels and your overall satisfaction with your home.

Home staging aims to enhance a home’s appeal to a broad spectrum of potential buyers. A neutral approach enables buyers to envision their decor in the space, minimizing distractions caused by someone else’s style.

Does home staging work?

Most definitely, staging works.

Several studies show that home staging helps homes sell faster and for more money than non-staged homes. Once staged, homes spend an average of 73% less time on the market, and buyers are willing to pay 1% to 5% more of the dollar value on a staged home than a non-staged home. Home staging is one of the best marketing strategies in today’s competitive housing market.

How do I know if I need home staging?

Every home can benefit from home staging to increase its appeal to buyers. Even the most beautifully decorated and organized homes can benefit from it because what makes a home appealing while it’s on the market is different from what makes it appealing while someone is living in it. Empty homes benefit from it, too, because staging helps buyers visualize how to set up their furniture in it and understand the size of each room better.

Can’t I do some decluttering?

Decluttering your home is one of the most essential steps in preparing it for sale, but it is only one step. Many other components make home staging effective as a marketing tool, such as repairs, color, décor, and small details that create a sense of home and capture a buyer’s imagination.

Do I need to put my stuff in storage to stage my home?

Usually, home staging incorporates a homeowner’s existing furniture and décor. However, if any items need to be removed, we recommend storing them in a storage unit or at a friend or family member’s home until you’re ready to move.  You can also place a POD on your property, allowing you to retain access to your belongings while they are stored outside the home.

Do I need to hire a professional?

Home staging can be an utterly do-it-yourself process with the help of online information. However, professional home stagers often see things that others don’t and can give you a personalized evaluation of your home to give it the best chance at standing out from the competition. Home Staging by Julie has a warehouse full of décor, artwork, and furniture to use in homes while they’re on the market to increase their appeal to buyers.

How much does it cost?

The cost of staging a home depends on a few factors, including where you live, the size of the house, how long it needs to be staged, and the extent of the staging.

HomeAdvisor says many homeowners pay between $631 and $2,304 to have their homes professionally staged. However, full furniture rentals for extended periods can cost $6,000 or more. The national average home staging cost is $1,426.

Working with your real estate agent to determine how much staging you’ll need is a good idea. For instance, they may suggest decluttering and swapping out some key furniture pieces. In other cases, it may be necessary to repaint, knock out a wall, change out the lighting fixtures, and more. Sometimes, the agent will split the cost of staging with you but expect to foot the entire bill on your own.

How will home staging affect my selling price?

Most staged homes sell for the listing price or close to it—sometimes even above it. A staged home has a higher perceived value so you can list it for its worth. A non-staged home will look like it needs more work, often leading to deductions for repairs, so buyers have room to make improvements.

When a seller is ready to put their home on the market, home staging highlights its best features and makes it more appealing to potential buyers. A professional stager will choose curated furniture, art, and decorations to create an aesthetic that will help buyers imagine living there.

Does Home Staging Work?

Most definitely, staging works.

Although home staging does require an investment upfront, the payoff is worth it. Compared to unstaged homes, around 23 percent of real estate agents noted that well-staged homes got offers between 1 and 5 percent higher than their list price, according to a survey from the National Association of Realtors. Staged homes also sell faster; on average, they spend 30 to 50 percent less time on the market.

Why Should I Hire a Professional?

Staging by a professional with an excellent track record in the business can result in a higher selling price for your home. For many, having a professional bring in their expertise and furnishings leads to a more successful home-selling experience. It often makes the cost of staging pay off with a higher selling price.

How Do I Find a Professional Home Stager?

Do your research before agreeing to hire a particular home stager. Professional stagers should have a portfolio of work you can look through. Check reviews and testimonials online; a quick interview with the stager can help you decide.