Are you ready to sell your home and and need to present it in it’s best shape before you list it for sale?

Professional home staging is the best way to achieve this! Most of us have wandered into new home developments and enjoyed the ambiance of a perfectly styled model home. Of course, we would all like our homes to give that same impression to potential home buyers. Understanding the options available to you for staging can help you decide what professional staging makes sense for you and your budget.

What is Staging?

First, it’s important to understand what professional staging includes. The best answer is, “it depends”! Staging can be as simple as a consultation to edit your existing furnishing and accessory decor or as involved as removal of existing furniture and replacing it with interior designer selected furnishings. The cost of the two extremes are drastically different and most homeowners who hire professional stagers are somewhere in the middle.

Staging begins with a tour of the room or home and creating a space plan to highlight the best features of your home. Often simple placement of furniture can make a huge impact. The stager will bring in elements to enhance the décor, such as colorful pillows, lamps, wall art or an area carpet. If the home is un-occupied, these are rented to the homeowner for the duration of the listing. Most stagers will not rent decor to owners if the home is occupied.

Cost of Staging

Most stagers charge a flat rate for the initial consultation. This ranges from about $250-500, depending on the size of the home. If the homeowner determines that they also need furnishings, these are rented by the month and can range from $300-500 per room, per month. A typical Chicago staging contract runs about $2500 a month with a 3 month minimum required.

Professionally staging your home is one option home sellers have to ensure their home is seen in its best light. Just as buyers fall in love with model homes, staging your home can bring a modern and updated feel to entice buyers to write the offer. The best way to start is with your agent, to understand your market, competition, and needs.