Effective Home Staging on a Budget

Home staging is often perceived as an expensive option for homeowners when selling their home. Understanding home staging and how it can increase your financial benefit can help calm nerves and show that the expenditure can most times be fully recouped. One thing is for certain; listing a home without a strategy for selling can mean less money in your pocket after the sale.

It is important to understand that home decorating and home staging is two different things. Home decorating is customizing a space to your particular style and preferences. Home staging creates a neutral style that appeals to a broader audience and allows potential buyers to imagine living in the home. It also enables the home staging professional to showcase and highlight the positive attributes of a home. Empty space always appears smaller than it is. Feed the imagination of the buyer and help establish perspective on what will fit and what won’t.

When home staging, be sure to hire a professional that knows best how to create a neutral environment that will aesthetically appeal to a big audience and showcase your home in its best light. It is important that every potential buyer can imagine themselves (and their personal tastes) living in the home they are viewing. Even on a limited budget, there are ways to get the results you are looking for. Here are a five tips and tricks to help you save right away:

$. Limit the amount of accessories. Remember that you don’t want a specific style within the space; you want a peaceful, neutral setting that allows for anyone to imagine living there. A few well-placed accessories can make a powerful statement.

$$. Stick with substantial pieces. Showing a potential buyer that you can comfortably fit a couch and a love seat with cocktail and accent tables in the living room is enough. You don’t have to demonstrate that Grandma’s favorite rocking chair and the kid’s huge beanbags fit as well. Focus on the basics to create a clean environment that allows the buyer to see the beautiful picture window, crown molding or beautiful fireplace in the room. Be careful not to over stage and hide selling points.

$$$. Don’t worry about matching pieces. You don’t need a whole collection to make a statement. Mix and match. It’s very trendy right now and can save you some money when being selective in how much furniture you place in a space.

$$$$. Limit the length of your rental term. Most rentals do have a minimum leasing. Take advantage of it. You can always renew the term, but in the meantime, save yourself some money by being conservative (and optimistic).

$$$$$. Check with your tax specialist to find out if home staging may be tax deductible. Home decorating is not, but real estate marketing may be. Be sure to consult with your tax professional beforehand to find out what is and is not allowable.

Lastly, statistics have shown staged homes sell faster and for a higher price. Home staging provides a competitive advantage over empty homes that cannot be beat and it can easily be done on a limited budget working. If you are looking for a professional home staging consultant, you can call your local AFR Representative at 888.AFR.RENT to schedule a free consultation. We’re ready to get you on the road to happy selling!

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