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By Alex Diaz · How we calculate this
A staging consultation using furniture you already own costs far less than a full-service stage with rented furniture throughout the home, and real estate agents often recommend starting there before deciding whether full staging is worth it for a given listing. Because staging is a one-time cost, your estimate weighs the total price against roughly three months of your budget rather than a single month's income.
These key factors affect home staging costs
Income and expenses
Staging money is spent on top of everything else already tied up in the move: the mortgage or rent on wherever you're going next, moving costs, and any existing debt. It's worth sizing against what's actually left over rather than just the sale price you're hoping the home fetches, since that money isn't in hand yet.
Full staging vs. a consultation
A full-service stage with rented furniture and decor throughout the home costs considerably more than a staging consultation where you rearrange and declutter using what you already own.
Vacant vs. occupied home
Staging an empty home requires bringing in furniture entirely, which costs more than staging an occupied home where existing furniture just needs to be arranged and edited down.
Return on the investment
Staging is generally weighed against how much it might help a home sell faster or for a better price - it's worth discussing with your agent whether it's likely to matter much in your specific market and price range.
How to use your results
- Ask your agent whether staging is likely to matter much in your specific market before committing to full staging.
- Compare a full-service stage against a consultation-only option using your own furniture.
Ways to make home staging more affordable
- Consider a staging consultation instead of a full-service stage if the home is already furnished.
- Get quotes from multiple stagers, since pricing for similar service levels can vary.
- Focus staging budget on the rooms that matter most to buyers, like the living room and primary bedroom.
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