How to Stage a House to Sell Fast | Travelers Insurance (2024)

How to Stage a House to Sell Fast | Travelers Insurance (1)

By Travelers

2 minutes

After you’ve cleared the clutterfrom around your home, you’re ready to start staging it for potential buyers. Depending on your timeframe and budget, you can hire a professional stager to coordinate the details, or work directly with a furniture rental company to deliver furniture, housewares and appliances. The goal of staging a home for sale is to make your home appealing, spacious and memorable.

Even if you choose not to bring in anything new as part of the staging process, here are some simple home staging tips that you can do to make your home stand out.

  • Focus on your best features.Whether it’s a great view, a cozy fireplace or an inviting eating area, highlight the focal points of the house. This approach can help you prioritize your staging budget. Maybe you rent a new patio set to show off the possibilities of entertaining outside on your deck. Or it could be as simple as adding lighting to emphasize the dining room or moving an armchair to attract the buyer’s eyes to the fireplace.
  • Addition by subtraction.Before bringing in new furniture and accessories, start by removing extra furnishings. For example, a crowded bookcase may suggest a lack of built-in storage and you don’t want buyers focusing on the titles on the shelves instead of on your walk-in closets. It will also make the house look bigger, which is nearly universally appealing to potential buyers.
  • Lived in, but better.An empty home can be overwhelming to buyers, who can’t imagine what it would look like fully furnished. If you have already moved out of your home, consider renting furniture. Many furniture rental companies also offer appliances and housewares by room, so you can include small touches, including items for the kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms.
  • Something to remember.When making design decisions during remodeling, the conventional wisdom is to choose neutrals that will go with the new buyer’s décor. You can go a bit bolder with furniture and decorations in staging — it’s okay for the home to convey a sense of personality and make buyers want to linger. You want to give buyers a sense of the lifestyle they would enjoy if they bought your house. It helps if you make it memorable.
  • Make it shine.Don’t underestimate the power of a clean house. It’s an important part of staging, too. Wash your windows, clear the cobwebs from the corners and apply a fresh coat of paint to areas that need it. Switch out cabinet pulls and handles for a relatively inexpensive update. When prioritizing your time, pay extra attention to bathrooms and kitchens, where buyers tend to focus.

Travelers wants to help youprotect the things that matter to you. We offer a wide breadth of products so you can be covered at home and on the road.

Above all, remember that staging involves more than a one-size-fits-all solution, like simply bringing in a sleek new sofa or a vase of fresh-cut flowers. Your home has a story, and staging allows you to tell it. And, if you end up falling in love with some of the furniture, many staging companies will let you buy it and bring it with you. Happy staging!

Selling your home is a good time to review your homeowners coverage. Learn more aboutTravelers homeowners insurance.

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FAQs

How do I stage my home for a successful sale? ›

Stage a home to make more money
  1. Make a good first impression. ...
  2. Declutter the living room. ...
  3. Spruce up your kitchen. ...
  4. Create inviting bedrooms. ...
  5. Clean up outside. ...
  6. Deep clean your home. ...
  7. Showcase great lighting.
Aug 1, 2023

What are the most important considerations when staging a home? ›

12 Home-Staging Tips
  • Clean. A clean home shows potential buyers that you've taken good care of the property. ...
  • Declutter. There are two major problems with clutter: ...
  • Depersonalize. ...
  • Focus on Fresh. ...
  • Define Rooms. ...
  • Wallpaper and Paint. ...
  • Flooring. ...
  • Lighting.

How to stage a house for sale while living in it? ›

How to show and stage your house while living in it
  1. Move out mentally and physically: Embrace the mindset that your home is transitioning to someone else's possession. ...
  2. Declutter and deep clean. ...
  3. Neutralize decor. ...
  4. Minimize personal touches. ...
  5. Daily cleaning routine. ...
  6. Utilize storage solutions. ...
  7. Open windows and let in light.
Oct 24, 2023

Does home staging really work? ›

Staging helps buyers visualize themselves in a particular home while also helping properties garner higher prices than non-staged homes, according to the Real Estate Staging Association. And in a recent survey by the National Association of Realtors, more than 25 percent of Realtors said staged homes sell faster.

Do homes sell faster with staging? ›

According to HomeAdvisor, homes that have been staged spend between 33% and 50% less time on the market. That not only means getting the proceeds of a home sale faster but also spending less money on added expenses such as a rental or storage unit while you wait for the sale to happen.

What is the 3 foot 5 foot rule in staging a home? ›

This usually includes decluttering, depersonalizing, and making cosmetic improvements. One important rule of thumb for home staging is the 3-foot 5-foot rule. This rule states that you should spend 3 feet in front of and 5 feet behind your home staged for sale.

What are the 3 factors to consider in staging? ›

Things to consider when planning a stage set
  • Practicality. Staging is all about using space wisely to create a focal point, to express brand messaging and to enhance performances or speeches. ...
  • Budget. ...
  • Customisation. ...
  • Branding. ...
  • Technology.
May 16, 2018

Should you hang pictures when staging a house? ›

“The first thing any home stager will tell you to do is remove personal pictures before you go on the market. Yes, it makes your home cleaner, sharper, less cluttered, and it also does two other important things for you. It allows the buyer to see themselves there, even if they don't look like you.

How do I stage my house myself? ›

A few suggestions: rent a pressure washer to remove dirt and grime from your siding, roof, fascia and gutters. Paint the front door and/or shutters a bright color, but make sure it coordinates well with the rest of the home's colors. Replace old house numbers, lighting, the mailbox and welcome mat.

Is it easier to sell a house staged or empty? ›

Is It Easier to Sell Empty Homes? In short, emptying your home can make it easier to sell rather than leaving it as it is. However, staged houses may attract higher offers and decrease the time the house sits on the market. The reason is that potential buyers need to be able to visualize themselves living there.

Why do staged homes sell faster? ›

Increase Perceived Value

With staging, you minimize the negatives and accentuate the positives of a property to make the best impression. Start by decluttering and depersonalizing to remove any potential distractions.

What is the disadvantage of home staging? ›

For many, home staging results in a higher selling price and a quicker home sale. 6 There are downsides to home staging, such as creating more work prior to listing and ancillary costs like storing your property, but these downsides are often outweighed by the benefits of staging.

Is staging an empty house worth it? ›

It's important to know what amount of effort will give you the best return on your investment. Staging becomes absolutely imperative when selling a home that is empty. Not only does it create a warm atmosphere and help show what each room can be used for, it causes buyers to attach to the home.

Can you keep the furniture from a home staging? ›

Absolutely! Not all home staging companies offer purchasing of the furniture but at Decorus we offer move in ready homes for the potential buyer! We offer full-house interior design packages, room packages or ala cart of all items we stage homes with.

Is it better to sell a house empty or staged? ›

Is It Easier to Sell Empty Homes? In short, emptying your home can make it easier to sell rather than leaving it as it is. However, staged houses may attract higher offers and decrease the time the house sits on the market. The reason is that potential buyers need to be able to visualize themselves living there.

Do I need to fix everything in my house before selling? ›

So if you're wondering “can I sell my house without making repairs”, well, technically, repairs are not required to sell a house in California.

How to get a house ready for staging? ›

The Ultimate Staging Guide Checklist
  1. Plan Ahead. Walk through each room and criticize the home from a buyer's perspective. ...
  2. Clean, Declutter and Depersonalize. ...
  3. Maximize Curb Appeal. ...
  4. Pay Attention to Kitchens and Bathrooms. ...
  5. Appeal to the Senses. ...
  6. Show Off Your Home's Best Features. ...
  7. Prepare for the Open House.

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