When buyers view a vacant property, it can be hard for them to picture the room's actual size or how to use the space. Here we look at the basics of a service called home staging, which furnishes and dresses a space with furniture and small items to help convey a sense of everyday living.
- Home staging is a technique that furnishes a vacant home with furniture and small items to convey a sense of everyday living.
- It's said to make it easier for buyers to picture living there, and to improve how the listing photos look.
- Even in an occupied home, tidying up and rearranging furniture can achieve some of the same effect.
- Cost varies with the size of the property, the rental period, and the provider, so check the quote in advance.
- Unlike renovation, staging furniture is typically removed and the space restored before handover.
What Is Home Staging?
Home staging is a service that furnishes a vacant property with rented furniture, small items, and lighting to create a space that looks and feels lived-in. It's often considered for properties shown to buyers with no furniture in place — a vacant home or an inherited family house, for example. The technique originally spread through real estate transactions overseas, and it's increasingly being adopted in Japan too, mainly for vacant condominiums and houses.
Why It's Said to Be Effective
An empty space can make it hard to convey the room's actual size or how furniture might be arranged, and it can feel smaller than it really is. Furnishing the space makes it easier for buyers to picture themselves living there, and this tends to improve the impression made during viewings as well as how the listing photos look. That said, it's not a guarantee that the sale will close any faster.
Simple Steps You Can Take Even in an Occupied Home
Even without hiring a full home staging service, if you're still living in the home, tidying up personal belongings, rearranging furniture, and adjusting lighting can achieve some of the same effect. We cover tips for handling viewings while still living in the home in sell-06.html — worth a look as well. Simply tidying areas where everyday life tends to show, such as the kitchen, bathroom, and closets, is said to noticeably change the impression a viewing makes.
Typical Cost and Contract Structure
Cost varies with the size of the property, how long the furniture stays in place, and which company you use. The typical structure is a monthly fee for a set period plus a charge for setting up and removing the furniture, and extending the period if it takes longer to sell can bring additional cost. Before you commit, check the quote carefully, including the period covered and the cancellation terms. If your sale takes longer than expected and you need to extend the staging period, budget for the extra cost that comes with it. Some companies also offer short-term plans intended purely for photography, so you may be able to choose a plan that matches your purpose.
What to Weigh Before Deciding
Weigh whether the property is vacant, its price bracket, and how long you expect the sale to take, to judge whether the effect is likely to be worth the cost. It isn't necessary for every property, so it's best to work with your agent to judge whether it suits the property in question. It's said to be particularly worth considering for higher-priced properties, or ones with an unusual layout that's hard for buyers to picture using.
How It Differs from Renovation
Renovation is construction work that alters the building or its fixtures themselves, whereas home staging is a temporary presentation using furniture and small items, and the space is typically restored to its original condition before handover. We look at whether renovation is worth doing before a sale in sell-15.html — worth a look as well.
FAQ
Is home staging always necessary?
It isn't required. It's a measure most often considered for vacant properties or higher-priced properties, where it's harder to convey a sense of everyday living.
Can I use it in a home I'm still living in?
Even while occupied, it can sometimes be introduced in a simplified form, such as partial tidying or rearranging furniture. That said, the freedom to stage the space is more limited than in a vacant property.
How is it different from renovation?
Renovation is construction work that alters the building itself, while home staging temporarily arranges furniture and small items to shape how the space is presented. The space is typically restored to its original condition before handover.
Summary
Home staging is one way to make it easier to convey a sense of everyday living in a vacant home. It isn't a required measure, but it's worth considering in consultation with your agent, weighing the property's circumstances and the likely cost.