Staging 101

Since I offer home staging/redesign services, I thought it might be helpful to readers to better understand what it is all about. According to the Real Estate Staging Assn , the definition of home staging (hom stag’jing) is:
n. 1. The process of preparing your property for sale by
setting the scene throughout the house to create immediate buyer interest in your property.
2. Proven way to increase the chances of your property selling in a timely manner. 3. Presenting a property to prospective buyers to highlight all the benefits - space, traffic flow, curb appeal and overall ambience.

A little-known fact, as part of your advertising/marketing expenses in selling your house, home staging expenses are tax-deductible according to the IRS. "Home Staging is using limited funds, practical creativity and extraordinary expertise to professionally prepare a home to sell so that it becomes infinitely more attractive to potential buyers, sells quickly and for more money while in turn becoming a small investment of the home seller in the near future greater home sale earnings it retrieves. “ -- Audra Slinkey, President of HSR

According to www.homestagingresource.com, here is data on the Return on Home Improvement Investments from the 2007 HomeGain Survey of over 2,000 real estate agents nationwide:

Improvement: Typical Cost / Increase in Sales Price / Average Return

Lighten & Brighten: $233 - 370 / $1,178 – 1,566 / 355%
Clean & De-Clutter: $190 - 318 / $1,505 – 1,937 / 578%
Landscape Front/Back Yards: $378 - 546 / $1,718 – 2,158 / 319%
Fix Plumbing, Electrical: $436 - 621 / $1,205 – 1,590 / 164%
Repair Damaged Flooring: $628 - 878 / $1,633 – 2,061 / 145%
Update Kitchen & Bathrooms: $1,404 – 1,828 / $3,216 – 3,934 / 121%
Replace or Shampoo Carpeting $562 – 808 / $1,532 – 1,950 / 154%
Paint Exterior Walls: $663 - 938 / $1,757 – 2,205 / 147%
Paint Interior Walls: $651 - 920 / $1,741 – 2,179 / 150%