How Much Does It Cost to Stage a House?

Highlights

• Staging a house to attract more buyers has a typical price range of $774 to $2,847, with a national average cost of $1,774.
• The final cost can depend on several factors, including the size and layout of the house, the home’s occupation status, and the cost of labor.
• Home staging has several benefits, including better listing photos, higher appeal for buyers, better demonstration of space, less time on the market, and a potentially higher selling price.
• It’s possible for a homeowner to DIY a home-staging project, but hiring a professional can help ensure that the look of the home will appeal to as many buyers as possible.

Real estate staging professionals make sure a house looks its best and ensures its appearance is as attractive as possible to potential home buyers. The cost to stage a house depends on the overall state of the home. If the house is empty, the homeowner will need to rent furniture and other types of home decor to entice potential buyers. If the home still has furniture in it, personal items such as photographs and clothing will need to be removed and the entire house decluttered. The process of home staging involves creating an inviting space that prospective buyers can see themselves living in and making their own. But how much does it cost to stage a house? According to Angi and HomeAdvisor, house-staging costs range from $774 to $2,847, with many homeowners across the country spending $1,774 on average. The overall price of house staging hinges on a few factors, including the size of the house, location, whether the house is vacant or not, and if the space needs repairs or maintenance. Types of home-staging services range from rearranging and decluttering a space to virtual furniture staging.

Many of the best home-staging companies charge a flat fee for their services, but others may charge for labor as a separate price. The range for labor can run from $25 to $150 per hour, with the average rate at $75 per hour. This guide will examine the important factors that influence the cost of house staging, additional costs and considerations that can change the final home-staging cost, the different home-staging services that are available, the benefits of home staging, and some frequently asked questions about the home-staging process.

Factors in Calculating the Cost to Stage a House

How much does it cost to stage a house? While many homeowners spend between $774 and $2,847 to stage a house, the overall cost can vary from the national average of $1,774 based on a few important factors. These can include the home size and layout, home occupation status, local labor rates, and geographic location.

Home Size and Layout

Typically, the larger the home, the more expensive the staging cost. This is because larger homes require more furniture to fill the space. Before staging furniture is rented, the house will need to be cleaned and decluttered, which can take a lot of time and effort. Many homeowners prefer to hire a local cleaning company to take care of this task while they direct their attention to other matters. The layout of a home can also affect the staging cost. Staging a multistory home requires additional staff to move and arrange heavy furniture.

Home Occupation Status

Vacant unstaged homes typically take longer to sell than occupied or staged homes. For homeowners who are paying for two mortgages while waiting for an empty house to sell, spending money on staging is a worthwhile expense. Staging and showing a house before moving out is usually the most cost-effective option for homeowners, but the process of selling a house and buying a new one doesn’t always adhere to a strict schedule. Staging a vacant house can cost approximately $2,000, while staging an occupied one can cost about $800.

Labor

After a consultation, a professional home stager will provide an estimate of which home-staging services will work the best to help the house sell quickly. The estimate typically contains flat fees for each service, but some stagers may charge for labor as a separate rate. If they do, the average range for labor runs from $25 to $150 per hour, with the average rate at $75 per hour.

Geographic Location

Geographic location is another factor that will impact home-staging cost. Homes in areas that have a higher cost of living typically cost more to stage than homes in other areas. Staging will cost more in upscale neighborhoods than it would in more rural locations that have a lower cost of living. The following table lists the average cost to stage a house in several U.S. cities.

Additional Costs and Considerations

When budgeting for home-staging costs, many homeowners will find that there are additional price factors and considerations that affect the overall price. These can include the cost of furniture rental, repairs and maintenance, and storage unit rental.

Furniture Rental

If the house is unfurnished, homeowners will need to rent staging furniture. Furniture rentals cost from $500 to $600 per month, with the average staging bill for furniture rental totaling $2,000 per month. Since staged homes sell faster than empty homes, the staging professional will choose the furniture and home decor that will work the best for the space.

Repairs and Maintenance

Even the best home staging can’t hide some problems. In order to make a house more appealing to potential buyers, repairs may need to be completed before listing it on the market. A staging professional may point out specific issues that they recommend for maintenance before the staging process begins. While some repairs and maintenance projects will cost more than others, it’s always a good idea for a homeowner to make sure the house is in good condition before attempting to sell it. Painting the exterior of a home can cost from $1,800 to $3,100, painting a 12-foot-by-12-foot room ranges from $400 to $700, and renovating an entire home can cost $18,000 or more, while simpler fixes, such as repairing drywall or mowing a lawn, can make the house look more appealing for a significantly lower cost. The table below shows the average cost for these projects.

Storage Unit Rental

The process of cleaning and decluttering will involve removing some items from the house. A storage unit may need to be rented to stow away furniture, decor, and collectibles that may crowd the space. Professional stagers may also suggest storing away personal items, such as photographs, to entice prospective buyers to envision themselves and their items in the space. The price of a storage unit will fluctuate depending on its size and how long it will be needed.

Types of House-Staging Services

A home-staging professional may offer multiple services to make the home more appealing, including adding updated items to the space such as new throw pillows and shower curtains, new bedding, or new furniture. From the initial consultation to a full staging, a home-staging pro can recommend the best way to make the house sell more quickly with various available services. Below are the most common services a house-staging professional offers.

Consultation

The first step to professionally staging a house is the consultation. A professional will come and tour the home and property, then they will make recommendations, create a staging plan, and discuss pricing to keep to a budget. This initial consultation can cost from $150 to $600.

Rearranging and Decluttering

If the house is occupied, a professional stager will suggest ideas for rearranging and decluttering the home. Many pros charge a flat rate of about $800 to provide this service. Moving furniture around and storing away excess items gives the space a cleaner look and allows the stager to get a better look at each room. This can help them determine what additional items are needed in the space.

Vacant Home Staging

Staging a vacant home will cost more than staging an occupied one. While the average rate to stage a vacant home is approximately $2,000, the total can fluctuate due to location, the size of the house, how many rooms will be staged, the type of furniture, and how long the house will remain staged. This type of staging works the best for sellers who have completely moved out of the house. Many times, the house is staged according to the general taste of the target buyer demographic. Even if the homeowner isn’t fond of the staging furniture or decor, the professional stager is working toward the goal of selling the house quickly and for the most money. When prospective buyers can imagine living their lives in the home, it’s possible the house will sell faster.

Occupied Home Staging

If the seller still resides in the home, staging will likely cost less since it will be easier to use the furniture and decor that is already in the home. However, an occupied home is more likely to need decluttering and have personal items removed to make it more appealing to potential buyers. Nevertheless, staging an occupied home costs significantly less than staging a vacant home as there is less need to rent large items like furniture to fill the space. The average cost to stage an occupied home is $800.

Virtual Home Staging

Virtual staging is a process where an online listing has furniture and decor digitally added to photos instead of having the items placed in the physical space. Depending on the amount of labor to create the staged photographs, the best virtual staging companies can cost from $100 to $1,000.

Benefits of Staging a House

House sellers want potential buyers to stand in the kitchen and imagine themselves cooking with their family, or look into the living room and imagine movie nights with the kids or gatherings with friends. Once they make a personal connection, they will be more likely to make an offer on the house. Staging has many advantages that can lead to selling a home, and professional home stagers pay attention to trends and fashionable items that can lead to a quicker sale. Below are some advantages of staging a house.

Improved Listing Photos

A properly staged home can help it stand out in online listings on the best real estate websites. If the layout of the house is highly desirable, but the photos show a cramped and cluttered room, many potential buyers may scroll right by and look for another house. A professional home stager can help the property stand out with eye-catching photographs that draw in buyers before they even see it in person.

Increased Appeal for Buyers

Creating an inviting room layout and choosing specific colors can make the house more appealing to potential buyers. Professional stagers are looking to help potential buyers make a personal connection with the space so they can imagine themselves living there.

Better Demonstration of Space

A completely empty room may make it difficult for people to imagine how to use the space. This is especially true if the room is oddly shaped or has unusual measurements. Since an empty room may also appear smaller than a fully furnished room, professionally staging a room can help buyers envision the potential of the area and how to use it to get the most use out of the space. In addition, home staging for outdoor spaces can help a potential buyer visualize how they can use the exterior of the home for entertaining, gardening, or relaxing.

Less Time on the Market

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), vacant homes typically take twice as long to sell as staged homes. Investing in staging a home, whether it’s a fully staged home or partially staged, will decrease the amount of time the house will spend on the market.

Potentially Higher Sale Price

Since staging a home can make it sell more quickly, it’s possible the homeowner could sell it for a higher price than if it sat on the market for an extended period of time. When potential buyers have a positive impression of the home based on the staging, they can envision themselves living in the space, which will make the house more valuable in their eyes and could even lead to multiple offers from different buyers.

Staging a House: DIY vs. Hiring a Professional 

When a homeowner decides to stage their house to sell, they may consider going the DIY route. The home-staging process needs to start with deep cleaning, decluttering, removing personal items, making needed repairs, and creating a budget. Some homeowners will pay the initial consultation rate for a professional stager to get good ideas on how to stage the space and then tackle the process on their own. Sellers can save money on staging by using their own furniture and upgrading a few items to make the space more inviting. For some, it may be as easy as rearranging the furniture, but others will need to hire contractors to make major repairs or paint the entire home. Many homeowners prefer to hire a professional home stager to take on the project of making the house look its best to potential buyers, since they know all the best home-staging tips to help make a house stand out from others on the market. A professional knows exactly how to stage a home to appeal to as many buyers as possible, which can lead to a quicker sale and potentially a higher selling price. Hiring a professional house stager can help a homeowner reduce stress levels, free up time, and sell their house quickly.

How to Save Money on the Cost to Stage a House

Professionally staging a home has many benefits, including minimal time the house spends on the market. Depending on the size of the house, the type of furniture, geographic location, and the home’s occupation status, the total price of staging a house can quickly add up. If you want to stage your home to sell but have a limited budget, the following cost-effective tips could help you save money.

• Use what you have. Using your own furniture can reduce the amount of money spent on furniture and decor rental.
• Only stage key rooms. You can save money on staging by focusing on key rooms, such as the living room, primary bedroom, dining room, and kitchen.
• Get multiple estimates. Get at least three estimates from reputable house stagers in your area to find prices that work with your budget.
• Use virtual staging. Using virtual staging can help your house grab more attention via online listings and photographs. When prospective buyers can see the potential of a home, they’re more likely to schedule a viewing and make an offer.
• Do some of the work yourself. Deep cleaning, decluttering, making minor repairs, and rearranging furniture on your own can save money on staging costs.
• Utilize the consultation. Before deciding to pay for a full house staging, meet with a professional for a consultation. The consultation includes staging ideas that homeowners can use to stage the house on their own.
• Skip the extra projects. Some professional stagers will recommend updates and renovations, such as painting walls or refacing cabinets. The cost of those projects can quickly add up. If the home is in good condition, you may be able to skip those projects and still sell the house.
• Ask about rental minimums. Some professional stagers require a minimum amount of time for furniture rentals. If your home sells in less time, ask if you can get the rental fees prorated to reflect the exact amount of time the home was on the market.
• Talk to the real estate agent. Ask your real estate agent if they think your home would benefit from professional staging. They may offer money-saving ideas aside from staging.

Questions to Ask About Staging a House

Asking a professional home stager the right questions can help homeowners learn important information about home staging and the home-staging process. Below are some questions that homeowners can ask a professional about what goes into staging a home.

• What training do you have as a home stager?
• Are you insured?
• How long have you been staging houses?
• Will you provide references?
• Do you have a portfolio of past home-staging projects?
• Are you accredited by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)?
• How long were homes that were staged by you on the market?
• How do you stay current with home design trends?
• What is the average price range of homes that you’ve staged in the past year?
• What are your staging rates?
• Do you own your own staging furniture and decor?
• How do you stage bathrooms and kitchens?
• What is your process of staging?
• Do you coordinate the staging colors throughout the home?
• How will you use the architectural features in the home with your staging design?
• How long will it take you to stage my home?
• What home decor style would you recommend for my home?
• What can I do to help prepare for the staging process?
• What is your payment plan?
• How can I leave a review of your work?

FAQs

When deciding on home staging, it’s helpful for sellers to have all the information available regarding the home-staging process. Below are some frequently asked questions about home staging.

Q. What is the average price for home staging?

The average price for home staging ranges from $774 to $2,847, with the national average at $1,774. The overall price can vary based on the size of the home, how many rooms need to be staged, the type of furniture, the home occupation status, how long the house will be staged, and the geographic location.

Q. Does home staging increase the home’s value?

Staged houses usually sell for 20 percent more than an unstaged home, and staged homes spend 33 to 50 percent less time on the market. For many sellers, the price of professional staging is worth it.

Q. Can I stage an empty house, and how much would it cost me to do it?

Staging a vacant property costs approximately $2,000. Many real estate professionals who have attended the best online real estate schools recommend staging a house since a staged property typically sells much faster than an empty house.

Q. Can I stage my home for free?

If the house is in good condition and there is no need for repairs, maintenance, or decor rental, homeowners can stage their own house for minimal cost. By using their own furniture and decor, homeowners can rearrange their rooms and remove clutter to catch the eye of potential buyers.

Q. Is decluttering included in a home staging?

Many professional home stagers will charge a flat fee to declutter and clean a house. This is an important step in the staging process since it allows the pro to get a good look at the space and determine what it needs for staging.

Q. Why is home staging so expensive?

Home staging is expensive since pros will bring in their own furniture and decor to decorate the space. Depending on the size of the house, additional labor may be needed to move furniture to the necessary areas and arrange it. Renting the decor is a monthly charge, so the longer the house is on the market, the more expensive the staging rates will be.

Sources: Angi, HomeAdvisor, UpNest, iBuyer.com, National Association of Realtors