If you’ve ever thought about selling your home or you’re currently somewhere in the process, odds are you’ve heard something about staging your home for showings. The internet is flooded with information on the dos and don’ts of home staging and why you need to have that throw pillow placed perfectly on your couch.

While some people jump at the chance to decorate and stage a home, some of us wonder about how effective this process actually is. Is it worth it to invest more time and money into the home you’re trying to sell? The short answer is yes. There are 3 big reasons staging your home is worth it — and can even help increase your home’s sale value.

The Benefits of Home Staging 

There are some first steps to take when putting your home on the market, including performing deep cleaning and decluttering, doing minor cosmetic upgrades, and repairing any obvious blemishes. Once these tasks are completed, it’s time to think about investing in strategic staging to really wow the potential buyers who view your home. 

Staging Helps Your Home Stand Out 

Just as it is with any market, when there are bound to be many homes for sale in direct competition with yours, you have to find ways to set yours apart from everyone else’s. So, let’s say your neighbor is selling a house similar to the one you are selling. While you took the time to stage your home and give the buyers the feel of living there, your neighbor didn’t. Instead, potential buyers walked into a cluttered and fully lived-in home. Or maybe the homeowners already moved out, and potential buyers had to tour a completely empty house. Either way, these are not the kind of impressions you want to leave. 

Staging Helps Customers Visualize Themselves Living in Your Home

Not everyone has the imagination to picture their furnishings in the home they’re viewing. Staging allows customers to see how they could utilize the space for their own needs. In fact, 81% of buyers say home staging makes it easier to visualize the property as their future home. When you take the time to stage your home, you’re taking the initiative to tap into potential buyers’ emotions and make them feel like your home could become their home.

Staging It Now, Sells It Faster

Another big reason you should consider putting in the time and money to stage your home is that staged homes sell faster in the housing market. A survey by Coldwell Banker found that staged homes are on the market for half the time of non-staged homes. 

Typically, the longer a home stays on the market, the further the price drops. So, not only will staging likely make the process less drawn out for you as the seller, but you’ll also get more bang for your buck as your home potentially sells faster.

Staging Increases Perceived Value

When you market something, it’s important to show what you’re selling in the best possible light — selling your home is no different. You want to highlight its best features while drawing attention away from the potential eyesores. Does this help to increase the perceived value of your home? Yes! A study from the National Association of REALTORS found that buyers are willing to spend 1% to 5% more of the dollar value on a staged home than a non-staged home. Staging is not thought to negatively affect the sale price, so you have nothing to lose by making this investment but so much to gain. 

Set the Stage Well for Your Home Sale

So, is staging your home worth all the time and money? Well, at Golden Rule Real Estate and Property Management, we believe that if you want to sell your home quickly, potentially increase the value, and stand out in the Gainesville, Florida housing market competition, the answer is an absolute yes! While it might seem a little tedious and time-consuming now, the payoff and outcome will be well worth it looking back from the finish line of your home sale. Contact us today for more information on how staging — and our experienced team of realtors, managers, and agents — can help your home sell faster!