Why Home Staging Is So Important: How to Stage a Property for Sale or Rent

Home staging is a tactic real estate professionals use, but it accomplishes much more than making a listing look attractive. Staging, in essence, is to make the prospect react emotionally to the home. Why home staging works so well is because the buyer can imagine themselves in the listing when it’s staged properly. Different types of sellers stage their properties: property developers, estate agents, and homeowners. Read on to learn more about how to stage a house for sale or how to stage a house for rent below.

What Is Home Staging?

Home staging is preparing the buyer by “setting the stage.” Redecorating, moving furniture, prepping the walls, and how to stage an empty house without furniture are all part of staging.

What Happens During Staging?

The estate agent will go through the home from a buyer’s perspective, trying to gauge how to prepare a house for sale so that the buyer will find it attractive. A stager will know their potential audience, should be looking for ways to maximize space, have a clear budget, and design with the prospective buyer in mind.

Why Is Home Staging Needed?

Home staging is important because it helps the potential buyer to view the property clearly and understand the space available. It's not uncommon for potential buyers to struggle to understand how they can make use of spaces, especially when empty or overcluttered. Staging can help showcase the potential of the space, leaving a lasting impression on the buyer.

Who Is Home Staging Suitable for?

Home Staging is accessible to anyone marketing a property. From agents staging a property or apartment for rent, to a homeowner looking to make the most of their sale. It’s estimated that 46% of home staging is performed by property developers, 27% by estate agents, and 27% by homeowners or landlords themselves.

What Is the Difference Between Staging and Decorating?

Decorating focuses more on individualising the property for a specific person, while how to stage a house for rent or sale involves highlighting the best features of a property to appeal to many different potential buyers.

Benefits of Home Staging

There are many benefits to home staging, whether you are staging from a developer’s, agent’s, or homeowner’s point of view.

What Are the Advantages of Home Staging?

Houses that are staged typically command a higher sale price than unstaged homes, and your prospective buyer gains great insight into how they can use each room as they do their walkthrough. It ensures that the viewer gets the best first impression of the property whether that viewing is online or in person.

What Should You Not Do When Staging a House?

If you’re wondering how to stage a house for sale, don’t leave personal items from previous occupants behind, and don’t let personal artefacts or furniture clutter the home. Remove tired furnishings and ensure that the furniture in the property fits the usable space rather than the available space.

Why Stage Properties for Sale?

If you know how to stage a house for sale and why home staging is important, you’re bound to command higher prices on your listings. Setting the stage for a home allows potential buyers to visualise themselves in the listing, how they could enjoy and use the spaces in their day-to-day lives, and why the listing is useful. It’s not just to make the listing decorative—simple decorations, such as fresh-cut flowers, can accomplish that.

Is It Better to Stage a House or Sell It Empty?

Empty and often sterile-looking properties can be problematic during viewings. Without furniture to use as a point of reference, it's challenging to gauge whether their furniture would fit or work in the space. Open-plan layouts are a popular choice, but when unfurnished, they can leave viewers uncertain about how to divide the space to fit their needs.

Does Staging Affect the Appraisal?

If done properly, home staging can have an impact on the appraisal. By decluttering and staging the home, the appraiser can gain a comprehensive understanding of the property and its potential value.

Do Staged Houses Sell Faster?

According to the 2022 UK Home Staging Report, staged properties sell in about 45 days or less, while non-staged properties last 99 days long or later on the market. Also, 87% of respondents said home staging makes it easier for the buyer to visualise the property as their future home. Home staging furniture can help to speed up the process of marketing your property by supplying rental furniture and accessories while the home is being marketed.

How Do You Stage Small Properties for Sale?

If you're struggling to stage a small house for sale, consider renting a storage unit to help declutter. To make rooms appear more spacious, think like a potential buyer and use accent pieces as necessary. These simple but effective techniques can make all the difference when it comes to staging a house for rent or sale.

Here are some additional tips to further enhance the staging of a compact house for sale:

• Use light colours: Light and neutral colours can make a space feel brighter and larger. Consider painting the walls white or using light-coloured furniture and décor.
• Maximise natural light: Keep windows unobstructed and use sheer curtains to allow as much natural light in as possible. This can make a room feel more open and airier.
• Utilise mirrors: Mirrors can create the illusion of more space and reflect light, making a room feel brighter. Place mirrors strategically to maximize their impact.
• Choose furniture wisely: Opt for furniture that is appropriately sized for the space. Avoid bulky pieces that can make a room feel cramped. Consider multifunctional furniture, such as a storage ottoman or a bed with built-in drawers.
• Keep it clean: A clean and tidy space can make a big difference in how it is perceived. Make sure to declutter and clean thoroughly before showing the house.
• Create the illusion of more storage: Storage can be a concern in smaller spaces. Use creative solutions, such as adding floating shelves or using storage baskets, to make it appear as though there is more storage space than there actually is.
• Add greenery: Plants can add life and colour to a space. They can also make it feel more inviting. Consider adding plants to areas such as the living room or kitchen. Just make sure to choose plants that thrive in low-light conditions if necessary.
• Keep it simple: Avoid overcrowding the space with too much décor or furniture.

Why Stage Properties for Rental?

The goal is the same as a property sale: to elicit a response from the buyer and make a great first impression.

What Makes a Rental Flat Attractive?

You want kitchens and bathrooms to look clean and new. Replace older appliances if needed. Add luxury furniture to rent for a more upmarket look. You can use furniture to demonstrate the space available and highlight its features. A work-from-home office nook can be a selling point, as can be upgraded security features and pet-friendliness.

How Can I Make a Small Flat Look Luxurious?

Small spaces can be tough to visualise especially when empty. Will my bed fit in this space? Can I fit a sofa here? Home staging furniture helps to demonstrate the available space.

Small spaces benefit from being furnished in light-coloured and reflective materials where they don't use up visual space and make the space look cramped. Build to Rent furniture can help. Declutter and don’t over-accessorise.

Rent your furniture

Roomservice by CORT offers many different styles of buy to let furniture rental to help stage your latest buy to let furniture project. Our free in-house interior design team can assist you to create a furniture design that’s right for your property, budget and location.

Contact us today for a free quotation:
020 8397 9344 rentals@roomservicebycort.com