When it comes to selling a house, staged homes sell for 1%-5% more. However, the cost of professional home staging in Pennsylvania can quickly add up, leaving many homeowners wondering who should foot the bill. In this round-up, we will explore who pays for staging a house and five ways to save money in the process.
From doing it yourself to hiring a professional, we’ll go over all your home staging questions. We’ll also explore the perks of selling your home as-is without the hassle of staging. Let’s jump in and see if staging your Pennsylvania home will save you money.
1. Seller vs. Real Estate Professional
In most cases, it is the seller’s responsibility to cover the costs of home staging. As the homeowner, you stand to benefit the most from a well-staged house. Since staging can significantly impact the selling price and time on the market, it’s typically your burden.
However, it is worth discussing with your real estate professional if they are willing to contribute or share the expenses. When hiring a real estate professional to sell your house, you have the opportunity to negotiate their involvement in the staging process.
Some realtors may have connections to professional home stagers or even offer staging services themselves. By discussing these possibilities upfront, you may be able to reduce the overall staging costs. You may also find a realtor who says staging isn’t worth the costs.
Staging is expensive, and some homes won’t benefit at all. If your home is a tear-down or needs a complete renovation, an as-is cash-buying company may suggest selling it in its current state. This saves you a ton of time and money wasted on staging.
2. Sell As-Is to a Cash Buyer in Pennsylvania
A cash-buying company looks to invest in distressed homes or homes that need to sell quickly. Let’s say you inherited a home, are getting divorced, or there is a death in the family. While you want to sell for top dollar, you also want to sell quickly.
A cash buyer will take your home as-is. This means there is no need for expensive staging or doing any work. While many properties benefit from staging, this isn’t the case for every home.
Think about the time you have available, your budget, and if you want to invest in staging. Consider who will buy your home and if it will be torn down or demolished anyway. If the answer is yes, a cash buyer is likely your best bet.
With a cash buyer, your home is sold quickly and there is no need to do expensive work. You’ll have a fast closing date and one less thing to worry about. A professional real estate expert will help you decide if your home is worth staging and fixing up to sell or if a cash buyer makes the most financial sense.
3. Do-It-Yourself Staging
If you are on a tight budget, you can consider taking the DIY route for staging your house. While it may require some extra effort and creativity on your part, doing it yourself can save you a significant amount of money. Look for inspiration online, rearrange furniture, declutter, and depersonalize your spaces to make them more appealing to potential buyers.
Decluttering helps to depersonalize your space. Potential buyers want to picture themselves moving there.
They don’t want to see your laundry and mail piled up around the house. It’s hard to focus with a lot of clutter and mess around.
Taking the time to stage and clean is a challenge when you have a full schedule with kids, work, and everything else you have going on. This is why staging yourself isn’t for the faint of heart.
You need to purge, donate, or toss a lot more than you think before you move. This is especially difficult after a death or if you’re experiencing health problems. This is where a cash buyer may help take this burden off your shoulders.
4. Virtual Staging
Virtual staging is a cost-effective alternative to traditional staging. Instead of physically moving furniture around, virtual staging involves digitally adding furniture and decor to listing photos. This option is especially useful for vacant properties, as it allows buyers to visualize the potential of the space without the added expense of renting furniture.
This is great for a home that has already been purged. While it’s a more expensive service, it will help give the home life and personality. Buyers will be able to picture what décor and furniture will look like.
It’s important to remember that not all homes are in a condition to do this. Speak to your real estate investor before dropping money into virtual staging. A cash, as-is offer could work better for your particular home.
5. Use Partial Staging
Another way to save money on staging is to focus only on the key areas of your house. By selectively staging the most critical rooms, such as the living room, kitchen, and primary bedroom, you can create a first impression without breaking the bank.
Prioritize the areas that are likely to make the biggest difference in attracting buyers. You’ll save money by not staging rooms that are easy for buyers to imagine, such as a laundry room, a spare bedroom, or a flex space.
Remember that even a partial staging might not move the needle on all houses. If you feel that your home needs too much work, it might be better to list it as-is and save all the hassle.
Learn More About Who Pays for Staging a House Today
Still wondering who pays for staging a house? Staging is always worth discussing with your Pennsylvania real estate professional. By negotiating with your realtor, and considering DIY staging or virtual staging, you can reduce home staging costs.
If staging isn’t in your budget or if you’re looking to sell quickly, First Choice Homebuyers have you covered. We have years of experience in Pennsylvania in the Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, and York areas. Fill out the contact form here to get in touch and to see if your home qualifies for a quick close and an as-is cash offer.
