Many sellers think staging is just decorating. It's not. The goal is to present a home in a way that appeals to the widest pool of buyers. That means decluttering, neutralizing personal touches, and arranging furniture strategically to highlight the best features of the home.

If you're considering selling, here's everything you need to know about home staging—from what it is to how much it costs and the impact it can have on your sale.

What Is Home Staging?

Home staging is not the same as interior design. While interior design reflects personal style, staging focuses on creating a neutral, inviting environment that appeals to buyers

.A good staging plan:

• Highlights the home's best features (large windows, high ceilings, open layouts)
• Makes spaces feel brighter, bigger, and more inviting
• Helps buyers visualize themselves living in the home
• Minimizes distractions (outdated decor, clutter, bold colors)

Think of it as setting the stage for a buyer's imagination.

What Does the Staging Process Look Like?

1. Consultation – A home staging expert walks through your home with a buyer's perspective, evaluating everything from curb appeal to furniture placement. They provide a detailed report with recommendations.

• 2. Preparation – Sellers tackle repairs, decluttering, and deep cleaning. The next steps often include:
  
  Touching up paint
• Updating light fixtures
• Removing personal photos
• Cleaning carpets and windows
• Reorganizing furniture

3. Staging Day – A stager brings in decor, furniture, and accessories (if needed) to enhance the home's appeal. The goal is to create a warm, inviting atmosphere that resonates with buyers.

Does Staging Actually Increase a Home's Sale Price?

Stats Show Staging Is Worth the Investment

Staging is an investment that helps maximize the rate of return on the sale of the property—and usually costs less than the first price reduction. Professional staging could help your listing get noticed first and snapped up, quicker. According to this article published by the Canadian ReL Estate Association, https://www.crea.ca/cafe/is-home-staging-necessary-when-listing-a-property/ home staging can help to reduce a property's listing time on the market by 30% to 50% and could deliver a price that is 6% to 20% more than a vacant home or a home that's not properly staged.

We have found this to be true with all of the properties we staged and sold in 2024.

How Much Does Home Staging Cost?

The cost depends on the size of the home, how much furniture needs to be rented, and whether the home is vacant or occupied.

Here's a general breakdown:

• Occupied Homes: $2,000 – $4,000 for a standard three-bedroom home (including furniture and decor rental for four weeks)
• Vacant Homes: $4,000+ due to the need for full furniture rental
• Luxury Properties: $5,000+ depending on size and level of staging required

Many sellers hesitate at the cost, but staging is an investment. The return often far exceeds the expense.

Can You Stage a Home on a Budget?

• Yes. If full staging isn't in the budget, focus on cost-effective changes that have the biggest impact:
• Fresh paint – Neutral colors brighten spaces and make rooms look bigger.
• Lighting updates – Modern fixtures and proper bulb choices enhance ambiance.
• Deep cleaning – Buyers notice dirty carpets, smudged windows, and dusty corners.
• Decluttering – Removing excess furniture creates the illusion of space.
• Simple decor upgrades – Fresh linens, neutral rugs, and potted plants add warmth without breaking the bank.

If renting furniture isn't an option, stagers can work with existing pieces, rearrange rooms, and add affordable accessories to achieve a polished look.

What About Virtual Staging?

Virtual staging is an option for vacant homes, but it has drawbacks.

• Photos look great, but in-person visits fall flat. Buyers struggle to visualize furniture placement when walking through an empty space.
• Empty rooms feel cold and uninviting. Without actual furniture, buyers don't connect with the home emotionally.

Digitally adding updated finishes can help buyers see the home's potential, but for fully vacant listings, physical staging is the better choice.

The Bottom Line: Is Home Staging Worth It?

If you want to sell quickly and maximize your sale price, yes.

Staging helps buyers see themselves living in your home, leading to faster offers and higher bids.

Creates a strong first impression

Helps homes sell faster (often within days)

Leads to higher offers (1-10% more in most cases)

Costs are often recouped with a higher sale price

At Broady Windsor Group, we cover the cost of the initial staging consultation for our sellers. That means you'll get expert recommendations—at no cost—on how to prepare your home for the market.

Need home staging services? If you need a trusted provider, our go-to is Sophie Boudreau!