staging costs and whether they will truly pay off. In most markets, professional staging is priced modestly relative to the home’s value — often in the low thousands rather than tens of thousands — and the return can be meaningful. According to industry data, about 75% of sellers who professionally stage their homes see offers 5% to 15% higher than comparable unstaged properties, and staging also helps homes sell faster by making them easier for buyers to imagine living in. (The Zebra) For a home in the Los Angeles area listed around $1.5 million, a typical staging investment might be several thousand dollars, and a modest 5–10% increase in sale price could translate into tens of thousands of dollars more in your pocket. That makes staging less of an expense and more of a strategic investment in how your home is perceived and positioned in a competitive market. NAR (National Association of Realtors) and Coldwell Banker released the following results of a survey: • Staged homes spent 50% less time on the market than homes that weren’t staged. • Staged homes sold for more than 6% above asking price. • A staging investment of 1% to 3% of the asking price generates an ROI of between 8% and 10%. • Homes staged prior to listing sold 79% faster than homes staged after listing. Start with What You Have: Don’t rush off to hire a stager or buy a bunch of new décor or rent new furniture. Start at the beginning, which is creating space. You can create more space by clearing the clutter—unnecessary items and/or furniture; repainting the rooms with a fresh coat of neutral paint; and making a few repairs. Think about what you already have that could use a few tweaks or upgrades. Do as much as possible with what you have be fore yo u invest in new furniture, rent new pieces, and/or hire a stager.
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