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Decorate or stage?

Is home staging simply the new decorating? What’s the difference? The short answer is, who it’s for.

When you are preparing to sell your home, it’s important to think in terms of marketing. You want to attract potential buyers in a way that draws them in, addresses their wants and needs, and makes it easy for them to decide to buy.

That’s the job of the home stager; and it’s the main difference between decorating and staging a home.

A decorator or interior designer creates a space that appeals to, and reflects, you. Conversely, a professional home stager creates a space that appeals to, and sparks an emotional connection with, your ideal buyer.

It’s a significant difference to keep in mind if you want to prepare your home for a faster sale, because it requires a different skill set.

In terms of investment, decorating your home to suit your personality and lifestyle will likely cost more than staging the home to appeal to potential buyers. That’s because staging is used to address short term goals, such as selling the home quickly, at the highest price possible, and achieving that with the highest return.

Some listings won’t need a big investment for successful staging – it might be simply a matter of removing some items and re-organising others. On the other hand, if your property is currently vacant, proper staging will include furniture and accessory rental, which is likely to cost more.

Find your best option by discussing your situation and goals with various trained professionals in your area and get a feel for how they can help.

Before obtaining quotes, check with your selling agent, as it may be that the property will sell without being ‘staged’, if the market is keen. If you decide to go ahead, first make sure you understand who your potential buyers are, so that your home can be styled to appeal to them, specifically.