When people think about preparing a home for the real estate market, staging is likely a concern. While this is a popular practice in the real estate business, it’s not necessary for all sellers. There are steps that you as the listing agent should consider before having your client pay top dollar to stage their home.

What to Consider Before Staging

Stagers usually charge an upfront fee for analyzing the home and bringing everything in; then, they charge a rental fee for however long their items are in the home. Look at the current trends in the real estate business to see how long homes sit on the market. If it’s slow, your seller might be paying a lot of money for their home to sit unsold.

Look at the home’s condition and what you’re working with regarding décor and furniture. If the seller owns furniture that’s in presentable condition and décor that will showcase the home nicely, there’s no need to pay top dollar for a stager. They can decide what home improvement projects they want to tackle themselves or hire a professional, such as interior painting or freshening up the landscaping.

How Sellers Can DIY Staging

If your seller has some time and is willing to roll up their sleeves, they can forego the costs of a professional and do some easy staging themselves. Begin by having them rent a storage unit to store items like seasonal clothing or extra furniture. They should remove all personalized items, including family photos and religious paraphernalia, and pull out their finest linens, towels, and drapes to put front and center.

Finally, have them do a deep clean of the home. This is something they may want to hire a professional for; cleaning is an unpleasant job, and homeowners tend to get used to the grime in their own home, so a professional cleaner may notice problems your client has grown accustomed to.

Any way you can save your clients money — such as saving them the cost of a stager — is something they will appreciate, and it will grow your own real estate business as you provide a more valuable service. The team at EXIT Realty Upper Midwest provide other top-notch support solutions to help real estate entrepreneurs throughout Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North and South Dakota succeed. Contact them online or at (651) 505-3570 to discuss options for franchise territories and leadership opportunities.