Wondering what happens in home staging? With Colorado Springs’ competitive real estate market, proper staging can make the difference between a quick sale at asking price and a property that lingers on the market for weeks. Understanding what happens during the staging process can help you prepare for this important step in your home-selling journey.
In this blog post, Colorado Springs realtor Barb Schlinker and the professionals at Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty - Barb Has the Buyers Team will discuss what happens in home staging.
Key Takeaways:
- Professional home staging typically takes 75 to 85 hours to complete and involves a comprehensive property evaluation.
- Key rooms like the living room, kitchen, and primary bedroom receive priority attention.
- The process includes decluttering, furniture arrangement, and strategic design choices to appeal to potential buyers.
What Happens in Home Staging?
Step 1: Initial Consultation and Assessment
The staging process begins with a thorough evaluation of your property by a professional stager. Colorado Springs real estate expert Barb Schlinker explains,
“The initial consultation is crucial for understanding how to showcase your home’s unique features while appealing to the broadest range of potential buyers.”
During this phase, the stager will walk through your home, taking detailed notes about each room’s current condition, layout, and potential. They’ll assess existing furniture, color schemes, lighting, and the overall flow of the layout.
This evaluation typically takes 2 to 3 hours and results in a comprehensive staging plan tailored to your property.
Step 2: Development of the Staging Plan
After the initial assessment, your stager will create a detailed action plan. This plan typically includes:
- Recommendations for furniture placement and removal
- Color scheme suggestions
- Lighting improvements
- Decluttering strategies
- Storage solutions
- Specific recommendations for each room
The stager will prioritize the living room, kitchen, primary bedroom, and dining room, as these areas have the biggest impact on potential buyers.
Step 3: Preparation and Implementation
Barb Schlinker notes,
“The key to successful staging is thorough preparation.”
To prepare your home for staging, you’ll need to take the following steps:
- Deep cleaning of the entire property
- Removing personal items and excess furniture
- Making minor repairs and touch-ups
- Neutralizing bold color choices
- Organizing closets and storage spaces
- Paying for rental furniture, if needed
- Adding strategic decorative elements
Step 4: Final Staging and Photography
The final stage involves bringing all elements together to create a cohesive, appealing presentation:
- Arranging furniture to maximize space and flow
- Placing decorative accessories strategically
- Ensuring proper lighting in all areas
- Setting up lifestyle vignettes
- Scheduling professional photography
- Making adjustments based on buyer feedback
Your stager will typically perform a final walk-through to ensure everything is perfect before photos are taken and showings begin. They may also provide maintenance instructions to help you keep the home looking its best during the selling period.
What Is the Impact of Staging on Your Sale?
Professional home staging consistently delivers impressive results for sellers in today’s competitive market. Research shows that staged homes typically sell 88% faster than unstaged properties. You can expect to receive higher offers as well, with staged homes often selling for 20% more than their unstaged counterparts.
Beyond these measurable benefits, staged homes:
- Create better first impressions during showings.
- Generate more attractive listing photos that capture the attention of online buyers.
- Attract continued buyer interest throughout the listing period.
Cost Considerations
When planning your home staging investment, costs will vary depending on your property’s specific needs and the level of service you choose. A basic consultation with a professional stager typically ranges from $200 to $400.
If you opt for partial staging of key areas, expect to invest between $800 and $1,500. Full-service staging, which includes furniture rental and comprehensive design services, generally costs between $2,500 and $10,000. The exact cost also depends on how many rooms you decide to get staged.
While these figures might seem substantial, the investment typically pays for itself through higher sale prices and reduced time on market.
Maintaining Your Staged Home
After your home is professionally staged, maintaining its appearance becomes crucial for successful showings. You’ll need to keep all surfaces clean and completely free of clutter. One detail sellers often miss is ensuring neutral, pleasant scents throughout the home.
Your stager should provide a detailed maintenance checklist to help you keep up the professional appearance. It’s important to quickly address any maintenance issues that arise and keep all decorative elements exactly as they were placed by the stager. Having attention to detail helps preserve the carefully crafted image that appeals to potential buyers.
Sell a Colorado Springs House Fast with Barb Schlinker
At Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty - Barb Has the Buyers Team, Barb Schlinker and her entire team have developed proven strategies for selling homes quickly and for top dollar after 27 years in the industry. Her weekly radio show, “Your Real Estate Voice,” demonstrates her deep market knowledge and commitment to educating clients about the selling process.
Barb has helped many clients sell their houses fast and for top dollar and has earned hundreds of five-star reviews over the years. This has earned her the reputation as the best realtor in Colorado Springs.
Plus, Barb’s Colorado Springs real estate agency offers a unique seller guarantee that protects your interests.
To learn more about working with us to sell a house in Colorado Springs or discuss short sales, call 719-301-1802 or fill out the form on this page. Take the first step to sell your house fast today!
To Discuss Your Home Sale or Purchase, Call or Text Today and Start Packing!
The duration of the home staging process depends on the size of the property and the amount of work needed. Typically, a professional staging project requires between 75 to 85 man-hours to complete. This can translate to 1 to 3 days for the actual staging, but the preparation and planning phase might take a week or more.
