Staging your home can make a big difference in the selling process, as it can help potential buyers see your property’s full potential. Generally, Calgary staging companies charge approximately $300 to $600 for the consultation. After that, you can expect to pay between $500 and $600 per month per staged room. While some staging techniques can be expensive, there are ways to stage your home on a small budget. Things like using the furniture you already own, switching out lightbulbs, and merely de-cluttering your home goes a long way in Calgary home staging! If you live in Edmonton or Calgary, the good news is that Realty Unleashed stages your home for free. If you hope to list your home but don’t live in these cities, we have some tips for staging your home on a budget!
De-clutter, de-personalize and clean.
Calgary staging companies will always want to start with de-cluttering your home, de-personalizing each room, and cleaning top-to-bottom. Start by removing any unnecessary items and organizing your space. A clean and clutter-free home can make it easier for potential buyers to envision themselves living in your home. Having your home de-personalized is vital to the staging process because it allows buyers to see the house as impartially as possible. It’s difficult to imagine yourself living somewhere with another person’s family portraits on the walls and hyper-personal decor hanging around. You should work on cleaning whatever is necessary to show well in photographs. Dust the nightstands, wipe down the counters and clean the bathroom. When buyers walk through your home, they will notice the cleanliness, and rest assured that matters in the viewing process. People remember a well-staged, properly cleaned-home.
Use what you already have.
One of the biggest and most costly myths in the staging world is that you need to buy new furniture. You can use furniture and decor you already own, so long that those things look good! If your couch is riddled with stains from the kids spilling juice or dropping their fudgicle on the cushion, that can be a problem when it comes to staging; but it doesn’t mean you need to go out and buy a new sofa! Invest in a slip-cover to put over your couch or older chairs. Try finding slip-covers that are neutral tones, such as beige, brown, grey, navy blue, etc. You want to make sure your home looks as simple as possible.
Switch out your lightbulbs.
Many homes have older lighting fixtures, especially in the kitchen. Fixing your lighting is one great way to amplify your home on a budget. If your kitchen or dining room has fluorescent lights, remove them. Not only are fluorescent lights unflattering, but they’re outdated. No one wants a dark cooking space; brighten it up by switching out the bulbs! Stay away from bulbs that radiate a yellow glow; buyers will quickly notice how the lighting feels in the kitchen. You want to look for bulbs that make your kitchen bright, clear, and clean. Utilizing plants is another way to make your space feel welcoming and homey.
Use plants to elevate a room.
Plants complement any space; they look lovely, help clean the air, and enrich a room. Certain plants can also make a room appear larger than it is. Snake plants are a great addition if you’re attempting to give the allusion of higher ceilings, as they typically draw your eye up with their height. Are you aiming for a more relaxed feel? Get a monstera! They add a cozy, clean sensation to any room. Faux plants work just as well if you don’t have a green thumb. Whether buyers notice the beauty of the plants or not, they will certainly feel the difference.
Keep in mind that Calgary home staging is a marketing strategy, not an interior design strategy.
Home staging is both a selling and marketing strategy. While some Calgary staging companies will make a home look exquisite with top-tier staging furniture, but that isn’t what sells a house. Your home should be staged with a target buyer in mind (i.e. larger families, new parents, empty-nesters, retired folks, a student, etc.). Once you know who will most likely be interested in buying your house, stage it to suit how they would live. Rest assured that Calgary home staging comes down to marketing, not how expensive the armchair is in your living room.
Realty Unleased stages for free!
While professional stagers charge a pricey amount to stage a home, we do it for free. When you list your home with us, we stage it, clean it, take care of eco-station and donation centre runs, shovel your walks or mow your lawn, depending on the season, and much more. We include all of these things in our listing services because we know the value of a well-kept home, and we know these kinds of homes tend to spend less time on the market, selling for more money. If you are looking for a Calgary REALTOR®, we’d love to hear from you! You can fill out the form below, and one of our team members will get back to you shortly.
