Staging a Home
Ideas, costs, tips and plans - the information you need for a successful Home Staging project
December 2021
Homeowners have many important questions about their Home Staging Project. How much will it cost? How long will it take? What problem areas do I need to watch out for? Can I recover my Home Staging investment when I sell? Can I do some of the work myself? What can I do to make sure that the work is done right?
Costs, materials and best practices for the example Home Staging project will help you answer these questions. Use this information to develop a budget, bid requirements, hiring contracts and a project plan.
Home Staging - Project Overview
Important considerations for this project are summarized below.
| Project description | Decorate home for resale. Update entry components. Replace common area flooring, switchplates and decorative hardware. Install new window treatments. |
| Project size | 1700 square foot home |
| Do-it-yourself assessment | The typical Home Staging project can be completed by a moderately skilled do-it-yourselfer; as with any project, high quality Home Staging requires attention to detail and careful planning. |
| First year Return on Investment - ROI | Results vary widely and can be affected by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and sensible design choices. A high quality Home Staging project in an appropriate neighborhood can return 93% or more of its initial cost. |
| First year Return on Investment - ROI | Returns will be impacted by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and sensible design choices. A high quality Home Staging project can return as much as 67% - 78% of its initial cost |
| Green rating | Home Staging projects can incorporate renewable or sustainable resources and environmentally friendly materials. |
Home Staging - Project Plan and Details
The following list includes major work tasks commonly performed during Home Staging. Use this list to understand the timing and sequence of different steps in the Home Staging project. Click any task name for task details and an up-to-date Homewyse example cost estimate for the task - this essential information will help you control Home Staging project cost and quality.
Do you expect to spend more than $250 on your Home Staging project? If so, it is important create and manage a detailed plan for all project activities.
| Task | Service Provider | Time | Difficulty | - |
| Create Interior Decorating Plan | Interior Designer | 5 to 15 d | - | |
| Specify Materials | Interior Designer | 2 to 15 d | - | |
| Repair Ceiling Cracks | Drywall Contractor | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Repair Plaster Cracks | Drywall Contractor | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Install Exterior Shutters | Finish Carpenter | 1 d | - | |
| Install Cabinet Handles | Finish Carpenter | 1 d | - | |
| Paint Window Trim | Painting Contractor | 1 to 3 d | - | |
| Paint Kitchen | Painting Contractor | 1 to 3 d | - | |
| Paint Entry Door | Painting Contractor | 1 to 3 d | - | |
| Paint Wood Paneling | Painting Contractor | 2 to 4 d | - | |
| Repair Hardwood Floor | Wood Flooring Refinisher | 1 d | - | |
| Refinish Floors | Wood Flooring Refinisher | 2 to 5 d | - | |
| Regrout Shower | Tile Contractor | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Install Kitchen Backsplash | Tile Contractor | 2 d | - | |
| Install Wall Sconce | Electrician | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Replace Receptacle | Electrician | 1 d | - | |
| Replace Switch Plates | Electrician | 1 d | - | |
| Install Bathroom Faucet | Plumber | 1 d | - | |
| Install Toilet Seat | Plumber | 1 d | - | |
| Reglaze Bathtub | Painting Contractor | 1 to 3 d | - |
Home Staging - Proven Ideas and Project Tips
Review these tips, design suggestions, options and lessons learned before finalizing your Home Staging project plan.
- To maximize return on the Home Staging project, limit cost to no more than 1.25% of home's total, post project value
- For best home resale value, follow a consistent design and decorating theme throughout the home
- For best resale value, select components, appliances, finishes and fixtures of comparable quality
- For best resale value, select a taste neutral design for your Home Staging
Hiring Local Professionals
Our FREE hiring guide helps you hire wisely, get quality craftsmanship and understand fair pricing for your specific project.
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