Staging your home is a big moneymaker. Staged homes sell faster — the longer time on the market, the less you’ll be able to sell your home.

In addition, studies have found that staged homes sell for more than they would if not staged.

Staging is the obvious choice for getting the most out of your home sale, but hiring a home staging company can be a challenge. Here are some tips to help you find a home stager that can earn you an excellent ROI.

Determine Your Staging Scope and Budget

Budget

Staging increases home sale prices by 6% on average — in theory, spending less than 6% of your home’s value on a staging company would mean profits.

Take into account, however, that staged homes sell faster, too. Philadelphia’s real estate market is competitive, so you may be willing to spend a little more if it means less time on the market.

Scope

After you’ve worked out the amount you can afford to spend on a home staging company, figure out the scope of your project. Determine how many rooms you want staged, how long you need your home staged, and if you have enough budgetary room for higher-end items in your house.

Additionally, consider what you can do on your own. DIY-ing some tasks can save you money.

Build a List of Potential Home Stagers From Various Sources

You can find staging companies from various sources, starting with your real estate agent. Go to other real estate agents as well and ask for referrals.

Rating sites are also great resources. Yelp, Houzz, and Google Reviews should each have plenty of reviews for staging companies near you.

Lastly, you can run an Internet search for “staging companies near me”.

Pick Home Stagers Based on Relevant Experience

Narrow your list of prospects based on whether they’ve worked on homes similar to yours.

The reason is simple — since they have experience, they will be of more value to you for the same amount of money.

Most home staging companies briefly detail their experience on their website or display galleries of past projects, which is our next tip.

View Their Previous Work Online (and Ask for Before/After Photos)

Staging is all about visuals, so any good staging company will show off their past work. You can usually find their portfolio on their site — if they don’t have a portfolio online, reach out and ask if they can provide before and after pictures.

See if their photos make the home look inviting. Evaluate the layout of the rooms photographers to see if they match the home.

Interview Your Top Choices

At this point, you’ll probably have a few candidates left to choose from. Phone each one and ask them some questions. Gain information on their experience and time in the industry. Additionally, ask about technical information such as if they’re insured or what accreditations they have.

This doesn’t have to be a formal conversation — keep it casual and friendly.

Many stagers give free quotes, so don’t forget to ask. You can then compare the quotes against other information like their past work and their experience.

From there, the final decision is up to you.

R&R Staging & Design goes above and beyond to create gorgeous home stagings in the Bucks County area that get buyers eager to make you offers. Our services have helped many homeowners sell their homes faster and for more, despite being in the competitive Philadelphia real estate market. You can check out our Gallery to see what your home might look like after you ask us to stage your home.

Ready to create a beautifully-staged home that sells buyers the moment they walk inside? Contact us today to get started on your beautiful home staging — we’ll even give you a free quote!