7 essential home staging tricks the pros use

Maybe your living room features a worn sofa and mismatched end tables, and the focal point is an eclectic collection of vintage teacups. If you’re trying to sell your home, it might be worth

it to consider staging that room — and others. Staging a space — replacing, adding or removing furniture and decor to make it most appealing to buyers — gives a good return on investment.

Professional stagers often have their own collection of furniture and accessories that they think will draw buyers in and, for a fee, will swap them with your own possessions; they take the

items back after the house is sold. Most stagers are hired by the home’s seller, although real estate agents often make introductions and, in the hottest markets, sometimes pay part or all

of the fee to win a listing. The cost for a stager “varies dramatically based on geography, scope of work and price point,” from $1,000 for “light help and sprucing up soft goods,” to many

thousands of dollars, according to Jason Saft, founder of Staged To Sell Home, a leading home boutique staging firm in New York City. HomeAdvisor gives a typical range of $800 to $3,000 for

the initial cost but monthly furniture rental fees and extra projects will drive that up. But you can also do a lot of home staging on your own, by decluttering, depersonalizing and deep

cleaning. STAGE A HOME TO MAKE MORE MONEY An investment in staging can have a big payoff. The National Association of Realtors Research Group reports that 23 percent of buyers are more

willing to overlook property faults if viewing a staged home. Additionally, 81 percent of buyers’ agents reported that staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize a property as a

future home. Just because you love your teacup collection doesn’t mean others will find it appealing, or that it will help potential buyers envision themselves in your space. Simply put,

presentation and great marketing photos sell homes, says certified stager and designer Laurie Mattson, owner of Laurie Mattson Interiors in Minneapolis. After painting rooms in neutral

colors, updating furniture and replacing carpeting, Mattson helped sell a $2.4 million home after 14 days on the market — and got three full-price offers. Another home that was on the market

for more than 400 days sold in just 28 days after Mattson updated furniture and decor. “Your home becomes a product,” she says. “Buyers are looking at everything with very critical eyes at

each and every step.” Want to be able to stage your home like the pros? Here are some tips and tricks for spaces throughout the house.