Budget home staging

Budget home staging - everyone's definition of that term will be different. How much money are we talking about?

The rule of thumb is to plan for an amount equivalent to anywhere between 0,5% and 1% of the property's market value. But it's quite possible to reduce that amount if you do most of the work yourself. Also, if the property is vacant and needs to be staged, the biggest expense will probably come from furniture rental. If the house is lived in and the furniture you own can be used for staging, the cost of the home staging project will be lower. As everyone's situation is different and unique, so are the home staging needs and the definition of budget home staging.

Even if you have no budget, you can still clean, declutter, rearrange furniture and accessories as to optimize your living space and reuse some items you alreay have in a different way for a totally new look! Budget home staging means maximizing the impact of the stuff you already own (and, maybe, just adding a few key items to tie it all together).

First, you have to decide which rooms need staging the most. Usually, the buyers focus on the entrance, living room, dining room, kitchen, master bedroom and master bathroom. So, work on these rooms first!

Don't forget to take care of the outside, as the lack of curb appeal can deter some visitors from going in. To read more on the topic, please see our «Staging the outside» page.

Here are some room by room tips on how to stage on a shoestring.

General budget home staging tips

• If possible, repaint! I can't emphasize this enough - it's the best money spent, as it has the biggest impact. Of course, choose neutral colors for the rooms you'll be repainting.

• Open all blinds and curtains! Bring in as much natural light as possible in very room.
• Declutter and clean - only keep the items which are essential - less is more.
• Budget home staging is just that (saving money!), so borrow NICE furniture and accessories from family and friends whenever possible - it will enhance your house.

Living room

If you need to «hide» some old furnishings or enhance them, think of adding a slipcover (even a nice sheet can do), a throw and a few decorative pillows. An inexpensive print or a large mirror above the sofa will become the focal point of the rooom. You can use a bench or a trunk for a coffee table, if needed. Putting some nice art books, magazines or vase of flowers (real or artificial) will add a finishing touch.

Dining room

Make the dining room look bigger by removing extra chairs and any other unnecessary furniture. Take out the extension and keep four chairs only. You can try to put the table on an angle, diagonally, it might give the room an interesting look. Decorate the table with a pretty runner or placemats, dishes and cutlery, a bowl of fruit or some flowers.

Kitchen

The most important thing in a kitchen is to make it look clean and as spacious as possible. Take everything off the counters and then only put back the essentials (less is better). Clean the appliances until they shine. People will open your cupboards, so clean them out and organize them. Take all the pictures/papers/magnets off the fridge.

Master bedroom

The bedroom focal point is, of course, the bed and it usually occupies most of the floor space. Proper placement of the bed is essential. For an unusual effect, try placing the bed diagonally in a corner, if space allows. If the duvet is not up to par, try to flip it over. If that doesn't work, get a new bedcover and a few decorative pillows to match. Place a big horizontal picture, poster or a mirror above the bed. If you have a couple og night tables and a pair of lamps, put them. Try to create a calm and soothing ambiance.

Master bathroom

The bathroom has to be clean! Once again, take everything off the countertops and put back the essential items only. Hide away all cleaning products and medical items. Buy a new bathroom carpet and matching towels and set them out for the visits only. Set a couple of fragrant candles around the bathtub or a pretty potpourri jar on the counter. That should do it!

Home staging on a budget is quite feasable and most (or even all) of it can be done by you. I recommend a great book by Terri C Clark, «301 Simple Things You Can Do To Sell Your Home NOW and For More Money Than You Thought». , which will give you tons of tips and ideas on how to prepare your property for sale.

You might want to call a professional home stager in for an hour just to validate what you've done. This way, you'll save a lot of money but will ensure the best results for your money!

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