Home staging increases value

For property owners, home staging is an exceptionally effective strategy for increasing the value of properties, whether for sale or rental. This technique focuses on neutrally beautifying a property, making it more attractive to potential buyers or tenants. Core principles include accentuating spaces and creating impersonal furnishings. Home staging differs from interior design in that it appeals to a broad audience. While it offers numerous benefits, such as increased value and faster transactions , there are also potential drawbacks, including significant costs. Below is practical advice before you start home staging your properties.

Why home staging is beneficial

What is home staging?

Home staging is a proven method of improving real estate by highlighting a property’s strengths, with the goal of a successful sale or rental. Fundamental principles include:

  • Emphasizing the spatial experience
  • Changing the furnishings so that they have a less personal character
  • Optimizing the incidence of light
  • Creating an inviting and neutral ambiance

This approach allows potential buyers to more easily envision themselves living in the home. Home staging differs substantially from interior design, where the intent is precisely to personalize a space to the owner’s taste, not for a broad audience. With intense competition in the real estate market, home staging is highly valued by industry professionals. The main goal of home staging is to provide a compelling and impressive experience right from the first visit, in order to immediately pique the visitor’s interest.

Advantages of home staging

The implementation of home staging offers several significant advantages:

  • Added Value to the Object: It increases the appeal of a property to both prospective tenants and buyers.
  • Accelerated Transaction: Turnaround times for rentals or sales are significantly reduced.
  • Higher Yield: A well-kept presentation makes it possible to offer your property at a higher rental or sales price.
  • Inviting Atmosphere: Home staging results in an attractive interior that immediately appeals to potential occupants or buyers.
  • Lower Long-Term Costs: This can lead to fewer needed repairs and reduced need for additional furniture in the long run.

Potential disadvantages of home staging

Despite its many advantages, home staging also has some potential drawbacks:

  • Substantial Cost: The investment in home staging can be substantial, ranging between 0.5% and 5% of the value of the home.
  • No Guarantee of Success: Home staging does not offer an absolute guarantee that a property will be rented or sold quickly. Other crucial factors such as location and price remain key.
  • Less Suitable for Specific Tastes: Often home staging involves removing highly personalized decorations and furniture, which does not always suit specific styles and preferences.
  • Time-consuming Process: The home staging process can be considerably time-consuming. This can be counterproductive if the owner is pursuing a quick rental or sale.
  • Missing Regulation: The profession of home stager is currently not legally regulated. There is no official degree, which requires extra vigilance when choosing professionals.

Budgeting for home staging projects

Home staging typically includes minor improvements that increase the value of a property before it enters the rental or purchase market. The budget required is usually under 1% of the property value , although it can vary between 0.5% and 5%. The exact cost depends greatly on the work required to make the property as attractive as possible.

To keep home staging expenses to a minimum, get actively involved yourself. Seek the advice of a professional home stager for an expert diagnosis and implement the recommendations yourself. The cost of a professional diagnosis typically ranges from €200 for a small apartment to €600 for a large home. This diagnosis identifies key areas for improvement and offers recommendations to maximize the home staging effect. In addition, you can find affordable decorative items at flea markets or during promotional events.

Home staging services and training in Belgium

In Belgium, home staging agencies and various services are responding to the growing demand from both individuals and professionals. Home stagers perform a detailed analysis of properties for rent or sale. With their expertise, they detect imperfections ranging from technical aspects such as faulty switches to aesthetic considerations such as the presence of personal items. Home stagers “neutralize” the property to make it as attractive as possible to potential buyers.

In addition, several home staging courses are available to meet the needs and aspirations of aspiring home stagers in Belgium. IFAPME offers a 12-hour introductory program for those seeking a concise introduction to the principles of home staging. For a more in-depth approach, IFAPME also offers 35-hour continuing education courses. These courses cost between €200 and €600. For maximum flexibility, online home staging courses are also available.

Digital tools for virtual home staging

Virtual home staging, also known as 3D home staging, is an innovative technique that allows a space to be digitally staged to enhance its attractiveness. This method uses software to visualize home staging based on photographs or floor plans, highlighting the property’s strengths.

Some popular tools for this are:

  • Kozikaza: Offers free 3D modeling through the Web browser, simplifying virtual decoration with a wide range of options. It allows users to visualize realistic projects and even add virtual animals and characters for a lifelike experience. The free version of Kozikaza includes 3 free 3D plans and 5 free HD credits for generating realistic images of your projects.
  • Cedreo: Popular with architecture professionals, Cedreo offers a free version for creating complete 3D plans. With its extensive libraries of claddings and products, convincing designs can be easily realized. However, the free version is limited to one project.
  • SketchUp: Distinguished by its focus on architecture, SketchUp offers online 3D modeling. Its interface allows you to design, layout and optimize spaces quickly and at no cost. Because of its technical nature, SketchUp targets primarily real estate professionals such as architects.
  • HomeByMe: Offers a wide range of features, but can be slow to use. The aesthetically pleasing interface presents a wide selection of furniture, with the first three projects being free. Further projects require a paid subscription starting at €14.99.
  • Home Styler: Features a convenient smartphone app with augmented reality features, which allows rooms to be renovated based on a live view. Despite a limited catalog of accessories, it offers an interactive and enjoyable design experience.
  • Planner 5D: stands out for its ease of use and stable creation of projects. However, most furniture options are accessible only through a paid subscription.

5 practical tips for DIY home staging

Planning to get started with home staging yourself? Here are 5 helpful tips to optimize your home staging:

  1. Kitchen: Focus on getting rid of unfinished details, such as hiding electrical wiring and replacing faucets. Important steps also include tidying up the space, renewing the backsplash and countertops, and addressing dated flooring. A spotless and tidy kitchen helps potential buyers feel more comfortable. If the kitchen is too colorful or the materials are outdated, a simple lick of paint can do wonders for a clean, contemporary look.
  2. Bathroom: Optimize the space by tidying it up and using visual solutions, such as mirrors, to make the bathroom appear larger. White lighting contributes to a spacious effect. As with the kitchen, a colorful or outdated bathroom can easily be refreshed with paint, always using water-resistant paint. For surfaces in direct contact with water, tiles are ideal. Polished concrete can give a modern and stylish look at a lower cost, but installation requires specialized knowledge and should be done by a professional.
  3. Living room: Depersonalization is a crucial aspect of home staging in the living room. By using new textiles, neutral colors and restored wooden furniture, you can create a fresh and modern look. Universal wall decorations, such as mirrors and inspirational paintings, help create an attractive space that appeals to a wide audience.
  4. Bedroom: In the bedroom, home staging is all about maximizing light and minimizing distractions. A neutral and attractive bedroom is achieved by leaving only essential furniture, removing clutter and avoiding bright colors. Remove personal photos and belongings to enhance curb appeal. If you want to rent to a family, furnishing a master bedroom (preferably the largest) and one or more children’s bedrooms can help potential renters feel more comfortable.
  5. General Tips:
  • Place mirrors in halls and living rooms to create a sense of space in smaller homes.
  • Consider removing partitions between the kitchen, living room and/or dining room to make the space appear larger.
  • Choose light colors to make the property less dark.
  • Keep the number of decorative items limited.
  • Replacing tiles with wood can create a warm atmosphere; affordable parquet or vinyl flooring can make all the difference.

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Source reference:

[1] National Association of Realtors (NAR) Research Report. The Impact of Home Staging on Time on Market and Final Selling/Rental Price. [2] Academic Research (Real Estate Economics). Quantitative Analysis of the Correlation between Professional Presentation and Rental Value Perception. [3] Journal of Property Investment. Examining the Profitability (ROI) of Investment in Staging versus Rents Increase. [4] McKinsey & Company. Consumer Behavior in Real Estate: The Role of Visual Appeal and Emotional Connection in Decision Making. [5] Real Estate Sector Report (Belgium). Market Analysis: Tenants’ Expectations and the Premium Paid for Turnkey, Stylish Homes. [6] Gartner. Digital Marketing Trends: The Essential Role of Professional Photography and Virtual Tours (Staging). [7] Deloitte or PwC (Belgium). Fiscal Aspects: Accounting for Staging Costs for Landlords. [8] Architecture & Real Estate Design Guide. Best Practices for Optimizing Space and Light to Maximize Attractiveness. [9] Tenant and Landlord Associations (e.g., SVK). Advice on the Basic Requirements for an Attractive and Rent Ready Premises. [10] Legal Advice (Belgium). The Need to Clearly Match the Place Description to the Staged Presentation. [11] Municipal or Regional Government Services. Information on Urban Planning Aspects and the Possibility of (minor) Conversions to Improve the Property.

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