The Five Golden Rules of Home Staging on a Budget

Posted on Jan 9 2015 - 9:30am by Nick Caruso
#130

Editor's Note: This post was originally published on January 9, 2015. Housecall continues to share this piece due to ongoing requests and reader interest.

When you show your home’s best features by staging it effectively, you help increase your final selling price without breaking the bank. In fact, on average, sellers receive $2 in increased sale price for every $1 they put into staging a home. As the infographic below shows, the following five golden rules of home staging will help you show off its best assets:

infographic modells

This post was contributed by Moshells.com.

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130 Comments so far. Feel free to join this conversation.

  1. Mary Frances January 12, 2015 at 12:26 pm -

    Great info on staging. Is there a way to print without ads on right side?

    • Nick Caruso January 12, 2015 at 1:10 pm -

      Hi Mary –
      If you email me at nick@rismedia.com, I can send you the file. Otherwise, you can try right-clicking and then “Save Image As” and that should do it for you as well!

      • Karen Sferra January 20, 2015 at 11:23 am -

        I wasn’t able to work with the right-click version. Could you please forward me the file as well?

        Thanks!

        Karen

      • Norma J. Torres January 29, 2015 at 4:18 pm -

        Hi Nick,

        Very useful information on staging. Please email the file so I can provide it to my sellers. Thanks a lot.

      • Ed Knight February 3, 2015 at 2:51 pm -

        Hi Nick,
        I tried the right click save image as, only saves the whole thing as one non scroll file. Could you please send to me also. Thanks,

      • Betty J Greene September 5, 2019 at 3:15 pm -

        Hi Nick,
        This is very good information! Tried to print it as you suggested but could not get it in the right format. Would you send to my email? Thank You!

      • Lisa Mollman September 5, 2019 at 9:20 pm -

        I was very impressed by your article “Home Staging on a Budget” and would love to share it with my office. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to save a copy in a printable format. Could you please email me a copy that is printable? Thank you!

      • Dave Couturier November 13, 2019 at 7:20 pm -

        Very good article, Right click did not work, would appreciate your sending as a file. Thank you

  2. Roberta January 13, 2015 at 11:34 am -

    Very well done!

  3. Mary Jo Eskritt January 20, 2015 at 8:29 am -

    This is great information. I appreciate it.

    Mary Jo Eskritt
    The Eskritt Real Estate Group
    http://www.theeskrittgroup.com
    Bringing Buyers and Sellers together

  4. Melonie January 20, 2015 at 9:04 am -

    Great article! Would love to give this to clients. Would save me much time.

  5. Marion Kelliher January 20, 2015 at 11:37 am -

    Excellent Information on staging. Great article for sellers.

  6. Bob Lyons, CRS January 20, 2015 at 1:18 pm -

    I really appreciate you taking the time to help all of your viewers; great jon, Bob

    • Nick Caruso January 20, 2015 at 4:25 pm -

      No problem! Glad it seems to be useful to many of our readers!

      • Vicki Kovar July 13, 2016 at 11:49 am -

        I need it emailed to me too. It is a GREAT article/graphic!! vicki.kovar@cbshome.com

        Thank you!!

      • Janet Marron March 6, 2019 at 12:36 pm -

        Very good article, Right click did not work, would appreciate your sending as a file. Thank you

  7. Vida Ash January 20, 2015 at 1:48 pm -

    Love the article. Thank you
    Vida

  8. Donna McKenna-Edlund January 20, 2015 at 4:45 pm -

    Great and easy to understand article. Can I post on a FB page? Thank you.

  9. Monika Edwards Harrison January 20, 2015 at 5:12 pm -

    Hi Nick–this is just excellent! Condensed and so well articulated!
    I, too, would love to have the file as I can’t right click and save it without ads either.

  10. Margarita Verduzco January 20, 2015 at 5:50 pm -

    Hi Nick,
    Great information! Great help with clients that are not very open to listening to their agent. I would appreciate a copy of file also.
    Thank you for your time.

  11. Rock Wolfgang January 20, 2015 at 6:05 pm -

    Great article.
    Thank you Nick

  12. Inne Chung January 20, 2015 at 6:40 pm -

    Great article about Home Staging, I printed with ads right side. I’d like to have just article if possible, so I can share with my clients.
    Thank you.
    Inne

  13. Bev Roberts January 21, 2015 at 8:46 am -

    Great article. I could right click and save, but then it would not print. Could you please send the file to me?

  14. Carol Tunis January 21, 2015 at 8:47 am -

    Awesome article, Nick! I would be much obliged if you could send it my way as well! Thanks very much…

  15. Carol Tunis January 21, 2015 at 8:49 am -

    I was able to save it by right clicking!!! Thanks again!

  16. Barb Dahlquist January 21, 2015 at 2:54 pm -

    Well written article. Not too wordy. Would you send me the file as well? Thanks

  17. Lillie Missbrenner January 24, 2015 at 1:22 pm -

    Great Article that can be shared with our sellers!

  18. Mark January 28, 2015 at 6:22 pm -

    also, leave pets at a sitter if you can

    curb appeal, first impressions are extremely importants, lawns should be mowed and edged at a minimum, paint the front door if its needed

    leave lights and heat on when you know the house could be shown

    smells and odors, brew a pot of coffee in the morning, heat up or bake something in the morning

  19. Shelby Pitts January 31, 2015 at 12:34 pm -

    Please send me the article, too. This is very useful because it isn’t me criticizing their home but an expert giving advice. thanks.

  20. Sidney McCray February 1, 2015 at 12:10 pm -

    The 5 golden rules of home staging is a well written article. Not too wordy. Would you send me the file as well? Thanks

  21. Rene Smerling February 2, 2015 at 8:46 pm -

    Very useful article for sellers. Please send me the file as well. Thanks !

  22. Debbie Coleman February 11, 2015 at 12:36 pm -

    Fantastic article – would you send me the file as well? You did a great job. Thanks!!

  23. Melinda Forster February 15, 2015 at 1:05 am -

    Nick would you please send me the file as soon as possible. I actually have a meeting on Wed with a potential lister who wants to speak about staging.. this is just enough info without giving the game away (right click did not work). Thanks for this easy comprehensive info much appreciated

  24. Cindy Ray February 17, 2015 at 10:28 am -

    Hi Nick, Great article would you send me the file as well!

  25. K Stevens February 21, 2015 at 12:18 am -

    Awesome! Double “ditto” to the comments of others. So easily understood and do-able! What a way to communicate with sellers…thanks for writing this.
    May I have the file.
    Much gratitude for such a great read to help us as we help others.

  26. Mary Ingraham February 22, 2015 at 12:16 am -

    Article is so well done! I would like to have it for my clients. Would you please send the file to me? Thank you!

    Mary

  27. Donna Hobscheid April 20, 2015 at 7:24 pm -

    Great visual for sellers. Please copy file to me. Thank you!

    Donna Hobscheid

  28. Susan June 29, 2015 at 1:54 pm -

    What a beautiful infographic – well done! You should consider selling prints or posters of it!

  29. Joshua Lea July 15, 2015 at 3:50 pm -

    This is a great info graph. I’ve shared it to all my clients on Facebook. Thanks.

    Joshua Lea

  30. Carol Barkstrom October 17, 2016 at 11:09 am -

    One more request for file – carolbarkstrom@earthlink.net Great Stuff

  31. Brett Cairns; RE/MAX Ocean Pacific Realty October 30, 2016 at 12:49 pm -

    Staging a home to emphasize the main features of the home such as these http://www.brettcairns.com/buy-a-home/custom-home-features/ often pays off when selling. Buyers are looking for certain things in a home and when they are there and present well a number of their needs are met. Neutral, updated and move in ready are what most buyers seem to be looking for.

  32. Kay Bova December 3, 2016 at 5:23 pm -

    This is GREAT information. Please send me the file as well.

    Thanking you in advance,
    Kay Bova
    ReMax Proeprties West

  33. Dewitte January 4, 2017 at 5:27 am -

    These are really great tips I’d like to share with a friend who is considering selling her home. Please send the file. Thanks!

  34. ELINOR February 7, 2017 at 2:19 pm -

    Great information…
    Would you kindly email me the printable version of your file?
    Many thanks.

  35. REALMOM February 8, 2017 at 6:23 pm -

    Thank you for your continuous great articles, I share them on social media and it keeps it interesting and fun for my clients.

  36. Fox February 14, 2017 at 8:47 pm -

    . So easily understood and do-able! What a way to communicate with sellers…thanks for writing this.

  37. Allison Ready February 25, 2017 at 9:46 am -

    Would you kindly email me the printable version of your file? I would love to share it with my clients.
    Many thanks.

  38. Dianne Rechel March 23, 2017 at 11:47 pm -

    Would you please email me the printable file? Thanks!

  39. RPM Indianapolis Metro April 4, 2017 at 5:32 am -

    Awesome read.I wouldn’t mind sharing it.

  40. Donna McCampbell April 10, 2017 at 12:04 pm -

    Hi Nick, I stumbled across your article.
    Would you mind sending me the printable file as well.
    Thank you so much

  41. Kemi April 27, 2017 at 8:28 pm -

    hi great infographic! could you please send me a printable file as well? thank you!

  42. p May 31, 2017 at 11:16 pm -

    Your help and insight is greatly appreciated.

  43. OK Cash Home Buyers May 31, 2017 at 11:16 pm -

    Wow so much creativeness, thank you for sharing

  44. Owner Finance OKC June 4, 2017 at 8:12 pm -

    This is a must read. Very well presented. Thank you for sharing

  45. Theresa Nicoletto July 5, 2017 at 3:59 pm -

    Really impressive article about home staging, it gives us great ideas, this something to learn, very informative and helpful. Great post!

  46. Bat Dong San August 19, 2017 at 3:10 pm -

    Buyers are looking for certain things in a home and when they are there and present well a number of their needs are met. Neutral, updated and move in ready are what most buyers seem to be looking for.

  47. Diane Kennedy October 16, 2017 at 12:28 pm -

    Great article, very informative with a lot of attention to detail. I, too, would appreciate it if you would send me the printable file.
    Thanks

  48. Carolyn Taff November 21, 2017 at 10:16 pm -

    Great article on Staging. Would love to receive a printable copy as well. Thank you for sharing and Happy Thanksgiving.

  49. W Properties OK December 24, 2017 at 12:36 am -

    Good solid tips to follow. a little clean up and paint can sell a house. Especially in areas like kitchen and bathrooms

  50. Julie Eggen April 26, 2018 at 11:24 am -

    Great article. Can you forward a printable version.
    Thank you .
    Julie Eggen
    Century 21 Award

  51. Pamela M Braun April 26, 2018 at 5:15 pm -

    One thing to add concerning the curb appeal and the front porch. Someone mentioned that should be clean as their clients are looking around as they open the door. The door lock! If you can’t get into the house due to a lock in which the sellers know all the tricks to opening, but the agent does not, it makes a bad first impression. Buyers wonder…if the door lock doesn’t work what else have they left go? Please oil the lock or replace.

  52. Paul Harkey April 30, 2018 at 12:51 pm -

    Great job! Could you please email me the link. Thanks, Paul

  53. Anna May 28, 2018 at 5:16 am -

    Very informative and helpful blog and what a beautiful infographics. Thanks for sharing

  54. Central Valley House Buyer January 11, 2019 at 1:17 pm -

    Definitely agree, we should be able to present the property to potential buyers in the best possible way. Staging makes it to a whole new level. Another option so that you don’t need to stage when selling is to sell it to cash buyers like Central Valley House Buyer. This is a great post, thank you for sharing!

  55. kerry January 14, 2019 at 11:43 pm -

    When it comes to smell, nothing beats the aroma of freshly baked cookies. I recommend getting slice-n-bake cookies in the refrigerator aisle of the supermarket. Just pop a single cookie in the oven about 30 mins before buyers are coming. The smell is seductive.

  56. Lucia Molinelli March 12, 2019 at 11:32 pm -

    Great article on staging. 5 years later and still “fits the bill”. Would appreciate a copy of the article also – could not get it to print by right-clicking. Thank you for sharing

  57. Janice Bergeron May 25, 2019 at 2:13 pm -

    Any suggestions for selling a great home where you can hear the street noise?

  58. Debbie King June 26, 2019 at 5:05 pm -

    Great information. Please email the article for sharing. Thank you.

  59. Christian Gladwell June 28, 2019 at 6:28 pm -

    I have always enjoyed being creative with the colors and shapes.
    I am very glad this article makes it a point to show how it all relates together to create a pleasing visual flow.
    Often times clients don’t see what us home stagers see

    ——
    Home Stager
    AllenHomeStaging.com

  60. Bobbi L Ryals July 15, 2019 at 3:05 pm -

    I’d love to receive a printable version. Thank you.

  61. Janice Kaya July 15, 2019 at 4:45 pm -

    Good info and glad to hear you recommend actually cleaning rather than replacing! BTW, if you would like me to edit your posts; I’d be happy to help. Number 4 should say: all homeS (not all home).
    Thanks
    Janice

  62. Malissa Martin July 15, 2019 at 5:52 pm -

    Please email me the printable file. Thank you! Great article.

  63. Cindy Clark July 15, 2019 at 6:50 pm -

    Please email to me also 🙂

  64. Joann Edwards July 16, 2019 at 7:00 am -

    This is one of the most informative articles I have read on staging. Can you please send me the link for sharing. Thank you.

  65. Cara Reedy July 16, 2019 at 12:52 pm -

    Thanks for reposting this article. Unfortunately I am not able to print it even after saving it.

    If you could send me the link so I can print it out, I would greatly appreciate it!

    Thanks!

  66. Patti Codiga July 16, 2019 at 7:22 pm -

    Please email me the article on Staging on a Budget too.

    Thank you,
    Patti Codiga

  67. Patti Janette July 20, 2019 at 2:39 pm -

    Great article. It was perfect. Thank you. I would love a copy of my sellers

  68. Patti Janette July 20, 2019 at 2:39 pm -

    Great article it was perfect. Could you send me a copy too PLEASE??

  69. Bret Menze July 20, 2019 at 4:11 pm -

    Wonderful article. Would it be possible to receive a copy of it by email? Unfortunately it’s not printable and doesn’t save in a usable format. Thank you!

  70. Patti Janette July 20, 2019 at 8:58 pm -

    Could you please email me a copy of Home Staging on a Budget Please

  71. Donna m Tiffany July 29, 2019 at 1:07 pm -

    Please email me a printable copy…thanks

  72. Mary Ellen September 5, 2019 at 12:01 am -

    This is one of the best articles on home staging that I’ ve seen.
    I would love to be able to share it with my clients and also the other agents in my office. Could you please email me a printable copy? Thanks!!

  73. Michele Hill November 7, 2019 at 6:13 am -

    Very useful article. Always good for sellers to see/read it from another source other than the realtor. Could you please forward without the ads and other distractions on the right hand side. Thank you.

  74. pamela richmond November 14, 2019 at 7:36 pm -

    Thanks for the article. Right-click worked for me. 🙂

  75. Deck builder April 6, 2020 at 7:50 pm -

    Thanks for the article, these were very valuable tips!

  76. Blake Riley April 10, 2020 at 5:02 am -

    Golden rule 3 ‘Santize’ is the most useful of all in my opinion. Thanks for sharing Nick.

  77. Rick April 15, 2020 at 11:46 am -

    Nice article! I have a house that is empty that needs furniture to stage. Is it worth it to spend $3000 to buy furniture or to pay staging company $700 mo to staging company and not get to keep furniture.

  78. OKC HOUSES April 30, 2020 at 12:49 am -

    I like to stage houses, because it seems to make it so much easier to sell! I think it’s worth it!!

  79. Rob Jacobs June 7, 2020 at 9:01 pm -

    I am looking to move and this was so helpful! I loved the tip about taking personal photos down.

  80. Best Packers and Movers in Chandigarh June 17, 2020 at 3:05 am -

    Home staging is a method of decorating meant to highlight your home’s most impressive assets and help buyers imagine themselves moving in and living there. Do it right, and you should have no problem selling your home quickly. Beautiful post, well explained. Thanks for sharing this post

  81. Amit June 24, 2020 at 10:03 am -

    Hi,
    Golden rule 3 ‘Santize’ is the most useful of all in my opinion. Thanks for sharing Nick.

  82. Cash Home Buyers Tulsa July 27, 2020 at 6:21 pm -

    Staging is worth every penny in the End! Great share!

  83. Cash For Houses Dallas July 29, 2020 at 7:53 pm -

    We have listed houses without staging and we have listed houses after staging. I think it depends on the area, the market, the clientele, time of year, etc. If you have it in your budget then I would recommend staging!

  84. www.homestagingaucklandprosnz.info/ August 3, 2020 at 6:35 am -

    Staging your home properly can not only get it sold more quickly, but it can also help you net money when it sells. The best part? You don’t have to break the bank in the process. Follow this infographic to help showcase your home’s best features.

  85. https://www.lincolnfencecontractor.com/ August 4, 2020 at 7:21 am -

    We have numerous rental and house flipping properties, staging them has always helped our close rate.

  86. Maggie Mora August 6, 2020 at 5:49 pm -

    Thank you for this great information. Please would you email a copy of Home Staging on a Budget?

  87. Virtual Staging Plans August 10, 2020 at 5:09 am -

    Great article, thanks. Another great technique of home staging is virtual staging. You can choose your design and expense and they will make your vacant home furnished.

  88. House Staging August 10, 2020 at 7:36 pm -

    We always recommend staging, whether you hire a professional, or do it yourself on a budget – definitely make sure you spend time and energy doing so!

  89. anna August 21, 2020 at 7:38 am -

    aww these are cute ideas and i love these plans

  90. jennifer August 21, 2020 at 7:40 am -

    these are some good ideas and we will be more happy if you have printable version

  91. carol August 21, 2020 at 7:41 am -

    i love this staging idea i want to share this with my partner can you give a copy that can is printable

  92. John August 27, 2020 at 11:14 am -

    Good Ideas. Loved Your Article

  93. landscaping west palm beach September 6, 2020 at 11:13 am -

    looks so good! what an awesome set of golden rules

  94. Steve Keighery September 8, 2020 at 2:34 pm -

    I think house staging is one of the most overlooked thing by house flippers. You spent so much time and energy flipping a house and then drop the ball with staging. I always invest a lot of thought into staging. This infographic is really high quality, I hope people take the lessons from it.

  95. Dallas Home Buyers September 10, 2020 at 10:27 am -

    Home staging is very important when you are trying to bring top dollar for your home. Great post!

  96. Matt Taschner September 12, 2020 at 11:42 pm -

    Thanks a lot for your post. I will share this post with my friends.

  97. Zane Gifford September 14, 2020 at 6:53 am -

    I am a regular visitor.This is one of the most informative articles I have read on staging.

  98. raman gupta September 15, 2020 at 10:19 am -

    great!! i love this staging idea , i want to share this with my partner can you give a copy that can is printable?? please

  99. Lora September 20, 2020 at 9:31 am -

    Condensed and so well articulated!
    I, too, would love to have the file as I can’t right click and save it without ads either.

  100. Woods October 4, 2020 at 5:18 pm -

    I’m a builder and one of the best things you can do to improve the value of your home is putting on a deck. For the price, they dramatically increase your living space.

  101. led wall rental October 16, 2020 at 4:43 am -

    Cool, this is just what I was looking for.

  102. Dan October 17, 2020 at 2:45 am -

    Hi Nick,

    This is very helpful information! I tried to save the infographic above, but i didn’t work. Would you send it to my email?

    Thank You!

  103. Washing Machine Repair October 30, 2020 at 9:10 am -

    Love to read your blog! Thanks for posting some valuable post.

  104. Jan Michelsen November 11, 2020 at 7:10 pm -

    Great article on Staging on a Budget! Could you email me the file, too? I would surely appreciate it!

  105. Betty Hood November 12, 2020 at 12:36 am -

    Thanks for the succinct and helpful post. I would love a copy.
    Thanks!

  106. Bob McAvoy November 16, 2020 at 10:18 am -

    Hello,
    Nice article, would you please send me a copy of your file.
    Thanks,
    Bob

  107. Kim Flesch November 17, 2020 at 12:48 pm -

    Hi Great article! I would appreciate a copy emailed to me also.

    Thank you!

    Kim

  108. grading November 19, 2020 at 3:22 am -

    This is awesome golden rules home staging.

  109. Sofia MA December 7, 2020 at 2:51 am -

    Thanks for the informative and helpful post, obviously in your blog everything is good.

  110. Stucco December 9, 2020 at 3:32 am -

    LOVE IT! Getting your home ready to list might cost more than you thought – or hoped – but the return on the investment will be noticeable.

  111. www.homestagingaucklandprosnz.info/ December 10, 2020 at 5:09 am -

    Home staging has become a “must do” for sellers. Some 77% of buyer’s agents said home staging makes it easier for prospective buyers to visualize the property as a future home. Staged homes sell faster and for more money than those that are unstaged, according to industry analysis.

  112. Mack Collins December 14, 2020 at 2:01 am -

    Great post. Very well written.

  113. Andrew Kolodgie January 21, 2021 at 9:27 pm -

    We’ve been working on our staging over the past couple months for some of our flips and my partner found this article! Ditto to the other comments, are you able to send the picture via email?

    Thanks!

  114. Randy Atkinson April 6, 2021 at 9:45 pm -

    I totally get staging a home. It can be very hard to envision how much space you will have until the home is furnished.

  115. Cleaning Service April 15, 2021 at 2:41 am -

    Staging a home is a big deal and can definitely increase the sale price of your home. One thing that can help a staging is to make sure your house is spotless and clean

  116. Tony Silver April 21, 2021 at 9:37 am -

    We don’t normally stage our flips but after reading this we are going to change that.

  117. https://www.electriciansinlancasterca.com/ May 24, 2021 at 7:41 pm -

    Thank you very much for the detailed explanation 🙂

  118. Joan Hatfield July 15, 2021 at 12:59 am -

    Thank you for sharing this staging information. Could you please email me a printable version to share with clients?