Who Pays for Home Staging?

One of the most frequently asked questions in regards to Real Estate Staging (Home Staging) is who pays the bill.  There are several options but here is what typically happens based on who contacts the home staging company or what is offered in the agent listing agreement:

Sellers – Sellers are pretty savvy these days and know that staged homes spend 73% less time on the market.  If a Realtor is not offering home staging as a service, sellers will call a staging company directly and pay all the fees.  Sometimes this happens if Realtors are discounting their fees or offer a “bargain stager” or “virtual” staging.  Sellers won’t settle for sub-par staging of their largest investment so will shop around for a professional stager.

Realtors  – Realtors who routinely use staging as part of their listing package understand the value of home staging and how it can bring a 5-15% higher sales price for their sellers.  These are high volume successful agents who pay for all the staging fees for up to 3 months, if necessary, as part of their overall marketing investment in addition to professional photos, 3-D renderings and video presentations to best market homes for maximum exposure and a quick sale at list price or higher.

Hybrid/Negotiated Terms – When the paying of staging fees is not clear in the listing agreement, it can always be negotiated.  Most common would be for the Realtor to pay for all fees the first 30 days and the seller to pay any additional rental fees thereafter if the home is still on the market.  Subsequent month fees can be 40-60% lower than initial fees so this option is a good compromise.  Sometimes the Realtors will pay for the labor of staging and de-staging and the seller will pay for all rental fees.  Anything can be negotiated and stagers can bill accordingly.

Pay at Closing – Not all staging companies offer this option but Front Range Stage does!  Click on this blog for more information.  If a stager partners with a “Pay at Close” vendor and the seller has good credit, this can be a painless and quick process to roll up any related moving costs, repairs, landscaping, and staging fees to be paid once the home sells.  The seller, stager and Realtor would all need to discuss this potential option early in the process of listing a home for sale.  Home repairs and upgraded features along with professional staging is an investment that pays off!  Otherwise, a dated home will sit on the market and undergo numerous price reductions or simply won’t sell.

Front Range Stage is the premier staging company in Colorado Springs and the surrounding front range areas of Colorado.  We are happy to answer any questions you have about how staging works or who pays for the staging…let our 19 years of experience guide you to a quick and efficient sale!

Front Range Stage home staging photo

Looking for a stager with a proven track record who knows how to communicate and uses proven design strategies? Look no further than Front Range Stage, Colorado Springs Premier Home Staging professionals. We may be more expensive but that’s because we do it right with all the training, certifications and credentials necessary to ensure a smooth and beautiful real estate transformation. We hope the below infographic helps inspire you to trust us with your largest investment…your home!

Notable® – Pay At Closing

Wanted to share some of what Front Range Stage has been up to lately to stay on par with Realtors who are constantly learning and evolving to be most helpful to clients.  We are certified staging professionals who belong to staging associations that demand high ethical standards, insurance coverage, transparent business practices, and continuing education. With over 18 yrs in business as the premier staging company in Colorado Springs, we have the breadth and depth of expertise to tackle any home selling challenge.

• Front Range Stage has been nominated again as the “Best of the Best” in Home Staging Excellence, Client Care and Leadership by the International Association of Home Staging Professionals
• Scored over 500 staging portfolios as a judge for the Real Estate Staging Association annual awards
• Attended the International Association of Home Staging Professionals Conference to keep up with the latest trends and developments in the industry
• Staged many beautiful homes that sold first month well under DOM averages

We are excited to announce we have been selected by Notable® to partner with them to offer sellers a  ‘Pay at Closing’ option to cover costs associated with preparing their home for sale.  This benefit is for sellers that already have a listing agreement in place:
https://notablefi.com/frontrangestage/apply
Home sellers may apply for an unsecured (no lien required) personal line of credit up to $50K. The application takes minutes and has no impact on your credit score when applying. The loan can be used for many home improvement projects and would be paid at closing. Interest rates could be as low as 1% per month with a good FICO and sufficient equity in the home.

This is a great option for sellers with dated homes who want to invest in making upgrades (or who need repairs) that could ultimately bring higher offers and help to sell a home faster. It can include costs associated with many home selling preparation projects (painting, landscaping, flooring, fencing), materials such as new appliances and roofing, as well as moving and storage (or even a temporary stay if needing to relocate during renovations). Most importantly…It’s a great way to ensure home staging is included in the budget now and paid for later which will help market the home for top dollar!

Front Range Stage can assist with any design work and project management tasks to ensure any planned upgrades are on trend and have a great Return on Investment.

Here is a video on Notable®:

https://vimeo.com/1088602409/1c55fa71ef

The International Association of Home Staging Professionals has awarded Front Range Stage with two awards in 2024. WINNER of the BEST of Home Staging Real Estate & Design: Staging Excellence AND Client Care Excellence.

We are also honored to be recognized as the Best Home Staging Company in the Colorado Springs market for the second year in a row from Quality Business Awards. Our years of experience and streamlined processes to include digital booking, contracts, and payment processing is just one example of our superior standards and customer ratings.

Front Range Stage was also recently featured in the News…click here for the full article.
2024 Colorado Springs Town Tidings Spotlight – Premier Home Staging Company in Colorado Springs

Front Range Stage Professional Stagers

Let’s talk choices. Home buyers and sellers have a lot of choices when hiring a Realtor to sell their largest investment. They can can go with a discount broker to try and save on the commission or interview and select a Realtor with solid experience and a great marketing package that includes professional photos and home staging. It’s the same with staging companies. There are those that offer discounts and stage with facebook market furniture and those companies that buy high-end décor from design markets, use certified/degreed stagers, and win International awards for the quality of their staging and their customer service. Front Range Stage is the latter and has been in business for over 18 years. Our awesome team of stagers were prestigiously rewarded for the second and third time this year! We aren’t the cheapest stagers in town because we employ proven business models and staging strategies. We are proud to partner with the most professional Realtors, investors, home builders and home owners who know the investment it takes to sell a home for the greatest profit. Don’t leave the home’s marketing to chance…hire a proven and accomplished group of professionals that will curate an elevated aesthetic to best market each unique home!

Are you tempted by virtual staging? Here is a quick list of Pros and Cons:

The short term and long term rental market is booming in Colorado Springs! 

Long Term Rental Photos

If you are considering hosting guests, there are a ton of design decisions to make when furnishing multiple rooms for maximum profit.  Front Range Stage has staged many of these and knows where to shop at a discount and how to set up your rental so the photos are amazing and you benefit from sleeping the most guests and having functional spaces that can withstand a high turnover rate.  Call us today to see if we can transform your rental property or create a new one for you to take advantage of this income opportunity for as little as $15K.

Creating a getaway that others can use as a vacation destination takes a lot of work, but anyone who has transformed their home into an AirBnB or VRBO rental can tell you how beneficial it can be. Besides earning extra income, you’ll have the chance to create something of your own that could potentially allow you to pad your nest egg or even retire early. Front Range Stage has the expertise to help you keep what’s important in the forefront of your mind when transitioning a space to a valuable rental opportunity. It will take some capital to make the necessary changes and ensure it’s filled with all the things your renters need, and you’ll want to think about upkeep and security as well, especially if you don’t live near the home year-round.

You should also think about what renters in the area will be looking for. Making some small updates to spaces like the kitchen or bathroom can go a long way toward helping you find renters who are willing to pay high-dollar for their stay, as can adding things like more sleeping space. Once you know what changes need to be made, figuring out a budget and a timeline comes next. Read on for some great tips if you’re wanting to transform your second home into a vacation getaway.  Give us a call if you want to take advantage of our checklist that has over 100 items every vacation rental needs.

Whip your basement into shape

Basements have tons of potential when it comes to rentals; you can turn the basement of your home into an AirBnb or VRBO, or spruce up the lower level of your vacation rental to include more sleeping areas or even a game room. If you have an unfinished basement, consider hiring contractors to turn it into something any guest would love. When budgeting, just keep in mind that the cost for a basement remodel in Colorado Springs runs between $12,238 and $27,417. If you’re going this route, it stands to provide a significant bump in what you can charge guests.

Clean up

When it comes to renting a vacation home, most people are looking for something that will allow them to feel relaxed and comfortable during their stay. One of the easiest ways to achieve those things is to keep the home clean and neat. The difference between a rental that is dusty and unkempt and one that is spotless and organized is huge when it comes to the amount of happy visitors you’ll get, and a happy visitor is one who will leave good reviews online and recommend your house to others. If regular upkeep is difficult for you to maintain, think about hiring a professional cleaning service to come in between guests to keep your rental sparkling.

Make some upgrades

Turning your home into a successful vacation rental can be costly, but it doesn’t have to be. If the house already has good bones, there are some upgrades you can make that visitors will gladly pay a little more for, such as more bedding for families, a patio area for relaxing, flat-screen televisions in the bedrooms, a hot tub, and keyless entry for added security. Do a little research to find out what the most desirable upgrades are for the average rental home in your area; this will give you a good idea of what will go over well with your guests.

Remember the details

It can be difficult to think about all the little details when you’re converting a home into a rental, but think of it as starting from scratch. When you bought your home, you likely needed flatware, dishes, bath towels, and comfortable furniture, and renters will expect all those things too. To ensure you check every box, consider hiring a professional home stager who knows which renovations, upgrades, and decor are desirable in your local area and can get you the discounts you’ll need. It’s these details that will make a big impact on your guests because they will create a homier environment that will allow them to relax and have fun.

Creating a getaway out of your home can be a lot of work, and it requires some careful thought and, often, help from a professional or two. Take the time to plan ahead and make the most of the resources you already have; do some research to make sure you have all legalities covered so there won’t be any nasty surprises down the road. With some planning, you can turn your home into a beautiful getaway in no time.

Additional information provided by Front Range Stage.  Guest Author: Erin Reynolds of diymama.net

It’s that “not so wonderful time of year” for many of you who owe taxes.  Don’t forget to ask your CPA about all expenses related to marketing homes for sell.  I’m happy to provide my W-2 for those who paid $600 and above for these services…..just shoot me an email!