Anyone who has thought about listing their home to go on the market has heard about the option of staging. Real estate agents will suggest staging to create an updated look or to create a blank canvas for potential buyers when looking at older or more specific types of homes.

We wanted to give sellers a breakdown on whether staging or having their home prepped for sale is better for them. 

Stagers love teaming up with OFab to help get rid of/pack up all personal items so they have a clean pallet to then create from. Although, at OFab, we have created an alternative to staging that works for those who don’t want to do (or can’t afford) traditional staging.

What are the Pros and Cons of staging vs Home Prep for Sale approach?

In the broadest sense, what is staging and what is The OFab Way of Home Prep for Sale?

1. Full staging - You move out of your home completely while it is being staged and on the market. This is not always realistic, especially for people with kids or older family members, and it can be prohibitively expensive. But it can create a completely new look for buyers.

2. Partial staging - This is an option whether you move out or stay in your home while selling. Stagers may use some of your own decor/furniture as well as a mix of the staging company’s accessories/furniture but still remove most of your personal items.

3. OFab’s Home Prep for Sale service - Is an inexpensive alternative by using your own furniture/decor, with a few edits and minimal upgrades. We like to use what you already own, and then we will do a ‘mini-pack’ of any of your smaller personal items, to keep them safe during open houses. 

Pros and Cons of Staging - 

1. Pro: Stagers create a 100% blank canvas while renting you all of their own decor/furnishings to create a curated look that can transform your home into a completely different look.

2. Con: Inconvenience - homeowners usually will need to completely move out of the home before a stager will come in. Not everyone can move out of their home for an undetermined amount of time. 

3. Con: Cost - most full staging costs go from $10k-$30k (depending on your length of contract) as they have to furnish your home with everything a home needs, using none of your furnishings or decor. Expect to spend about 30% per each additional 30 days for contract extensions. In general, professionally staging super luxurious properties will run at least $20,000.

4. Con: Potential Damage - If you do decide to get your home partially staged, the chances of the staging company’s rented furniture/accessories are at risk of getting stains or damages (hello pets and kids). No one wants to pay rental fees AND damage fees to boot!

Pros of Home Prep for Sale (there are no Cons!) - 

1. Pro: No premature move out - you can continue to live in your house while selling, so you have some semblance of your routine as well as more time to prepare for your upcoming move (OFab can help you with your entire move, too).

2. Pro: Organization - We create a customized organization system for you to keep your home decluttered and pristine for all the showings/open houses that may come with the process of putting your house on the market. 

3. Pro: Privacy - We will do a mini pack of all the personal items that you want to keep secure (eg: family photos, specific art work, smaller collectibles, etc) since OFab is a professional packing/unpacking company as well!

4. Pro: Smaller investment - OFab’s Home Prep for Sale service runs a minimum of 50% less than traditional staging and can result in selling your home faster, at a better price, and without months of carrying costs.

We know that a staged home does not reflect the way people actually live, but with a little OFab love, your home can be its own showcase and ultimately, sell faster and for more money.

If you need help getting your house ready to show, give us a call - we’ve got you!