What is home staging and is it worth the cost?

Home staging is about helping buyers see themselves living in the home. It involves decluttering, depersonalizing, rearranging existing furniture, and sometimes renting furniture to fill empty rooms. The goal is to highlight the home's best features and downplay any weaknesses. Staging can be as simple as rearranging furniture and adding fresh flowers, or as involved as renting furniture, art, and accessories for every room. Virtual staging, where furniture is added digitally to photos, is a lower-cost option for online marketing. The cost of staging depends on the size of the home, the amount of furniture needed, and the stager's rates. Many sellers recoup the cost of staging through a higher sale price and faster sale. Empty homes often benefit the most from staging because buyers struggle to visualize the space. Even partial staging of the living room, master bedroom, and kitchen can make a significant difference.