{"id":417,"date":"2026-05-11T14:42:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T19:42:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/?p=417"},"modified":"2026-05-11T14:42:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T19:42:07","slug":"why-staging-your-house-could-pay-off-this-spring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/?p=417","title":{"rendered":"Why Staging Your House Could Pay Off This Spring"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div class=\"pt-8 px-8\">\n<h2 class=\"profile-color-text text-3xl\">Why Staging Your House Could Pay Off This Spring<\/h2>\n<div class=\"mt-6 text-base-content flex items-center flex-wrap gap-x-4 gap-y-2\"><span class=\"flex items-center flex-wrap gap-1\"><time class=\"text-base-content\" datetime=\"2026-05-11T10:30:00Z\">Monday May 11th, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<div>.<\/div>\n<div class=\"mt-6 text-base-content flex items-center flex-wrap gap-x-4 gap-y-2\"><span class=\"flex items-center flex-wrap gap-1\"><a class=\"text-base-content\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplifyingthemarket.com\/en\/category\/sellers\/?a=1000025117-654188f2b9e9f721433bea74f0bf3424\">For Sellers,<\/a><a class=\"text-base-content\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplifyingthemarket.com\/en\/category\/agent-value\/?a=1000025117-654188f2b9e9f721433bea74f0bf3424\">Agent Value,<\/a><a class=\"text-base-content\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplifyingthemarket.com\/en\/category\/selling-tips\/?a=1000025117-654188f2b9e9f721433bea74f0bf3424\">Selling Tips<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<div>.<\/div>\n<div>Article from Keeping Current Matters<\/div>\n<div>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"p-6 px-8\">\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-3 sm:flex gap-1 flex-wrap w-fit sm:w-full my-4\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"mt-6 flex flex-col gap-4 mb-8\">\n<div class=\"mb-2\">\n<p>Selling your house this season? You\u2019ve probably heard you should stage it before it hits the market. But what does that really mean \u2013 and is it worth the effort? Continue reading to learn why staging your house could really pay off this Spring!<\/p>\n<p>The short answer is \u201cyes,\u201d especially right now.<\/p>\n<p>With\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplifyingthemarket.com\/2026\/04\/22\/more-options-are-popping-up-this-spring\/?a=1000025117-654188f2b9e9f721433bea74f0bf3424\">more houses<\/a>\u00a0for sale this year, you\u2019re likely wondering how to make the most money possible without your house sitting on the market. The answer is staging. It can help your house stand out, bring in stronger offers, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplifyingthemarket.com\/2026\/05\/06\/the-secret-to-selling-fast-no-matter-the-market\/?a=1000025117-654188f2b9e9f721433bea74f0bf3424\">sell faster<\/a>. As Nadia Evangelou, Principal Economist at the\u00a0<em>National Association of Realtors<\/em>\u00a0(NAR), puts it:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>\u201cStaging matters. Preparing the home to be \u2018buyer-ready\u2019 attracts more buyers, especially now that inventory has increased.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Here&#8217;s what staging actually involves and what it could do for your sale.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>What Is Home Staging?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Home staging is the process of\u00a0<strong>preparing your house, so it appeals to as many buyers as possible<\/strong>. That usually means decluttering, deep cleaning, rearranging furniture, and adding simple touches that help each room feel bright, open, and welcoming.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The goal is to help buyers fall in love with the space and picture themselves living there<\/strong>, which makes them more likely to make an offer.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Why Staging Is Worth the Effort<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Staged houses tend to perform better on almost every metric that matters when you sell. According to\u00a0<em>Redfin<\/em>, staged homes have been shown to sell up to\u00a0<strong>73% faster<\/strong>\u00a0than unstaged homes. And they often close in under a month, compared to anywhere from two to three months for vacant ones.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s also a strong return on the money you spend.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<em>Home Staging Institute\u00a0<\/em>says mid-level staging can deliver a 350% return on investment. On a $400k home, that turns the typical $4k cost into roughly $18k in added value when you sell\u00a0<em>(see graph below):<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/files.keepingcurrentmatters.com\/KeepingCurrentMatters\/content\/images\/20260507\/20260511-The-Impact-Staging-original.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/files.keepingcurrentmatters.com\/KeepingCurrentMatters\/content\/images\/20260507\/20260511-The-Impact-Staging-original.png\" alt=\"a screenshot of a sales report\" \/><\/a>By that estimate, that\u2019s an extra potential profit of about $14k \u2013\u00a0<strong>a meaningful boost when you\u2019re trying to maximize what you walk away with at closing.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Your Staging Options<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>And just in case you\u2019re seeing that $4k upfront investment above and thinking, \u201c<em>I\u2019m not going to spend that<\/em>,\u201d here\u2019s what you should know.<\/p>\n<p>Staging doesn\u2019t always have to mean hiring a full crew or filling your house with rented furniture. There are a few different paths you can take, depending on your budget and timeline. So, you could spend a lot less and still get a good return.<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few options:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Professional staging.<\/strong>\u00a0A stager handles everything from layout to d\u00e9cor, often bringing in their own inventory. According to the\u00a0<em>Home Staging Institute<\/em>, costs typically range from $500 to $5k or more, depending on the size of your house.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Virtual staging.<\/strong>\u00a0Digital furniture and styling are added to your listing photos, which can be a budget-friendly option for vacant houses.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DIY staging.<\/strong>\u00a0If your budget is tight and your home only needs minor updates, decluttering, deep cleaning, and arranging furniture for flow can still make a real difference.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Your agent can help you figure out which approach fits your house, your market, and your goals.<\/p>\n<p>Agents see what buyers respond to in open houses and showings every week, so they can give you specific, personalized recommendations on what\u2019s worth your time and money (and what isn\u2019t).<\/p>\n<p>That way you can get the most bang for your buck \u2013 no matter your budget.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"text-xl mb-2\">Bottom Line<\/h3>\n<p>With more homes for sale right now, making a strong first impression matters.\u00a0<strong>Staging can help your house sell faster and for more \u2013 and there&#8217;s an option for almost every budget.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re getting ready to list, let\u2019s talk about what level of staging makes sense for your house and make a plan for attracting the right buyers.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"121\"><strong data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"53\">Twila Bertrand, REALTOR\u00ae | CENTURY 21 Cota Realty<\/strong><br data-start=\"53\" data-end=\"56\" \/>Helping Buyers &amp; Sellers Across Lufkin, Huntington &amp; East Texas<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"123\" data-end=\"605\">Searching for the <strong data-start=\"141\" data-end=\"180\">best real estate agent in Lufkin TX<\/strong> or a trusted REALTOR\u00ae in Huntington TX? Twila Bertrand is an experienced East Texas real estate expert dedicated to helping buyers, sellers, investors, and families navigate the market with confidence. From luxury homes and acreage properties to waterfront homes near Lake Sam Rayburn, Twila provides professional guidance, local market expertise, strong negotiation skills, and personalized service every step of the way.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"607\" data-end=\"877\">\ud83c\udfe1 Residential Homes | Land | Lake Properties | Investment Property<br data-start=\"674\" data-end=\"677\" \/>\ud83d\udccd Serving Lufkin TX, Huntington TX, Angelina County, Nacogdoches &amp; Surrounding East Texas Areas<br data-start=\"773\" data-end=\"776\" \/>\u2b50 CENTURY 21 Centurion Award Winner<br data-start=\"811\" data-end=\"814\" \/>\u2b50 2024 REALTOR\u00ae of the Year \u2013 Lufkin Association of REALTORS\u00ae<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"879\" data-end=\"1030\">\ud83d\udcde 936-208-7631<br data-start=\"894\" data-end=\"897\" \/>\ud83d\udce7 <a class=\"decorated-link cursor-pointer\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"900\" data-end=\"923\">twilabertrand@gmail.com<\/a><br data-start=\"923\" data-end=\"926\" \/>\ud83c\udf10 <a class=\"decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"929\" data-end=\"1028\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Twila Bertrand Real Estate Website<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why Staging Your House Could Pay Off This Spring Monday May 11th, 2026 . For Sellers,Agent Value,Selling Tips . Article from Keeping Current Matters . Selling your house this season? You\u2019ve probably heard you should stage it before it hits the market. But what does that really mean \u2013 and is it worth the effort? [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":194391,"featured_media":418,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[107,148,89,141,57,55,24,20,19,39,15,41,85,12,46,58],"class_list":["post-417","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-estate","tag-best-real-estate-agent","tag-best-real-estate-agent-in-lufkin-tx","tag-best-realtor","tag-best-realtor-in-lufkin-tx","tag-buying-power","tag-expert-advice","tag-local-agent","tag-local-realtor","tag-real-estate-lufkin","tag-real-estate-trends","tag-realtor","tag-savvy-investment","tag-sellers-agent","tag-texas-real-estate","tag-trust-the-pros","tag-trusted-realtor"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/417","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/194391"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=417"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/417\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":419,"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/417\/revisions\/419"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}