Is Airbnb Home Staging Worth It?
As a property owner looking to get a maximum return on your investment, it can be tricky deciding whether or not to stage your space. You want to make sure your home is presented in the best light possible, but you don’t want to break the bank in the process. That’s why it’s important to understand the specific value-add home staging would have on your property before moving forward.
What is Home Staging?
If you’re new to the hosting industry, you may be wondering what home staging actually is. In a nutshell, home staging is essentially the process of making your property more attractive through furnishing and/or decorating.
Projects can range from just a few finishing touches on photoshoot day to a more committed room renovation. Depending on the current condition of your space and your goals as a host, a home staging company will come in and give your house the facelift it needs to look more appealing.
It’s possible to stage your home yourself, but home staging companies have the experience needed to know what works and what doesn’t.
A professional home stager will be able to tell you how many statement pieces are needed to stand out amongst other rentals, and whether or not more lateral pieces make sense given the parameters of your space. Even soft staging an empty house can make a notable difference in the presentation of your property.
When potential guests come across your space online, you want them to be able to envision themselves on your property. When they log off, you want your home to be the one they keep coming back to in their minds. Home staging companies achieve that exact effect on your clientele
Is Staging Worth the Cost?
Now that we’ve understood what it is and it isn’t, we need to consider if it’s actually worth the investment. After all, home staging is an upfront cost to which you see no immediate pay off.
The truth is, that’s the nature of real estate. In order to see larger returns in the future, you need to invest smaller amounts in the present.
Although it’s hard to quantify the exact ROI on a home staging project, research shows that staged homes sell much faster than unstaged homes. According to Home Advisor, staged homes spend between 33% and 50% less time on the market. A 2021 survey conducted by the NAR revealed that 80% of real estate agents believe staging made it easier for their buyers to “see themselves in the home.”
What does this mean for you as a host on Airbnb or Vrbo?
Well, if home staging can have such a positive effect on home sales (which are long-term commitments of 30+ years,) imagine the effect it can have on your short-term rental business? The art of getting people to feel at home before they ever make your space their own is what gets your property booked fast.
Whether you’re in the business of hosting short or long-term guests, googling “home staging companies near me” is certainly worth your time. You may be surprised to learn all the benefits that come with professionally staging your vacation rental.
If you’re looking for a professional home staging company in the LA area, call us today to schedule your design consultation!
