How much does it actually cost to stage your house for sale?

Welcome to the age of Instagram - where beautiful photos reign supreme, every detail of an image is curated within an inch of its life and unless you have the kind of content that stops people scrolling in their tracks, you’re pretty much redundant.

Stunning images have never been more important in the marketing of a property, and while you might be totally into the lounge you’ve had for 14 years and using your spare room to dry and fold clothes, most people aren’t.

So how much does it actually cost to get your house looking Instagram-worthy by having it staged? We asked two Canberra ‘stagers’ for their advice.

Apartment - around $2500

“Clever styling can take empty space in a home and create designated uses for that space,” says The Property Stylists’ Nola Hile.

“Like placing a study nook in an unused corner or a media room in an unused room under the house. It’s about presenting your property to its full potential.”

Nicole Heins from Impressions Property Styling says: “Gone are the days when apartments were slick and modern - we’re finding owners want their apartment to feel cosy and inviting, a place to relax after a long day. We love incorporating feature artworks, textured rugs and lots of indoor plants.”

Three-bedroom home - around $3500

“We style with trends that reflect the property and demographics of the suburb,” Nola from The Property Stylists says.

“For example, a heritage-listed home could be styled with a Hamptons or French provincial feel, while a one-bedroom unit in Braddon would be styled minimalist and modern.”

According to Nicole from Impressions: “Styling is more than just cushions and plants, it’s about maximising space and creating a look that will appeal to as many potential buyers as possible. Styling gives your property the edge, with the potential to sell faster and attract a higher price tag.”

Larger home with 6+ bedrooms - $4500+

According to Nicole from Impressions, bringing nature indoors is a trend “that’s not going away”.

“Especially with COVID, a home should be a sanctuary,” she says.

“Making a real feature of the outdoor areas, whether it’s creating a space for entertainment, or a quiet cup of tea will add value to any home.”

What’s the process? What do I do with my existing furniture?

Nola: “Styling takes half a day. We pre-pack everything at our warehouse and the actual styling then takes about two hours.

“Most stylists prefer to style an empty home, as the style is more cohesive and tends to flow throughout the property, so most of our clients have already moved out or have their furniture in storage.”

Nicole: “We can style an empty home or work with the existing furniture in your home.

“Our staff will do a walk-through of your home prior to styling to advise what items can stay and which items need to be removed. Furniture should be stored off site. Styling takes 4-5 hours.”