When it comes to selling your home, presentation is everything. A well-staged home not only attracts more attention online but also sells faster and for more money. But here’s the big question: Should you hire a professional home stager, or can you do it yourself? Let’s explore the pros, cons, and key considerations of both options—plus share a few real-world examples and expert tips to help you decide.
Why Staging Matters in Today’s Market
Buyers make snap judgments. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 83% of buyers’ agents say staging helps clients visualize a property as their future home, and staged homes sell for 1%–20% more on average.
In competitive or slow markets, staging can be the difference between multiple offers—or sitting on the market for weeks.
Hire a Professional Home Stager
Pros:
- Expert Design Skills
A pro knows exactly how to highlight your home’s strengths and neutralize its flaws. They understand buyer psychology and current trends. - Time & Stress Saver
With everything else going on during a move, outsourcing staging removes a major to-do from your plate. - Objective Perspective
When you hire a professional home stager, they aren’t emotionally attached to your belongings and will style the home with buyers—not the homeowner—in mind. - Staging Inventory
Many home stagers provide their own furniture and decor, saving you from having to shop or rent items separately.
Cons:
- Cost
Depending on the size of your home and the scope of work, when you hire a professional home stager the cost can range from $500 to $5,000+. However, many sellers recoup this cost (and more) in the sale price. - Less Control
Some sellers struggle with letting go of control over decor and layout. It’s also common for stagers to recommend painting or removing personal items.
📊 Pro Tip: According to Home Staging Institute, homes staged before listing sell 73% faster on average.
DIY Home Staging
Pros:
- Budget-Friendly
If you’re on a tight budget and have a good eye for design, DIY staging can save thousands. - Creative Control
You get to decide what stays, what goes, and how everything is styled. - Sense of Accomplishment
Some homeowners find joy in preparing their space themselves—it can be empowering and even therapeutic
Cons:
- Lack of Expertise
It’s easy to overlook staging strategies that truly move the needle—like lighting, traffic flow, or depersonalization. - Time-Consuming
Decluttering, cleaning, furniture rearranging, and sourcing decor can take significant time—especially when prepping for photo day. - Emotional Attachment
Most sellers struggle to see their home objectively, which can lead to poor staging decisions or resistance to necessary changes.
⚠️ Common DIY Mistakes:
- Leaving too much furniture
- Over-personalized decor
- Poor lighting
- Ignoring curb appeal
- Misusing scale (e.g., oversized sofas in small rooms)
Real-Life Example: Oakham Family Got Market-Ready Faster with A Professional Home Stager
A family in Oakham, MA recently faced the challenge of selling their home while juggling full-time jobs in two different states. With limited time and energy, DIY staging just wasn’t feasible.
Instead, they chose to hire a professional home stager—a decision that saved them both time and stress. Within days, the home was decluttered, styled, and photographed to show at its best.
Thanks to hire a professional home stager, they were able to get their home on the market quickly—and even in a slower market, it went under contract within a month.
💡 Strategic staging helped this Oakham home stand out without delays—proof that the right presentation makes all the difference.
Should You Stage It Yourself or Hire a Professional Home Stager?
Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide:
| Feature | DIY Staging | Hire a Professional Home Stager |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Low (but time-heavy) | Moderate to High |
| Design Expertise | Varies | High |
| Time Commitment | High | Low (they handle it for you) |
| Results | Can be mixed | Consistently high-impact |
| Stress Level | Moderate to High | Low |
Free Download: Home Staging Checklist
Whether you decide to DIY or hire a professional home stager, this free checklist will help you prep each room for maximum buyer appeal.
👉 [Download My Ultimate Staging Prep List]
Final Thoughts About Hiring a Professional Home Stager
Whether you go the DIY route or hire a professional home stager, staging is one of the most valuable steps you can take when selling your home. It’s not about decorating—it’s about marketing. You’re creating a lifestyle that buyers want to step into.
Curious about where to start? I’d love to help you create a plan to make your home market-ready. Reach out today for a complimentary staging consultation or request your free home value report, and let’s make sure your home shines from the moment buyers walk through the door.
