Should You Hire a Professional to Stage Your Home or Can You Do-It-Yourself?

Home staging is one of the most effective ways to make your property stand out to buyers. But does it require a professional, or can you achieve great results on your own?

The Case for Professional Staging

Professional stagers bring expertise in:

• Space optimization: Making rooms feel larger and more functional
• Design trends: Knowing what today's buyers want to see
• Depersonalization: Creating a neutral canvas buyers can envision themselves in
• Photography readiness: Ensuring rooms photograph beautifully

Professional staging typically costs $1,000-$3,000 for an occupied home. The National Association of Realtors reports that staged homes sell faster and for 1-5% more than unstaged homes.

DIY Staging Tips

If you're working with a tighter budget, you can achieve impressive results yourself:

• Declutter aggressively: Remove at least 50% of personal items and excess furniture
• Deep clean everything: Hire a professional cleaning service — it's worth the investment
• Neutralize: Paint bold walls in neutral tones, remove family photos, minimize personal decor
• Maximize light: Open all blinds, replace dim bulbs, add lamps to dark corners
• Focus on key rooms: Prioritize the living room, kitchen, and primary bedroom

Ridley's Vendor Hub

Whether you decide to hire a professional or go DIY, Ridley's vendor hub connects you with vetted stagers, cleaners, and other home prep professionals through our partnership with Thumbtack. Get quotes and book services directly from your Ridley dashboard.