Pop-Up Staging Pros and Cons

You’ve likely heard and seen home staging — the art of transforming a lived-in house into a model property. But a spin on that practice has emerged. And, over the past few years, it’s really taken off. It’s known as “pop-up staging,” and it’s new-found popularity is based in traditional home staging. According to industry data, a professionally staged home will sell 88 percent faster than a non-stage home. What’s more, a staged house will sell for 20 percent more, compared to its non-staged competition. These figures only certainly make home staging worthwhile.

Pop-Up Staging Pros and Cons

Sellers can even go the DIY route with home staging, if they avoid some common staging mistakes. While this does reduce the expense of staging, it nevertheless relies on doing right and it still requires money. But pop-up staging offers a more affordable alternative. For an average 2,000 square foot property, a professional stager will charge about $7,000. Now, that money will fetch a solid return on investment but there’s a way to further curb the costs.

“In this HGTV-saturated era, most home sellers have heard of home staging, a practice of arranging furniture in your home to make it look as alluring as a photo spread in a design blog. But what is pop-up staging? Consider it the bargain alternative that uses fold-out “fake” furniture for a fraction of the price of actual home staging.” —Realtor.com

So, how much does pop-up staging cost? Well, it is quite less expensive and it doesn’t require moving heavy furniture (which is a big expense in home staging.) For  the average starter kit, which includes a couch, chair, ottoman, and bed, is just over $1,000. Renting foldable prop furniture runs between $1,900 and $2,200 for a two-month period. That’s usually enough time to sell a home in an active real estate market.

Pop-up staging is done with cardboard pieces, foldable prop furniture, slip covers, and a little more home decor. And, the lower cost isn’t the only advantage of pop-up staging. It takes less time to complete because it’s ready-to-go. Not only does it cost less and take less time, it also provides the same benefit as real furniture and decor — it allows buyers to see a home furnished with neutral colors. That’s also a benefit for empty homes, where sellers have already moved out of the property. Yet another upside to pop-up staging is it often looks real in online listing photos and even in-person, from a distance.

All of this begs a big question — if pop-up staging is so advantageous, then what are the downsides? Well, you won’t find perfection in any type of real estate marketing presentation. Ad, there are some pop-up staging cons:

  • The pieces aren’t actually real. Okay, let’s begin with the most obvious drawback of pop-up staging: it’s fake. And while it will appear real in listing photos and from a distance when standing in the house, once buyers realize it’s fake, it could be a turnoff. And, buyers might wonder why the seller is cutting corners.
  • The savings might not be worth it. Although pop-up staging is a lot less expensive than traditional home staging, the savings might not materialize. This is particularly true if the home is already furnished with neutral colors and pieces which complement each other and the surrounding space.
  • The pieces can easily be damaged. Because pop-up furniture relies on plastic, cardboard, and other like materials, it can be damaged easily. An unintended slip, trip, or other mishap by someone in the house can cause damage instantly and a replacement will be needed.

If you are considering selling a house in Orlando’s Hunter’s Creek, or another community, contact us for the latest market information. We are local and experienced in all facets of residential real estate, here to help you, when you need it.