January | 2015 | Great Impressions Home Staging

Using Rental Furniture To Showcase Your Home

One of the most common questions I get asked is “How much does it cost to rent furniture?” Usually callers are asking about having me choose the furniture for 4-5 main rooms – occasionally all of the rooms — in a vacant house, but sometimes they want me to select just a few pieces for an occupied home to replace shabbier or outdated furniture or fill in an empty room.

So here’s the rundown for typical rental costs based on a typical 3-month rental period:

Room Typical monthly cost

Kitchen $100

Dining room $100 – 150

Living room $200 – 350

Family room $200 – 300

Master bedroom $250 – 300

Extra bedrooms $150

Although rental companies WILL lease for one or two-months, the higher cost they charge for such short-term leases is the same as the cost of a 3-month rental. That time frame actually works out well when selling your home because even if a staged property gets an offer in the first week or two – which often happens – the attorney review, inspection, mortgage process, etc. typically takes another 2 months anyway. I always recommend keeping furniture (and my accessories) in place until as close to closing as possible, just in case a deal falls through at the last minute.

Furniture companies also charge a one-time delivery fee of about $260, and a one-month security deposit, refundable at the end of the lease.

Of course, you can rent furniture on your own, just keep in mind that:

A) As part of every vacant staging consultation ($100 credited back upon hire for staging), I photograph and measure the rooms to figure out the best placement for furniture for making rooms look spacious and inviting.

B) it’s time-consuming to browse websites or visit stores to select quality furniture within a specific budget.

C) You need to make sure you select the right style for your target demographic (buyers likely to be interested in your property).

E) You also need to consider colors and patterns that are on-trend AND work with the paint colors, cabinetry, countertops, flooring and other finishes in your home.

F) Because of my 5-year relationship with the two large furniture rental companies in northern NJ, I get discounts or can negotiate for better pricing that I pass along to my clients to save them money.

G) In addition to furniture, every home needs accessories such as art, lamps, rugs, pillows, throws, bedding, towels, and decorative items such as bowls, florals, vases, trays, etc. I carry hundreds of accessories that add warmth and create emotional appeal to make buyers connect with your property.

Ideally, you should rent furniture BEFORE listing your house and before the real estate agent has professional photos taken of your home . Placing appropriately-sized and styled furniture shows buyers the best use of rooms, adds warmth, makes rooms actually look MORE spacious, highlights the best features like fireplaces, windows, and built-ins, and generally makes a house irresistible to buyers so you will get the highest offers and the most money out of your home as possible!