Question 1

How much does it cost to stage an empty property?

Accepted Answer

The cost of staging an empty property depends on several factors, including:
 • Size of the property and the number of rooms that need staging
 • The price range of the home (higher-end properties often need more luxurious      furnishings)
 • The type of furniture required—whether large, small, luxury, upmarket, or medium-range
 • The style needed to suit the property’s architecture and target market
 • The length of the contract—whether it’s just for photos or a full staging contract of 30 days or more

Keep in mind that staging isn’t just about renting furniture—the fee also covers essential overheads like warehousing, storage, installation, delivery, collection, assistants, repairs, and maintenance.

Ultimately, staging is part of a marketing strategy that helps your property stand out, sell faster, and often at a higher price.

Question 2

Do you stage homes where owners are still living in them?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we do! In fact, we specialise in restyling homes where people are still living. Instead of bringing in our own furniture or decor—which can be risky with kids, pets, or everyday life—we focus on using what you already have to create a space that appeals to buyers.

Our approach is to offer expert advice on how to showcase your home’s best features for marketing photos and viewings. This might include rearranging furniture, suggesting small decorative changes, or highlighting focal points that will help buyers imagine themselves living there. It's a practical, cost-effective way to make your home market-ready while you’re still comfortably living in it.

Question 3

Do you stage all the areas?

Accepted Answer

Typically, we focus on staging the main areas that have the biggest impact on buyers. These usually include:
 • Living room
 • Entrance
 • Dining area or room
 • Main bedroom
 • Bathroom
 • Kitchen, styled with accessories to create a welcoming feel

We don’t usually stage all the bedrooms, as most buyers are primarily interested in seeing where they’ll sleep—not the kids.

Optional areas can also be staged, depending on the property’s needs:
 • Work-from-home offices, which have become especially important with the rise of      remote working
 • Patios or outdoor spaces, either to highlight a beautiful feature or show how a smaller, less attractive space can still be functional

We’ll decide together which areas would benefit most, ensuring the staging enhances your property’s appeal without unnecessary extras.

Question 4

Do you come to view the property?

Accepted Answer

We usually provide an initial quote based on the photos and details you share with us. This allows us to assess the space and give you a clear idea of the costs involved.

Once the quote is accepted, we visit the property to take measurements and determine exactly what’s needed for staging.

We provide you with a comprehensive quote upfront, detailing the specific furniture we'll supply and outlining all professional fees, including transport, styling, installation, and any other related costs. This ensures complete transparency before any work begins.

Question 5

How is the payment structured?

Accepted Answer

How is the payment structured?
I typically need 7–14 days to prepare for staging, depending on the size and complexity of the project.
The payment structure is as follows:
 • 80%  deposit is required upon signing the contract. This secures the  booking and allows me to begin sourcing furniture, arranging logistics, and preparing the space.
 • The remaining 20% balance is due upon completion of the staging, once everything is      installed and ready for marketing.
This ensures that everything runs smoothly and the project stays on schedule.

Question 6

Can I choose the furniture and style?

Accepted Answer

Can I choose what furniture I want for staging my property?
The point of home staging is to appeal to the widest possible target market, not to reflect the owner’s individual taste.

As experts, we select furniture and décor that suit the style of the home, the price category, and what buyers in that market are looking for.

It’s important to trust the process—just as you’d trust a doctor with your health or an electrician with your wiring.

Our goal is to create a space that helps your buyers imagine themselves living there, which ultimately helps your property sell faster and for a better price.

Question 7

Can a buyer buy the staging furniture?

Accepted Answer

Can a buyer buy the staging furniture?
Yes, this happens quite often. If a buyer is interested in purchasing the staging furniture, we can negotiate the terms. This can be done in two ways:
 • Upfront, where we agree to include the furniture in the property’s asking price.
 • After the sale, if the buyer expresses interest once the property is sold.
Either way, we handle the negotiation to ensure a fair deal for everyone involved. It’s a great way to offer buyers a move-in-ready home while saving you the hassle of removing the furnishings.

Question 8

Does staging always work?

Accepted Answer

Yes! The aim of staging is to help your property sell in under a month, and many of the homes we've staged have sold in just a day or a week. In fact, so far, five properties we've staged even sold for more than the asking price—and not many agents can say that!

However, some factors are outside of my control, such as:
 • An unrealistic asking price
 • Deal-breaking issues like damp or structural problems
 • The expertise of the agent in closing deals

Staging gives your property the best possible chance to shine, but these other factors also play a crucial role in securing a successful sale.

Question 9

Can I pay after the property is sold?

Accepted Answer

No, unfortunately, that’s not possible. There are too many variables outside of my control—such as the seller withdrawing from the market, issues with the agent, or changes in the selling process.

Question 10

Do you restyle homes for staging where tenants are living?

Accepted Answer

We can, but staging homes with tenants in place can be challenging. In many cases, it’s not in the tenants’ interest to help present the property in its best light—especially if they know the sale could mean having to move.
Because of this, it’s often more effective to wait until the tenants have moved out and then stage the property from scratch. An empty space allows us to create a fresh, cohesive look that appeals to buyers and helps the property sell faster and at a better price.

Question 11

What about insurance on the furniture?

Accepted Answer

What about insurance?
If your house is empty, you can usually take out short-term insurance to cover the staging furniture for up to 30 days. It’s typically not costly and offers peace of mind during the selling process.

I also don’t include appliances like TVs, which are usually the items that attract unwanted attention. In fact, staged furniture generally doesn’t appeal to thieves, and I’m happy to say I’ve never had an incident yet!

Question 12

Do you hang art with nails?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When we hang art, we're mindful of where the next buyer will likely want to place their own pieces. We position nails thoughtfully, so the placement feels natural and enhances the flow of each room.

Art makes a huge difference to the atmosphere of a home. It adds warmth, creates a sense of cohesion, and helps potential buyers imagine themselves living in the space.

Question 13

There is some furniture in the house, although no one is living there. Can you bring just one or two things?

Accepted Answer

That’s a bit tricky. Our furniture is kept in sets, so if we provide just one or two pieces - like a table or a chair - we're left short for other staging projects.

Beyond that, staging isn’t just about filling a space with random pieces of furniture; the overall style and flow need to work together to create a cohesive, appealing look for buyers.

Also, delivery and labour costs remain the same regardless of how much furniture we bring, so it’s usually more effective (and better value for you) to stage the key areas properly for the best result.

Question 14

What types of decorating services do you offer?

Accepted Answer

Our decorating services include:
1. A consultation to restyle your existing home
2. A full interior decoration design and sourcing, including installation, either for your home or your investment property (Airbnb).
If you have some other request, let us know and we can see how we can accommodate you.

Question 15

How does the interior decorating process work?

Accepted Answer

Once you get in touch, I’ll send you a quick questionnaire to understand your needs, budget, timeline, and any inspiration you’ve gathered.

Next, we meet online (Zoom or Teams) for a face-to-face chat to get to know each other and talk through your ideas.

If you'd like to move forward, I’ll visit your property to take measurements and get a proper sense of the space. This site visit costs between R1500 and R2500, depending on the size and location of the property.

After that, we meet again (either online or in person) to discuss ideas, budget, and how we can bring your space to life.

Once you decide to go ahead, we agree on the design direction, payment structure, and installation timeline — and then the real fun begins.

Question 16

What kinds of styles do you work with?

Accepted Answer

Every project is unique, but we love a mix of mid-century, modern, Afro-inspired, and locally sourced design. We work with your taste, your space, and your lifestyle to create something personal and layered.

Below: Three completely different bedroom styles...

Question 17

How does a decorating consultation work?

Accepted Answer

A consultation is:
 • A 1-2 hour in-person visit to your home to discuss preferences, needs, and goals.
 • We offer suggestions for restyling your space, incorporating existing furniture and décor wherever possible.
 • We offer recommendations for new purchases to enhance the overall look and feel.
The fee for this consultation is R2000 - R2500, depending on the size of your property and the number of areas you want to restyle.

Following our meeting, you can opt for:
 • A detailed proposal/report summarizing what was discussed, with actionable suggestions.
 • Further work, such as sourcing items or choosing fabrics, is quoted separately.

Question 18

Can you work with furniture and pieces we already own?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. We love working with what clients already have — whether it’s a beloved chair, inherited dining table, or a quirky artwork. We often blend existing items with new pieces to create a fresh, cohesive look.

Below: We used the owner's existing media unit and dining table, adding art, decor and new chairs.

Question 19

How long does the process take?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the size of the project, lead times on furniture, (whether they are available or custom made) and how involved the brief is.

We’ll always give you a clear idea of timelines upfront.

Question 20

We want to decorate our Airbnb — can you help?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We’ve helped many Airbnb owners create stylish, guest-friendly spaces that photograph beautifully and attract great reviews.

We focus on durable, practical pieces that still look great — and we know what Cape Town visitors are looking for.

We prefer to work on projects that are not cookie cutter, in other words, as though the decor came out of a single retail store. We like to give our projects personality so that they stand out online. And of course, we are very detailed about guests' creature comforts.

Question 21

Do we need to have a big budget to work with you?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. We work on both luxury and mid-range projects. Once we understand your budget, we tailor the decorating plan accordingly — and we’re used to finding creative, cost-effective solutions.

Question 22

Can you help if we don’t live in Cape Town full-time?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many of our clients live overseas or out of town. We communicate via Zoom or email, and manage everything on the ground , from sourcing to installation, keeping you updated throughout.

You can decide how involved in the process you want to be. Some people are more hands off; others want to be included in all decisions. Up to you.

We've worked with clients in Europe and  Canada, as well as local South Africans.

Whatsapp: +27848432426

homestagerscapetown@gmail.com

HOME STAGING & INTERIORS CAPE TOWN

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