What You're Paying For
Home staging cost (also called property styling cost or house staging cost) covers three things: the design work, the furniture and accessory hire over the campaign period, and the installation and removal labour. Most Australian stylists quote a single fixed fee that bundles all three into one number for a standard 6-week hire period.
The bigger the property, the more rooms need styling and the more hire inventory it takes. Vacant homes cost more than occupied because the stylist has to supply everything; occupied homes cost less because they work with what's already there. Location matters too — metro pricing tends to be higher than regional, and inner-city Sydney and Melbourne sit at the top end of the range.
Cost Ranges by Property Size
These are typical Australian metro ranges for a standard 6-week hire. Treat them as starting points — get specific quotes for your property:
- 1–2 bedroom unit, occupied: $1,800–$3,500.
- 1–2 bedroom unit, vacant: $2,500–$4,500.
- 3 bedroom house, occupied: $2,500–$4,500.
- 3 bedroom house, vacant: $4,000–$6,500.
- 4–5 bedroom house, occupied: $3,500–$6,000.
- 4–5 bedroom house, vacant: $5,500–$9,000.
- Premium / luxury homes (any size): $10,000+, often considerably more.
What Affects the Price
Five factors swing the quote up or down:
- Number of rooms styled. Quotes are usually based on the main living areas, kitchen, dining, master bedroom, and main bathroom. Add bedrooms and outdoor spaces increase the cost.
- Vacant vs occupied. Vacant always costs more (full furniture supply); occupied usually costs less (working with what you have).
- Hire period. 6 weeks is standard. Longer campaigns add a weekly extension fee — clarify this in the quote.
- Inventory tier. Stylists who carry premium designer furniture charge more than those with mid-market hire ranges. Ask to see the actual pieces before booking.
- Location. Metro is more expensive than regional; inner-city Sydney and Melbourne are the top of the range.
What's Usually Included (and What Isn't)
A typical fixed-fee styling quote includes design consultation, furniture and accessory hire, delivery and installation, removal at the end of the campaign, and minor adjustments after photography.
What's not usually included: extension hire fees if your campaign runs longer than 6 weeks; styling consumables like fresh flowers, fruit bowl contents, bathroom accessories; replacement costs for damaged hire items (your insurance should cover these). Always confirm the inclusions in writing before signing.
The ROI Question
The maths usually works out clearly in favour of styling. If you spend $5,000 on property styling and your sale price comes in 3% higher than it would have without styling, on a $900,000 property that's $27,000 extra — a 5× return. At the high end of the styling impact range (6%), the return is closer to 10×.
Styling also tends to shorten the campaign, which reduces holding costs (mortgage payments, council rates, insurance during the listing period). The hidden second saving rarely shows up in a back-of-the-envelope calculation but it's real.
Questions to Ask Before You Book
Before signing a stylist's quote, get clear answers in writing on:
- Which rooms are included in the fee?
- How long is the standard hire period, and what's the extension cost?
- What's the delivery and removal cost, and is it bundled in?
- Can I see the actual furniture I'll receive (not just generic photos)?
- Who handles photography-day setup and final adjustments?
- What happens to the styling if I sell faster than the hire period?
- What's the cancellation policy if my campaign is delayed?
Use the Prepare 4 Sale property stylists directory to compare verified stylists in your area, read real seller reviews, and request quotes directly.