There you are: Pitching yourself as only you can...
and the potential clients are hitting you with a volley of questions. You are not just holding your own - you are darned near poetry in motion!
The answers to every question rolls off your tongue with complete confidence. You are feeling the love - you know you will get this listing, you can practically taste their eagerness to work with you and you alone.
And then it comes. That one question that has been popping up with far to much frequency lately. The one that gives you a queasy feeling because you know your answer on this one thing seems to consistently fall short.
"So, do you think we should stage our house?"
What do you say to that?
First of all, it's a trick question, without a doubt. Say NO, and you are in direct opposition to 95% of the real estate, staging and decorating programming on HGTV, the DIY Network, The Learning Channel, The Style Network, and The Discovery Channel that your clients are absolutely watching, whether they admit it or not.
Dismiss the notion of bringing in a stager at your own risk, because the message they are likely to internalize is that you don't care about getting the most money possible for their property. And if you think this answer will stop them from pursuing a stager outside of your recommendation, you couldn't be more wrong. They will Google stagers, they will see before and after pics in their town, and they will call them to inquire about pricing, and most of all, they will say "The agent we are thinking about working with doesn't know I am calling...." The stager will ask who the agent is, and when it is all said and done, the stager may very well drop the name of an agent who is more proactive regarding equity preservation.
Saying YES is also fraught with peril. YES means they have issues that are clearly apparent to you. It means they have been weighed, measured, and found wanting. This message NOT what you want to be delivering, that you are not liking what you see, which is tantamount to saying there is something wrong with their lifestyle, taste, and them as people. This is a deal-kill without a doubt. You could very well be percieved as looking down upon them.
So what the heck are you supposed to do?
You could ignore the question entirely, and change the subject.
You could say that the house is beautiful as is. You could say you yourself are not only a Real Estate Agent but that you also stage your listings yourself, and start spewing out advice on the spot.
You could hand them a flyer talking about de-cluttering and pre-packing, and call that your "Staging Checklist."
You could give them a DVD with some generalized staging tips and decide that is more than enough to keep them from noticing you don't actually offer any services in this area.
You could even say that staging is not a factor in your locale (which might be true if your listings are in Antarctica).
But none of these answers correspond with what they are hearing, seeing, and digesting from the available media they are devouring as sellers. They will doubt your commitment to market their listing aggressively and effectively, and doubt your ability to sell their house quickly and do everythingit takes to prevent the unnecessary loss of their hard earned equity.
So what is the best way to handle this question that will make you seem non-judgmental about their home, and therefore, them as people, and meet their media-induced expectations diplomatically and head on?
All you simply have to say is:
"We will send our professional stager to meet with you."
That's it. If they ask about draperies, furniture arrangement, carpet condition, etc., you just state that the stager who will be sent will answer all their questions about any improvements or changes that may be necessary.
You talk business, you sell yourself, you land the listing. All questions on condition or presentation get deferred to "your" professional stager.
It doesn't get any easier. Professional, experienced stagers are highly skilled at being diplomatic, garnering cooperation, and getting things done on a tight budget. Their cost for consultation varies, and can be negotiable when an entire real estate office is concerned.
It isn't about getting in there and charging a small fortune for "all new everything." It's about creating as an inviting space that possible under the circumstances, and stagers know circumstances vary. One 2-hour consultation is usually extremely reasonable in price and bears a bountiful harvest of changes that are all carefully justified and explained, and make a tremendous difference in the way the listing will show, both in marketing materials and when viewed in person. Your listing will shine brighter when you enlist the assistance of a professional stager.
Can't find any stagers in your area? You are probably not looking very hard. Google stagers in the nearest large city and see if they will service your area for consults.
Had or heard about bad experiences with stagers? Betcha dollars to donuts they were not experienced professionals. The staging industry has standards and ethics, and a quick visit to the Real Estate Staging Association's website will explain those standards and ethics and how they are enforced with members, and can help you find somene qualified, capable, and charismatic.
So call an experienced stager, secure a lunch date, and get to know one another. You might be surprised what you don't know about these amazing resourceful business people who take their commitments seriously, want your repeat business, know their stuff, and know exactly how to motivate your sellers to make the right moves to make your job much, much easier.
Whenever we are in them, our senses are assaulted by wine bottle-carrying obese chefs, roosters of every possible size and description, hand-painted palm trees swaying the breeze on every plate and cup, swags of ceramic chili peppers around the window frame, Folksy-Country signs with wooden hearts telling us the dishwasher is full or empty, salt and pepper shakers made of cowboys napping whilst standing up against cactus (Ouch!).
It's an epidemic. And when a family of fat chef figurines arrived at my house today, via my significant other on a shopping spree, I was suddenly mentally forced to draw a line between tasteful decor and utter crap (that would be udder crap if it is kitchen decor comprised of black and white cows). I absolutely must rebuke the chefs and banish them to the outer realm.
Before I start a riot from fat chef lovers everywhere, I want to say I love collections, and have a few hokey ones myself. They make me smile. I happen to adore those tacky plastic bonsai trees from the fifties and sixties. I love kooky-looking figurines of Asian guys fishing with a crazy look on their faces made of off-white plastic and brown stain, to supposedly mimic ivory. I collect bejewled box purses by E. Collins (they are really, really tacky with giant plastic gems glued all over them). These things are my weaknesses, and they are displayed with off-beat pride. They are parts of my personality.
But such tacky collections do not belong in a house for sale. Or, for that matter, in the house of someone who makes their living helping others stage and/or redesign theirs.
The thing is, I want my guests to comment on my stuff. I want them to see things they may have seen before, but in a whole new light after being in my house. I want them to drive away thinking, "Well, I have never seen anything quite like that. She sure has an eye for odd but interesting crap! "
But if your house is for sale, you really want the opposite reaction. You want any cook to picture themselves chopping healthy vegetables for their family, stirring big pots of their family favorites in your kitchen, laughing with their own people as they weave a spell of friendship and abundant entertaining. That is hard to do with thousand rooster eyes staring at you as you make your way through a stranger's kitchen sizing it up for purchase.
And that is the thing: a themed kitchen is a strange kitchen to a stranger. The goal is to make it universal, warm, spacious, and able to drink a cup of coffee by one's self and a newspaper with sunlight streaming through the windows, cozy up near a loved one over a couple of steaming bowls of soup on a rainy day, and celebrate the milestones and events in class and style on special occasions with the whole clan.
You want to acheive this feeling regardless of the buyer's age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, or their own decorating style. The fastest way to do that is to get the collections of kitchen kitsch OUT and let a wider audience appreciate what your kitchen has to offer.
Just say no to fat chefs and all their ilk. Do not use them as a decorating crutch. Stand on your own two feet and find a legitimate style to show off your house if it is for sale. And if it isn't, still, please think twice about copping out and buying that entire set of dishes with a different birdhouse scene on every plate. Your food will thank you by tasting much better and be more dignified on a "plain" plate (It's ok to have a nice floral centerpiece on the table with a realistic-looking bird's nest nestled in it).
There. I feel better now.
So, how do I get these three fat chef figurines out of my house without hurting my beloved's feelings? I may be able to save others from falling into the kitchen kitsch crevasse, but apparently I cannot save myself.
Do you stand around staring at the rooms in your house
wondering what the heck to do to give it a fresh new look?
Where do you start?
How will decide what to change?
What if you spend all that money and it just doesn't come together?
Don't you wish someone would just tell you where you should begin?
Well, that is exactly what we do! We look carefully at what you have to work with, and we start making changes using digital imaging. Then we give you a plan to follow, including specific colors, surfaces, and finishes to make the most of what you already have, using our expertise and experience.
These cabinets in the original bathroom image need to be torn out...right?
Drywall needs to replace that paneling...?
Counter-tops need to be ordered right away, don't you think?
We said no to all of those possibilities and steered this client away from a $4000 gut-job on this bathroom and achieved remarkable results for about $1200.
That updated vanity is not new. The name-brand quartz counter-top (with a 12" back-splash!) cost only $800 vs. $1800. The paneling has been treated to a wonderful face lift without removal for about $12 (Ancient Cajun Secret...) and a gallon of paint.
The cost of our Conceptual Advice Service is only $179.99, and we saved our client over $2500 in just this one room, and it includes a Conceptual Image of how the plan will pan out, giving you peace of mind. Our advice comes in a written report, and you will receive actual color chips of our recommendations.
Can we help you, whether you are selling or staying. We can make this very easy, and save you a lot of time and money. So let go of your hair! Call us or visit our website and relax!
If you have been staging for any length of time, you may have come across a home that requires your services that may be "occupied," and I am not talking about the present owners or renters.
It has happened to us, and I've heard from other stagers that it has happened to them. It doesn't matter if you believe in the supernatural or not, when something outside of what is considered normal (paranormal) happens to you, you might not know what to do.
Real Estate comes on the market for a variety of reasons, including death and despair, and while it is our job as stagers to reset the energy of the house to appeal to a buyer, the past does not always stay in the past. Additionally, many believe that renovations and changes don't always sit well with the dearly departed, if they are attached to a residence. So, stagers who are working could be asking for a little interaction and they won't even know it.
So, here's some nifty tips if you ever find yourself in a pickle with a pesky paranormal entity:
1. First of all, remember that ghosts were people, too, and they might just miss being treated with a modicum of social courtesy. Nobody ever says hello or goodbye to them - they are largely treated as non-persons, because well, we usually can't see them. So, if you think you are experiencing a visitation while staging, disarm them by saying hello, and introducing yourself.
2. Ghosts are curious about the living who enter their space. Telling them why you are there, and what you are doing goes a long way toward satisfying their curiosity. Sometimes this is all it takes to get them to go back to whatever it is they were doing before you showed up.
3. If you still feel watched or pestered, ask them kindly to understand you don't wish to be rude, but that you are very busy and working against a "deadline," for lack of a better word, and you must get back to work.
4. If you hear noises, as them to please keep it down. If you hear actual words, tell them you hear them, but that you don't have a whole lot of time to talk, because you have so much to do.
5. If you are particularly religious, carrying a religiously significant object may make you feel more secure when working, and that is ok! Just don't go flicking holy water all over the place and burning stinky substances. I know if I was haunting a house, I'd be rather offended by that type of activity in my residence.
6. Don't panic. Running away when you realize you have been approached will only get you hurt or hurt someone else. Stay calm, and if you feel you must leave, simply walk of the house out calmly, excusing yourself, and come back as soon as you are ready. You can freak out later, with a fifth of Jack Daniels.
7. Don't rebuke them or tell them to leave. You are a guest in their home, and just because they are invisible (usually) doesn't mean they are out to get you or are inherently evil. Sometimes, they are just dead folks who simply like where they are. Think of how you'd want to be treated, or how you'd want a dearly departed relative to be treated if someone encountered them. And sometimes, it is just a residual energy linked to the house, like a tape, that gets played over and over in the house, and not an "intelligent" spirit at all. You might be talking to a video of sorts. Just don't presume it's evil or demonic, maintain your civility and don't let your fear or what you see at the movies determine your behavior.
8. If you feel very uncomfortable, leave and come back with someone else in tow. If the presence does like scaring folks (and some do!), there's sometimes not a whole lot you can do about it, but it's more fun to be frightened as a couple.
9. Don't dwell on it. We have no idea why or what caused a spirit to want to stay in the realm of the living, so there is no use trying to figure it out. Just chalk it up to another whack-o staging day, and enjoy the rest of your week. They normally won't follow you home unless you ask them to or show them you are open to that idea. So, saying goodbye is a great way of, well, saying goodbye.
10. Don't mention what happened to you to the neighbors, or go screeching out of the house and leave tire marks in the driveway as you rip out of there. Disclosure about haunted houses it something that is different from state to state, and most do require that the past of the house, or the fact that someone died in the house, be disclosed to the potential buyer.
That's it. If you can remember to be unfailingly polite, you can stage any house, haunted or not.
If you are not 100% sure on how to mount a comprehensive attack to maximize curb appeal, we have mastered the art of delivering the Curb Appeal Strategy Package for every type of house, in every price range, in the US and Canada.
Our package covers the exact colors to consider, landscaping elements, hardware, lighting, and masonry suggestions. We procure discounts with providers of services and materials in your local vicinity. The icing on the "motivational cake" is included with every Strategy Package, a high-quality virtual image of our suggestions in action on your listing, home, or investment property. Seeing the destination and providing a road map to get there is often all it takes to make magic happen.
Our report is over 12 pages of suggestions to provide each and every Curb Appeal Strategy Package Buyer a truly customized plan which addresses all flaws and emphasizes all strengths on an individual basis, and in keeping with the allowed budget.
Why wing it when you don't have to? Why risk wasting time trying to find and try random curb appeal tips? There is a better way, with designer results without the anticipated designer pricing.
Call us today. There is no better way to improve your ROI than with the right exterior improvements.
We love what we do, and we'd love to do it for you!
Since joining Active Rain over a year ago, I have had my first article on Ranch House Curb Appeal read 12,891 times, and many thousands of those readers followed that article to my website.That is one of DOZENS and DOZENS of blogs I have authored, all working for me while I am working on other things.
And today, I received a phone call to be interviewed by a freelance real estate journalist for an article on Curb Appeal for the Associated Press.
Not to mention my many, many clients I have received due to my participation here at AR.
Active Rain has the clout to get you what you want.
So if you are thinking about joining AR to generate some real leads, you couldn't ask for a better site. Opportunities are falling out of the sky at Active Rain. You just have to reach out and grab them.
Staging is an excellent tool to use when selling. It's even better when you call in a professional stager a few years ahead of your selling schedule. You'll actually get to enjoy those improvements now, and reap the benefits later when the time comes.
Improving function and flow isn't just a tool for selling - it can make your home more enjoyable and gracious.
Many stagers are capable of identifying design issues, and are suggesting and overseeing renovations today in anticipation of a more lucrative sale down the road.
Case in point - This Abbeville, Louisiana house had a front door that opened up straight into the eat-in kitchen (the front door was located directly to the left of the double windows above, behind a cinderblock partition, so it emptied you out right into the dining table). By removing a wall and erecting a wall, we were able to give this home a foyer, move the front door to open up there, and trade in the dining room and the wall that was cutting it off from the living area for a much more useful dining bar.
The result is an open concept space, full of gracious possibilities for future buyers to appreciate, and for the family to enjoy today.
Staging is a LOT more than moving furniture around and calling it an "improvement". We are using our eye for design and ability to create MORE equity for sellers in new ways.
So, consulting a stager isn't just for people with homes that are for sale. It is for people who have homes, and want to get some insight on how to make that major investment work harder for them now, and in the future!
So give a professional stager a call, and see what they can do to improve your life, and ultimately, your bottom line!
~Michelle Molinari
Certified Staging Professional, Feature This... Real Estate Staging,www.FeatureThisDotDotDot.com
We are just moving right along from one project to the next with an former client located in Abbeville, Louisiana who is ready to do her guest bath. We did her master bedroom last year. We love doing redesigns in the interest of future ROI!!!
Staging. It's everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Agents are using it in their client's best interest more now than ever. Some agents staunchly refuse to even entertain the thought.
It seems those who have used it or seen it in action have become true believers. Could it possibly be that there is an industry on the rise that actually does know how to present homes for sale BETTER than Real Estate Agents?
I say yes, there is. Professional stagers present homes with target-marketing lifestyle and design enhancements on display. Buyers are snatching up these homes over the unstaged competition, requiring fewer priced reductions (netting more money for buyers and less marketing expenses for agents to carry). Knowing how to ellicit this positive buyer response in the sole expertise and passion of quality stagers.
The marketing ball, however, stays firmly in the court of the agents of these homes.
Can you use a stager? Should you? Is it in the best interest of sellers to at least MENTION the possibility of a faster, more lucrative sale? Is it your fiduciary responsibility to know all you can and do your own research about this sales strategy?
Some say absolutely, others say there is no point whatsoever.
Staging is not going away, because it works to sell homes faster and for more money. The quality and experience of the stager does matter, just as the quality and experience of the agent matters.
What happens when a great agent aligns with a great stager?
PEOPLE START SELLING HOUSES FASTER AND FOR MORE MONEY, that's what happens.
Knocking it before you try it, sticking to the old ways, and jamming your fingers in your ears are all excellent ways to assist your competition to the detriment of your sellers.
Staging by an ethical stager absolutely does not, EVER hide flaws. Stagers are in the flaw-rectification business if they are truly professional. Exalting the architecture, the space, and the message that the house whispers to potential buyers it the only goal and hallmark of the truly experienced stager.
If you feel curtailed by the condition of your properties, daunted by the resistance to change on the part of sellers, and the discomfort of discussing yet another price reduction to motivate a sale, perhaps you are missing a key player on your team who could help reduce these scenarios drastically.
Perhaps.
And don't forget to ask for verifiable local stats when you speak to a stager. You might be horrified that you didn't call on one a lot sooner.
Michelle Molinari
Certified Staging Professional, Feature This... Real Estate Stagingwww.FeatureThisDotDotDot.com
Do you like to see articles about your marketing niche or area of expertise on the Main Page of Active Rain? I know I sure do!
It gives us more credibility and a louder voice than we could achieve on our own, but I think it just plain old boosts my spirits.
Those articles don't get to that main page by themselves. It takes somebody to wave a little flag for it to get noticed and then given a place on that most prominent of AR pages.
I love to flag the great posts on Real Estate Staging. That's my thing, and I just love it when I see my thing on the that main page. It's an easy way for me to support my industry and make me smile.
So, if you like what you are reading, stand up for it and wave a little Flag!
They are on the bottom of every blog for us to have input on what we would like to
see AR put out in front of the AR readers, our readers!
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Dismiss the notion of bringing in a stager at your own risk, because the message they are likely to internalize is that you don't care about getting the most money possible for their property. And if you think this answer will stop them from pursuing a stager outside of your recommendation, you couldn't be more wrong. They will Google stagers, they will see before and after pics in their town, and they will call them to inquire about pricing, and most of all, they will say "The agent we are thinking about working with doesn't know I am calling...." The stager will ask who the agent is, and when it is all said and done, the stager may very well drop the name of an agent who is more proactive regarding equity preservation.
Before I start a riot from fat chef lovers everywhere, I want to say I love collections, and have a few hokey ones myself. They make me smile. I happen to adore those tacky plastic bonsai trees from the fifties and sixties. I love kooky-looking figurines of Asian guys fishing with a crazy look on their faces made of off-white plastic and brown stain, to supposedly mimic ivory. I collect bejewled box purses by E. Collins (they are really, really tacky with giant plastic gems glued all over them). These things are my weaknesses, and they are displayed with off-beat pride. They are parts of my personality.
style. The fastest way to do that is to get the collections of kitchen kitsch OUT and let a wider audience appreciate what your kitchen has to offer.
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