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28 Comments on One Little Red Wagon Thats NOT Tied to Other Sinking Ships in the Industry!
Aloha Ginger, Thanks for visiting. So now you know you were always what you wished you were. I now dub you Dame Ginger Merchandiser of Homes, stager of dreams.
Aloha Cameron, mahalo for commenting. it will be difficult for many RE related professions because of the drop in volume sales to stay afloat. Even though individual stagers may be challenged to stay solvent there will still be a need for their services now and after the recovery.
Aloha Jenny, in hard times the companies that cut back on advertising, marketing, and merchandising are the ones in trouble, thanks for commenting
Aloha Karen, I think many don't recognize the value of staging simply because they haven't experienced the effect of a well staged property on potential buyers. They may have attempted unsuccessfully to stage a property or seen a DIY job that fell flat and determined "oh well, staging doesn't work'. Staging is a facet of merchandising that helps turn that diamond in the rough into a gem! Mahalo for the feature!
Aloha Cynthia, thanks for visiting. I'm glad you use the word product with your clients, it really does help the seller to understand the necessity to remove the attachments they have and begin selling the home in a way that appeals to as many potential buyers as possible.
Aloha Connie, Merchandisers use terms like flow, focal points, organization, and demographics Their object is to move the potential buyer through the space allowing them to see all of the products and what the have to offer. The use of color, shapes, textures helps to attract the eye getting the buyers to commit to a product and buy it. It's emotional, it's science, it's effective. Mahalo for commenting.
Aloha Maureen, People just don't want to be spending money right now, unfortunately. But any successful company will tell you when you cut back on advertising, marketing, and merchandising you are essentially cutting your sales potential. Thank you stopping by.
Aloha Margaret, if your going to survive with any kind of business, you must put your product out there with it's best face forward and it's going to cost you some money but if you have a quality product and consumers can recognize it, you will succeed and it will pay dividends. Mahalo for visiting.
GREAT blog KIMO!! I think it is important for everyone to remember that even in the worst markets homes still sell - which homes? The ones that are priced right, look great and in good locations. Staging, as you so aptly put, is simply the merchandising of the home - helping it look great!
There will always be doubters, but the fact of the matter is that many many stagers have strong businsses and great agent clients because staging works!! Yesterday I had an agent tell me, as we were unstaging their listing (it closed today) that after they accepted the offer on the home, the sellers had two additonal offers - all in less than 30 days after staging. The home had been vacant for over 8 months prior.... hmmm..... this is the 2nd time they've used our services and the same thing happened on the first home. Coincidence? I don't think so, and neither do they!
Hi Kimo,
Grrreat blog! Gosh, I really thought that Tony was Grrreat all these years, I guess Kellogg's just know's how to merchandise their products! ;0)
It is true that ones attraction to a product or home, is based on the way it is merchandised and presented. Home Staging definitely is NOT a bubble profession as Benita questioned, but just as in any type of business associated with the Real Estate market, it will ride the wave of highs and lows and can flourish in any economy, depending on the individual. It's all in how the home stager perceives their business, Keeping a POSITIVE outlook, networking, educating and putting their best FACE FORWARD is what it's all about! Now, there YOU go making me hungry for a bowl of cereal... funny how that works, thanks Kimo!
Aloha Kimo, very nicely done. If this had not already been featured I would have put the old star on this one myself. (Thanks for the help, who ever you are). We beleive strongly in the comparison to a home being a product, one that has to be marketed to compete with all of the other products. This is generally the main point we attempt to drive home with sellers. Again, excellent post.
Very deserving of a feature Kimo! Staging is visual merchandising and visual sales that work!!
well written, congrats on the feature.
I agree.. Maureen, I agree that Professional home staging will always be needed. I worked for a major upscale department store for many years in the visual merchandising department. Let me tell you how much money was spent on all sorts of subliminal merchandising.. A LOT!! Every little detail was scrutanized with a fine-tooth combe. Even the smallest detials are important in staging. I find that the littlest details combined, make a huge impact. I again cannot stress how important Professional home staging is.
Aloha Melissa, very true mahalo for visiting! Let the nay sayers keep their homes on the market if they so choose, we know staging is effective.
Aloha Michelle, I'm very GGrrrrateful for your comment. Positivity is half the battle regardless of what you do.
Aloha Gary, thank you for stopping by!
Aloha Kathy, don't leave out the other senses too. Fresh baked goodies in the oven help to establish a homey feel as well. Thanks for your comment.
Aloha Benita, Thank YOU for the inspiration!
Aloha Todd, I used to work for Giorgio Armani and I know what your talking about. As the saying goes "God and the devil are in the details" mahalo for commenting.
KIMO, very well stated. And, in fact, in California staging was alive and thriving in the boom markets, as people were sure that if it worked well in slower markets it would surely bring them the multiple offers they wanted, and it did. Sometimes 17 - 25 offers on a property. WOW! So, why would we go back. Once we know better, we do better is my favorite quote, but more than that, the horse is out of the barn and we can't go back. Well we can, and the foolish may try, but they won't be able to compete.
KIMO-Great post! It's something I've thought about (ie, what will happen to Staging as an industry when the market picks up), but I think Staging will remain strong for 2 reasons: 1. It's now a part of selling a house; there's no turning back. Buyers are more aware of what is reasonable to expect, that is a clean, uncluttered staged house. 2. Our society as a whole has evolved into the "gotta have it now" generation. New Buyers aren't as likely to look past the purple wall, older fixtures, and dated furnishings. We have to be able to see it "now".
We live in our "home" but sell a "house".
I'll jump on you red wagon Kimo!
Staging is merchandising and marketing a product and every product has a marketing sales force behind it to bring it to the top of consumer's list. Home Stagers will be those marketers who bring the consumers to the house selling table.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I want to see in my lifetime, home staging become a standar part of every real estate transaction - whether by seller, Realtor or home stager - it is a must for EVERY home (including mine when it comes time to sell and you can betcha I'm calling my staging buddies to help me!). Just like home inspections 30 years ago were not a necessary requirement, home staging is the necessary service that will bring offers to the table.
I like that wagon too ;-)
Kimo: It doesn't matter if the real estate market is hot or not - when you put your home on the market, you are entering it into a beauty contest. The best looking homes in the best condition will sell faster than neighboring homes that haven't bee properly prepared for market. The unstaged homes help sell the staged homes.
We all want the best we can afford, whether it is a house, a car, or a can of corn (thank you Karen Otto). Like it or not, beauty is favored over plainness regardless of the intrinsic value. As you so aptly illustrated, the drinks with the fancy labels are infinitely more attractive than the drink with the plain label.
I can't understand why some are so eager to claim that staging is going the way of the dodo bird. Quite the contrary, it is those that do not recognize the value of staging and properly marketing a property for sale that will be forced out of business by lack of clients.
Thank you for this very interesting and thought provoking post Kimo.
Hi Kimo, this is great! I have enjoyed the little bit of staging that I have been involved in and really admire the work of professional stagers.
Excellent post, Kimo! Advertisers spend a lot of money on marketing their products...why should houses be any different.
You are so right! I worked as a visual merchandiser for 20 yrs, before officially becoming a stager. Over the years, our dept. fluctuated in importance and budgetary consideration, but was always present. Slowly, most of the mannequins disappeared in stores, except in the major markets like NY. Of late, I am seeing them return, all the way to the mid level dept. stores...so when times got tough, the tough got going, and BROUGHT BACK WHAT WORKED! Now, off to read the post that started this conversation!
GOOD AFTERNOON KIMO! A home is no different than anything else for sale. Things that draw attention, have appeal and have appointments that enhance the flaws will sell. And as long as there are people like me who decorate with anything that comes home from school or just buy great looking "pieces" that don't go together - there will be a need for home stagers! -- Gabrielle
Aloha Terrylynn, I agree why anyone would go back to selling homes that look unkempt, disorganized, and packed full of personal belongings. Thanks for commenting!
Aloha Kathy, thanks I like your points. More and more people, as a result of HGTV shows and other home improvement programs, have greater expectations when it come to the condition of a potential property.
Aloha Karen, I think we will eventually move towards a concise collective understanding of the profession of Home Staging as time passes. It may not always be called Home Staging but regardless it will continue to be effective marketing for sellers and Realtors alike. Mahalo for visiting.
Aloha Michelle, mahalo for commenting. I think many consumers just don't understand the power of creative design and how important a role it plays in our collective Psyche. Nay sayers are every where in every profession, but that shouldn't stop anyone.
Aloha Ann, thanks Ann for your support, and supporting the home staging cause!
Aloha Sharon, very true, and you need to spend money to make it. Thank you for stopping by.
Aloha Cheryl, I was always amazed at the level of detail the visual dept. was committed to when I worked in couture. In haute couture your head begins to split open at the constant tweeking of even the most minute detail. How else can you make money off some thing that less than .5% of the population can actually use. You are selling not just a product but a way of living.
Aloha Kamahele, wise observation. If we were all adept in all things no one would have a profession. Instead we have a rich tapestry of different people providing for different needs.
Well said Kimo! I have been working in retail merchandising and display for 20 years and added Home Staging to my business almost 2 years ago. I also taught Visual Display and Merchandising for 5 years and I apply everything I have learned and taught for each staging job I do. There is a lot of psychology involved with purchasing an item and the more we know about that, the more we can appeal to potential buyers.
I'm late to the little red wagon party and couldn't let it pass by without commenting. Thank you for succinctly encapsulating the services that are offered by merchandisers and home stagers.
When I wrote the text for my site four years ago the first lines were " when you list your property for sale it is becomes more than a home.. it is now a product for sale.
I have the conversation with home owners that they need to "face" the items in their kitchen cabinets. They nod in agreement when I mention how they look for what they are searching for by scanning the shelves that are neatly faced. If they see kitchen cabinets that have been faced they see a product that they want.. a neat and organized kitchen. When most kitchen cabinets look like a bomb went off in them, this is a free merchandising tip that every home owner can do.
Seems I have been a merchandiser and a home stager all along but had never quite realized the finer points so clearly.
Aloha Michelle, Thanks for commenting. Yes you are a merchandiser who knows how to "stage".