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Sellers Willing to Pay Higher Commissions?

By Liz Harrison

Home Stager with Spruce It Up! Oregon's Real Estate Stager

April 08, 2009 01:55 PM

I just read some interesting info on another blog. (http://activerain.com/blogsview/1024528/Would-You-Pay-More-To-Sell-Your-House) Something about sellers being willing to pay higher commissions or bonuses to agents to ensure that their house gets more showings. I really am being very objective when the question popped into my head..."Why would someone pay a higher real estate commission when a less costly investment in professional staging would yield better results for showings, better results for DOM and better results for selling price???" Perhaps because a) Sellers are being convinced by some agents that paying more for your agent gets you a better salesperson, or b) sellers still don't have enough information available to them about the value of professional home staging, or c) agents don't have enough knowledge about the proven success of home staging to be able to use it often and effectively in their marketing plans, or d) All of the above.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Jamal Malik has done it again! The correct answer, for 20 million rupees, is...D-All of the above.!"

The final million dollar question remains...How can we professional stagers improve the knowledge base of consumers and agents to use the very effective tool of home staging?

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Eric Reid

Renaissance Realty Group of Keller Williams Atlanta Partners - Lawrenceville, GA

I have mixed feeling about this .. the fact that sellers feel they have to pay extra for us (agents) to do our highest and best effort to get a home sold... now if they wanted to pay for a non traditional type of advertising then I am ok with that

Apr 08, 2009 02:15 PM

Shane OnullGorman

Eau Claire Realty, Inc. - Eau Claire, WI

Eau Claire Wisconsin, Real Estate Agent & Realtor- Buy or Sell

I dont think the commission has much to do with my specific performance but it might have a lot to do with another agent bringing in a buyer. A high commission speaks in volumes about how motivated a seller is.

Apr 08, 2009 02:19 PM

Lane Bailey

Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA

Realtor & Car Guy

I think that staging works. But frankly, if there are nothing but crappy pictures (and a minimal number of even those) the staging won't shine. It can't work if it is invisible.

Staging is part of a tool. The tool is presentation. In order to be effective, it has to be showcased.

Apr 08, 2009 02:21 PM

Karen Nardella

The Emporium Your Home for Elegant Resale - Conway, NH

Hi Liz,

This is exactly why I feel as I do. I believe with my heart, that if HS's and RD's would start targeting the consumer to educate and win them over, the R E Agents "WILL" follow. It is the consumer that drives every market into success or failure. All HS and RD you would all benefit expotentially by focusing more toward this end than to become frustrated that the R E Agents are not as on board as many would like. They are in fact driven by the consumer also. I say, "win over the consumer" and your businesses will begin to grow. Just my constant belief added as food for thought. A friend in NH.

Apr 08, 2009 10:46 PM

Liz Harrison

Spruce It Up! Oregon's Real Estate Stager - Salem, OR

ASP, Home Staging Consultant

You all make great points. As consumers begin to request/expect staging as part of a marketing package, agents will begin to incorporate it more. But agents need to be able to speak confidently about the value of staging. I've had many clients say things like "Well, I asked my Realtor about staging but they said we could see waht happens first before we stage." As suggested, staging could be the extra piece that sellers might become more willing to pay for. Just as bonuses indicate that a seller is motivated, pricing right and investing in the "presentation" of the product demonstrate that motivation as well. I do believe though that sellers still look to the "expert" for advice and will follow the lead of their listing agent.

Apr 09, 2009 07:31 AM

Judy Heinrich

Judy Heinrich Home Staging - San Diego, CA

Many times you see sellers offering $ at closing or other type of bonuses. I just listed my own house last week, offered an extra 1/2% to buyers agent if I got an acceptable offer in the first month. I felt it was important to differentiate my house from the others that have been sitting on the market here in the neighborhood, in an effort to drive more traffic to my house. My price range is very difficult to sell around here. Nothing in the neighborhood has sold in 6 months. Having said that, I also had my house perfectly staged and priced appropriately. And guess what? It's under contract in the first week. Did my bonus help? I don't know and I don't really care that much, it's "sold" while others are still sitting and I can now move on to San Diego!!!

I will say first and foremost, that every seller should stage their house and price it appropriately for this market. That should be the first step!

Apr 10, 2009 02:38 AM

Sellers Willing to Pay Higher Commissions?

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