AGENTS/REALTORS  let your professional home stager help you make the deal happen.

Some of you will remember my blog post asking for a primer to use on wallpaper panels in a mobile home. 

This was an estate situation and the mobile is located in a 55+ park.  One of my realtor partner's asked me to just take a look at the place and perhaps help with some accessories, artwork and linens...no major furnishings.  This home had already been on the market for OVER a year (with a different agent) and the space rental was eating away at any profits that MIGHT be there for the heirs.  The trustor (a friend of the deceased) was continually telling the realtors that there was simply no money for anything except the space rent.  AND since the heirs were long distance there was no one to do the work without some $$ expenditures. 

I don't usually do LOOK-SEES for no cost but this agent uses me a lot so I make some concessions that don't eat too much into my time.  After a brief look-see I decided that this 1986 model really needed some serious updating before staging would do it ANY good.  The wallpaper, sculptured blue (dirty) carpet throughout and much more screamed "OLD."   

In order to help the agent understand why I did not recommend staging I put it in writing.  Nothing time consuming or detailed.  He totally understood BUT then he also sent my brief explanation to the attorney for the estate and let him know that this home needed a SERIOUS price reduction. 

The attorney responded that he thought that it was time to paint and recarpet rather than reducing the price so drastically.  How about staging my agent friend asked?  "Don't think so," replied the attorney. 

 The agent called me with the GOOD NEWS that painting would be happening and new carpet too.  I was thrilled and yes I would help him with paint color and carpet selection.  THEN he let the shoe drop...no new light fixtures and NO staging.  Ouch!

Here's a before and after of the wallpapered kitchen NOW painted.

 Sorry no after photos of the newly carpeted areas and painted rooms YET. BTW it is NOT painted white as it shows in the photo.  It is a mocha cream. 

Yes, I shot myself in the foot and will not be staging this home but that's OK.  Hopefully the agent will now be able to move this property and I know that I will remain his staging partner. I WILL GET BACK. 

Sometimes providing the real estate agent with a consultation (even a brief one) can work wonders. 

IMPORTANT UPDATE CLICK HERE.

Dream Interior Redesign & Staging by Ginger Foust is a full service professional staging and redesign company serving the California foothill and mountain communities of Oakhurst, North Fork, Coarsegold, Ahwahnee, Bass Lake, Wawona and Mariposa.  Click here to see a short slideshow with examples of our staging work.  Also, visit our website at www.dreamredesigns.com or www.oakhurststaging.com for more information or call 559-877-2442.