Special offer

Will I Lose Points If I Eat The Cheez-its?

By
Real Estate Agent with Village Real Estate Services, Inc.

 I received an email from one of the great all time clients.  It had one simple sentence, "Will I lose points if I eat the Cheez-its?"  I staged their home on Friday to get ready for the photo shoot.  One of the things I placed in the kitchen was some tall jars filled with some visually interesting things.  One jar is layered with colored beans, another with some pasta and the third jar you guessed it---is filled with Cheez-its.  I started to email her back, then decided to call instead.  I explained she was welcome to eat the Cheez-its and she wouldn't lose points but would likely lose her lunch because the Cheez-its had been in that jar for about 6 months.

We both had a good laugh.  This lovely lady and her husband are stellar clients.  They are the kind of people REALTORS® dream about having as clients.  They have absolutely done everything right.  They have gotten their home in perfect showing condition.  The windows sparkling, the front porch swept clean, front door freshly painted, counters clear, no refrigerator art, toilet lids down, lights on and everything ready for showing.  We got the photos back from the photographer late last Friday night and I burned the midnight oil to get them into MLS so we would be positioned for the weekend.  They had their first two showings on Sunday.  It would be too perfect if I told you we already had offers...not so.  But, how encouraging it was for the sellers to have agents show their home immediately.  By the way, the sellers were far away from home during the appointment showing times.  They listened when I told them it's best to let prospective buyers have the house to themselves so they can visualize themselves living there.

I'm looking forward to following up soon with a post to let you know that this home has been sold so this nice couple can move to Texas to retire and live near their family.

By Marlene Bridges, REALTOR®

SRES - Seniors Real Estate Specialist®

CRS-Certified Residential Specialist®

President - Laguna Hills/Laguna Woods Chamber of Commerce

Marlene is a REALTOR® specializing in Real Estate and Home and Condo Sales in South Orange County California's Saddleback Valley. She invites you to use her website to search for homes and condos for sale in Laguna Woods, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita, Lake Forest, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo at http://www.livethecaliforniadream.com/

Cell/Text Marlene (714) 745-2592 or Call (800) 777-1775

 

Marlene Bridges
Village Real Estate Services, Inc. - Laguna Hills, CA
Laguna Homes|Laguna Condos|Laguna Real Estate

Got up this morning to find all these great comments to this cute little post.  I thought the story was fun---your comments have absolutely cracked me up!  Thanks for all the info on your would-be girlfriends in Texas also named Marlene, the suitable and recommended shelf life of Cheez-its and your very clever suggestions of other things that can be used to stage a home from decadent chocolate to pistacios (which I believe were more for the agent than anyone else!).  You've just made my day! 

May 24, 2007 03:38 AM
Chris Griffith
Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL - Bonita Springs, FL
Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
Who doesn't like cheez-its?  We all took the bait!
May 24, 2007 05:28 AM
Marlene Bridges
Village Real Estate Services, Inc. - Laguna Hills, CA
Laguna Homes|Laguna Condos|Laguna Real Estate
So far our buddy Jeff Dowler is the only one who doesn't like Cheez-its.  What's up with that?
May 24, 2007 06:40 AM
Chris Griffith
Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL - Bonita Springs, FL
Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
Get the rope and torches!
May 24, 2007 06:44 AM
Donna Lueder
Integrity Group Inc. - Boise, ID
Meridian Idaho Real Estate
good one... Had something like that happen to me too. The kid had "issues" the next day.
May 24, 2007 11:46 AM
Marlene Bridges
Village Real Estate Services, Inc. - Laguna Hills, CA
Laguna Homes|Laguna Condos|Laguna Real Estate
Donna-What were the "issues" from?
May 24, 2007 11:51 AM
Steven Shewell
Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. - Ephrata, PA
The Mortgage Maverick
C'mon, Marlene.  Follow it full circle and buy her a box of Cheese Its.  You'll both get a good laugh and she'll definitely have a story to tell her friends and mention your name.
May 25, 2007 01:37 AM
Joe Harris
Morgan Financial - Melbourne, FL
Great post.  You really grabbed me with your title.  Staging the home is key in a competative marketplace.  Great work!
May 25, 2007 01:50 AM
Gail Robinson
William Raveis Real Estate - Southport, CT
CRS, GRI, e-PRO Fairfield County, CT
You know it's something to consider, because if it looks edible and a buyer or your client's child eats it and gets sick, guess who's liable?  Have you thought of sealing the jars with crazy glue?  I, personally, think snack food is too tempting and could have unintended consequences.
May 25, 2007 12:59 PM
Rosemary Brooks
BMC Real Estate - 209-910-3706 - Stockton, CA
The Mother & Daughter Realty Team

I am not a fan of cheez its but I do like ritz!  I am always amazed at the jars with stuff in them, all of them are nice and I just wonder how do you get the stuff in the jars without tearing them apart!

Staging a home is something I am very much getting into and hope that I will be able to convince my clients to do this - the ones I have ran into seem to think that their house is ok the way it is.  Their pride.

I rank your post a 4.  lol

May 26, 2007 01:11 AM
Marlene Bridges
Village Real Estate Services, Inc. - Laguna Hills, CA
Laguna Homes|Laguna Condos|Laguna Real Estate

Paul & Harley - Doggie...er...I mean Harley treats would be an excellent idea!  I'm using that one!

Steven - Thank you for your EXCELLENT suggestion!  What better closing gift than a big box of beautifully wrapped Chees-its?  It's even RESPA compliant! LOL

Gail - Thanks for your safety suggestion. It never occurred to me it might be tempting to eat what's inside the jars.  Although, I doubt anyone would get more than a bit of indigestion.

Rosemary - There's a very simple way to  help your clients see the benefits of home staging.  Have them look their competition.  Whether they look at photos online or you schedule a home tour with them, most will see that they have some work to do to get ready.  I like to get them moving boxes right away---it's a great start.  It's nice if they can rent a storage garage, if not, they can stack the boxes in the garage.  It sure helps to present the home better if the normal clutter is removed.

 

May 26, 2007 05:26 AM
Rosemary Brooks
BMC Real Estate - 209-910-3706 - Stockton, CA
The Mother & Daughter Realty Team

Marlene:

Thanks I will be a little pro-active in getting my point across and hopefully pull more to this way of thinking.  That is a good idea to show them homes that stagged and like them see the difference.  I even like bringing a few boxes over for them.  Thanks again.

May 26, 2007 08:32 AM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services
Great story -- how many cheeze-its do you think will be "eaten" before a contract is signed? Maybe you can have a contest!
May 26, 2007 03:45 PM
Michael Lewis
Elite Realty - Henderson, NV
Good stuff !  I personally will eat any thing without mold !lol  mike likes it>
May 26, 2007 04:52 PM
Marlene Bridges
Village Real Estate Services, Inc. - Laguna Hills, CA
Laguna Homes|Laguna Condos|Laguna Real Estate

Glad you enjoyed the post. 

 Joan - I'm hoping none will be eaten.  Especially since my client has just dropped some pounds and I'd hate to see her waste the calories on stale crackers!  Thanks for reading and commenting.

Mike, with all the great food in LV, please don't eat anything with mold unless it's good wine or cheese!

May 26, 2007 05:10 PM
Tim Wade
RE/MAX Realty Champions - Wolfeboro, NH

Enjoyed your post.  Thanks and looking forward to the next.

Please visit our website www.reinnh.com

Tell us what you think.

 

May 28, 2007 02:55 AM
Marlene Bridges
Village Real Estate Services, Inc. - Laguna Hills, CA
Laguna Homes|Laguna Condos|Laguna Real Estate
Hi Tim & Pam - Glad you enjoyed this fun story.  Have a great Memorial Day.
May 28, 2007 02:58 AM
Rosemary Brooks
BMC Real Estate - 209-910-3706 - Stockton, CA
The Mother & Daughter Realty Team
OK so does anyone know how to put that stuff in a jar?
May 28, 2007 04:57 AM
Tina Maraj
RE/MAX One - Fullerton, CA
Celebrating 30 Years of Real Estate Sales
Funny post. I looked at it just because it mentioned Cheeze It's!
May 30, 2007 04:34 PM
Marlene Bridges
Village Real Estate Services, Inc. - Laguna Hills, CA
Laguna Homes|Laguna Condos|Laguna Real Estate
Hi Tina - Glad you enjoyed the post.  Have a fun day.
May 31, 2007 05:02 AM