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Zero to Pending in 27 HOURS

By
Education & Training with J29 Project

I have a true Active Rain Success Story to share!

In March I received a phone call from a gentleman who said he found my blog on Active Rain and wanted to know if I was interested in Staging his house to sell.  He wasn't actually positive they were going to move yet, but could I come over and give them a consultation.  It was my first lead from AR and I was so excited that AR actually generated business for me.

I went to the clients' house and he and his wife are dream clients!  They have a beautiful home and it wasn't going to be hard to sell.  They wanted top dollar for their home though, because they were moving to a market that was very expensive and wanted to get as much as possible for their home.  It did need some upgrading in a few places and the homeowners believed that putting a little money in first would get them a bigger return!  Like I said - DREAM CLIENTS!

After I delivered my final report and we talked about the updates that needed to be done, the homeowners decided that they would upgrade the countertops in the kitchen and spruce up the master bath.  Wise investments for sure and I felt that they would get most of their money back.

Well, once they put the granite in the kitchen, they realized that the bathroom laminate didn't look right, so they had the master bath and the hall bath done as well.  The results were amazing!  The house suddenly became a high end home and with all of the other decluttering and rearranging of furniture - I had no doubt that it would sell quickly.

I was scheduled to come back to take pictures for the stagedhomes.com website and perform any final staging that needed to be done.  Before I got there to do that the homeowners put the house on the market on a Friday afternoon at 1pm.  Within the hour, they had three showings scheduled.  By 4pm on Saturday - the very next day - they accepted an offer on the house!!!  The house was pending in 27 HOURS after being placed on the market - FANTASTIC!!!  They are scheduled to close in three weeks. 

This has been a great experience and working with the homeowners has been truly a joy!  They took the report I gave them to heart and really worked hard preparing their home for sale.  The obviously are pleased with the results.  In the homeowners words - "You should use us as the perfect example of what happens when you put a little money into your home.  It will yield a big return." 

I love the fact that these clients found me on AR.  I love this forum and this is the most fun success story to share with people.  I have a few pictures below of some of the work that the homeowners did to get their home ready.  I only provided them with the knowledge - they did all of the work themselves!

 

kitchen before

Kitchen before

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

kitchen after

 

Kitchen After - Doesn't the granite make a difference?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Master bathroom Before

Master Bathroom Before

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 master bathroom after master bath after      

Master Bath After the updates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basement before                basement after

Basement Before                                                                  Basement After

 

Basement family room before        Basement Family Room Before

       Basement Family Room after

 

 

 

 

 

Basement Family Room After

 

basement office area before

 

Basement office before

 

 

 

 

 

Office turned exercise room

 

 

 

Basement Office turned exercise room

 

 

 

 

Office before    Office Before

 

office after   Office After

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now - I am not a photographer!  The homeowner takes amazing photos and I should have gotten her to take the before and after shots.  I am also very excited to announce that I will be partnering with a professional photographer, so there will be no more date stamps, blurred images, etc.  I am thrilled to be able to provide great photography as an extension of my company! 

It was a great house to work with and amazing clients - the kind that you dream about!  Only the first of many AR success stories to come!

Posted by

Sheila Kennedy

Owner of Staged SO Right

Creator of J29 Project, Draw the Line, Eye on the Prize and Hear My Voice Programs

www.j29project.com

Staging you AMAZING!

Paul S. Henderson, REALTORĀ®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Sheila, 27 hours is remarkable in today's market. Our home staggers all but disappeared... 

Jun 08, 2009 03:04 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Sheila -- congrats on your success with the lightning-fast sale of this home!  AR is not only a great way for our clients to find us, but it also provides such a great forum for us to share our tips, questions, successes, etc.

Jun 08, 2009 04:11 AM
Linda D. Pufford
Stage with Divine Style - Home Staging - Novato, CA
ASPM, Marin/Sonoma Home Stager

Sheila,

Congratulations on your triple sucess: 1.) First client (DREAM CLIENT) from Active Rain.  2.) Your Staged Home pending in 27 Hours!  3.) Partnering with a Professional Photographer.  GREAT JOB!!!  Keep them coming.

Jun 08, 2009 06:27 AM
Mary Fasnacht
Washington and Allegheny Counties and surrounding areas - McMurray, PA
Feels Like Home Interiors ~ Pittsburgh PA Home Staging

Great news, Sheila--congratulations!  You did a fantastic job for this client.  And how nice to hear that they found you through AR!

Jun 08, 2009 07:29 AM
Debra Valentine
Designing Details ~ Staging & Design, LLC - Bountiful, UT
Utah Home Staging for, Bountiful, Salt Lake & Surrounding Areas

Sheila: Thanks for sharing this great story with us. It's so good to hear that our efforts pay off and yours certainly are. In addition, the recommendations you gave to your clients and their work to implement them were obviously just right - congratulations!

Jun 08, 2009 07:30 AM
Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

Home Run Sheila!!  Congratulations! They are very fortunate to have you guiding them and you did a beautiful job at it!

Jun 08, 2009 08:16 AM
Ginger Foust
Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA
Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Woo-Hoo Sheila great news and congratulations!  It is fun when we can help someone that understands the ins and outs of how to get top dollar and quickly! You will undoubtedly remember these folks for a long time.  My first dream clients remain good friends. 

Jun 08, 2009 10:27 AM
Goodbye Active Rain
Out of Real Estate

Sheila, excellent news!  It is always nice to hear success stories.

Jun 08, 2009 01:31 PM
Sheila Kennedy
J29 Project - Rochester, NY

Paul - Thank you! I have staged some that have sold quickly before, but never this fast! 

Maureen - I love AR - what a fabulous way to augment my business and education.  Thanks for stopping by!

Linda - I will try.  Business has picked up significantly this month.  Word has gotten out that 27 hours is the time to beat! LOL!  Thanks for your encouragement!

Mary - Thanks a bunch - I am thrilled that they were clients from AR! 

Debra - The clients were amazing.  I wish I had done more of the physical labor, but they did a great job - the pictures really don't do it justice!  Thanks for stopping by!

Cathy - Thank you my friend - I really appreciate the kudos!

Ginger - I wish they weren't moving to Florida.  The homeowners are fabulous people and I am thrilled for them, but will be sorry that they have to leave.  I am glad other people feel that way about clients that they have.  Thanks for coming by Ginger!

Jun 08, 2009 01:33 PM
Sheila Kennedy
J29 Project - Rochester, NY

Tony - Thanks - I have been wanting to share this news for about two weeks, but have been running around like crazy.  No complaints though - I love it!  Thanks for stopping by!

Jun 08, 2009 01:34 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Goes to show you just how important it is to have an understanding of what it takes to sell fast.  These sellers actually got it!  They knew they had to spend some money and put forth a lot of work, and they were willing to do both.  They were rewarded for it!  Congrats on your first ActiveRain listing!

Jun 09, 2009 04:30 AM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

Great transformation, love what you did in the bathroom.

Jun 10, 2009 03:27 PM
B Lucas-Thrower
Staging - Interior Redesign & Home Staging - Franklin, TN
Interior Redesign and Home Staging

Wonderful job. It is truly amazing what updating kitchens and baths will do for a home.

Jun 10, 2009 11:34 PM
Sheila Kennedy
J29 Project - Rochester, NY

Sharon - They did get it and it made the world of difference.  I have to say it usually sells faster when they do.  I am glad that this kind of success was met for AR clients - it makes it that much better.  Thanks!

Cindy - I wish I could take more credit, but I gave them a few suggestions and they ran with it.  They did a beautiful job with the new floors and taking that mirror out.  The new tile made a huge difference.  Thanks for stopping by!

B - I agree - putting a little bit of money into those areas really makes a difference.  Thanks!

Jun 11, 2009 04:29 AM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

OK that beat my last one of listed to pending in 4 days - you win and it looks great.

Jun 11, 2009 04:09 PM
_ _

Sheila - The results speak for themselves!  What a difference!  Great Job!

Jun 12, 2009 03:46 AM
Annie Pinsker-Brown
Stage to Sell - LA Home Staging - Los Angeles, CA
Stage to Sell, Los Angeles Home Stager

Sheila, AMAZING! What great results. I absolutely love those clients who actually listen to what you say and take your advice. Just had a couple that did that and got 6 offers in 10 days on their home. Yours were very smart to hire you because I just love what you did with the basement family room and gym. THat must have been a clincher for the buyers!

Jun 12, 2009 04:29 AM
Sheila Kennedy
J29 Project - Rochester, NY

Kathleen - my very first house went pending in four days and I thought I would never beat that!  They don't all happen that way, but I love when they do.  Thanks for stopping by!

 

Jason - They do speak for themselves.  I couldn't have been more pleased with the results.  GLad to see you back in the Rain.

Annie- The homeowners did such a great job - I almost hate to take credit for their hard work.  Thanks for your compliments - that is high praise from someone so talented!

Jun 12, 2009 11:26 AM
Andrew Haslett
Van Warren Home Inspections, NAHI CRI - Fort Knox, KY
Heartland of Kentuckynulls, Best Home Inspector

Sheila, I've been remiss in stopping by to check out the pictures.

Sounds like everyone is happy with this one, providing it closes on schedule.

The sellers are happy, the buyers are happy, the stager is happy, the listing agent is happy, the selling agent is happy, the lender will be happy, the title company, .... the list goes on.

Jun 15, 2009 07:48 AM
Sheila Kennedy
J29 Project - Rochester, NY

Yes, Andrew - we are all happy!  I have been busy trying to sell off the furniture in the house - know anyone who needs that beautiful pool table or a bedroom suite? They are still scheduled to close next week!  This was a great project!

Jun 18, 2009 02:32 PM