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The Words that Stagers Hate To Hear

It doesn't happen often, but when it does it gives me a stomach ache.

We were on a job earlier this week when my Blackberry did the little jingle it does when an email has come through. I stopped hanging the new fixture Danny was just adjusting over the dining table and scanned my in-box where I found an email from a Realtor I had staged a home for a couple of weeks ago.

"Hi Kym, this is Margaret. The sellers have decided to take the home off the market. You did too good of a job, they realize that they love it, can live there for the rest of their lives. How about that!

Oh my...not the goal of any Professional Home Stager and words we don't want to hear. Of course, we are happy that the clients loved our work, but our goal and mission is always to help them love their NEW house even more!

My crew went to pick up the job yesterday, and we all agree that they are one of the nicest families we have ever staged with. The grandparents lived with the young couple to help raise their 8 month old baby girl. They couldn't stop thanking us for our work and were pleased that they had received multiple offers but decided they now loved it too much to sell.

Moral of the story is to CALL A STAGER NOW while you are still living in the home. Don't wait until you need to put it on the market. Let us help you fall in Love with your home now and live in it for years to come. When you are ready to sell down the road you will be ready, and have spent years of enjoyment prior to selling.

OCCUPIED HOME - USING HOMEOWNER'S FURNITURE

www.staged-to-sell.com

LIVING ROOM BEFORE

www.staged-to-sell.com

LIVING ROOM AFTER STAGED

www.staged-to-sell.com

BABY'S ROOM BEFORE

www.staged-to-sell.com

BABY'S ROOM AFTER STAGED TO SELL

www.staged-to-sell.com

OFFICE/GUEST ROOM BEFORE

www.staged-to-sell.com

OFFICE/GUEST ROOM AFTER STAGED TO SELL

Staged to Sell is the San Francisco East Bay's premier staging company. We offer services for both Occupied and Vacant Homes and Design services for Staging to Live. For more information go to www.staged-to-sell.com. Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Danville, Orinda, Lafayette, Berkeley, Oakland, Albany and the entire Contra Costa County.

Posted by Kym Hough, Home Staging Professional CSP, RESA, Danville, CA on 09/11/2009 10:03 AM

Comments (32)

Design to Live in the ActiveRain Channel

before and after, design to live, home for sale in el cerrito

This post has been included in California Information Contra Costa County, CA Information El Cerrito, CA Information
Post is included in group: Real World Home Staging for Newbies
Post is included in group: Staging "Before" & "After" Pictures
Post is included in group: Stage It Forward...
Post is included in group: Realtors®
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32 Comments on The Words that Stagers Hate To Hear

SEP

Kym,

I am not surprised they did not want to move after you staged the home as it looks fabulous.

You did a fantastic job! Great utilization of the natural light! I can't blame them for deciding to stay! Talk about a new twist on Home Staging huh???

Kym, what a nice outcome. We stagers keep telling people that editing and simplifying their surroundings will ultimately make the home easier to care for and surround them with a more serene living environment. Your work reaffirmed that what we say is really true!

Kym ~ Wow! I can see why they decided to stay there -- they fell in love with their own home all over again. Great redesign!

Too nice of a job Kym! Now those are words any business would like to hear. Unfortunately for the Realtor but lucky for you and the seller. Nice story and great afters.

Kym > You did a super job. The house looks so fresh and bright after you staged.

Kym, No wonder...you did a fantastic job it's beautiful! I was asked during a presentation last week(after Realtors looked at some of my before & afters) if anyone had ever decided not to sell after staging. It's always a possibility.

It may have not been your goal Kym, but it is a true testament to your work.

Great job. I can understand why they want to stay.

How did the realtor handle it?

What better compliment Kym. Though those are dreaded words, you changed a feeling for these clients. Did the home sell? Maybe not, but this is a compliment that not many of us get. Best to you my staging friend ;)

The Realtor took it very well. She is a very experienced professional and always a joy to work with. Her clients are always wonderful to work with as well.

Hi Lori - how are you...so nice to see your smiling face what a lovely photo :)

SEP

Kim, I think you have you have succeeded when the homeowners want to stay and are happy to do so! Hope you got paid!

Hi Beverly, of course we get paid. We are paid in full day of staging :)

SEP

Hi Kym, I can see why they decided to stay. A compliment to your style for sure. Only have seen this happen once while staging and it was while I was an apprentice on another stagers job. Staged in the early spring they decided to stay for the summer to enjoy the house they always knew they had and could never pull it together like the stager did. They did list in the fall and it sold quickly.

Too funny, we have heard it before as well but no one has actually pulled a property off the market after we have staged. We have had the opportunity to help clients move into their new homes though. Great job!

Hi Kym...what a wonderful compliment!! You did a great job of calming down the space and creating a more pleasant ambiance. Until people see it with their own eyes, it doesn't sink in as clearly that their space is more spacious than they thought!! No need to move now! LOL....great post!

I'm in agreement - what an awesome compliment. I can absolutely see why they loved it as you did a fantastic job.

Congratulations. Your staging is being featured in the group; Home Staging Before and After Pictures.

Kathy

Kym, what a tremendous compliment! Our job can really bring such joy into people's lives-- whether we're helping them sell and move on, or-- fall in love with their home again!

I once had a client tell me she had given up on her home and I helped her remember why she had bought it. She still needed to move but she took pictures so she could do some of the same arrangements in her new home.

Beautiful work you did! I'd want to stay too!

SEP

HI Kathleen - yes, I am glad they were so thrilled, but I felt bad for the Realtor!

Thanks Kathy for the feature - I am always thinking of your group when taking befores now :)

Thanks Michele - I love that line "remember why she had bought it" I will use it!

Great job! It is funny when this happens, I know not exactly the point of our work :)

I am new to this business and your work inspires me to be the best stager that I can be! Fantastic job, Kym!

By-the-by...how do I get my pic on here, Kym? I have it on my profile, etc. Thanks!

Hi Kym, It looks fabulous. This happened to me once and I felt awful for the Realtor who paid my bill. She told me not to worry once home owners get the itch to move it keeps coming back so don't put away the preparation H...She was right, after a few weeks the homeowners realized that it wasn't the way the house looked that made them want to sell it's just to small. They put the house back on the market, they paid my bill this time round and the house sold quickly....of course.

This family is staying. I always educate the Realtor and homeowner that my fee is a Homeowmers investment. BUT when it rarely is the case that the Realtor pays then I insist that the homeowner pays them back if they change their mind. It's only right!

SEP

Kym -- you are so right on the money. How do we get the word out to homeowners that we can stage to love the home they are in as well as to sell?

Beautiful job!! the red accent is perfect!

We'd had this happen to us twice...felt terrible for REA who had already invested so much time & $$

Jenna make ure you put it on your website and mention it to homeowners in your circle. The word gets out there! We are working on 8 design houses right now and we don't know up from down and its all referral.

Kym, not surprising that they wanted to stay after your beautiful transformation! You're right that this is not something we as stagers like to hear, but I'm glad your post stresses that homeowners should call a Stager or Redesigner FIRST before deciding whether or not to sell.

SEP

It's a good feeling when it happens; even if it isn't the goal! Things happen for a reason, so just realize that they REALLY needed YOU!

Annie - yes, I always tell homeowners and Realtors - call us first - everyone eventually sells and its a good idea to have some input when making any changes to your home.

SEP

I may stay too! Great job!

SEP

It's a testament to your good work. We hear this time and time again when we stage an occupied home. However, we have not had the experience of someone pulling their home off the market!!!

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