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Occupied, vacant, then staged: Look at the difference staging makes in this house!

We just took a listing that has previous been on the market in Goose Creek for over 10 months. When we reviewed the past listings prior to our listing appointment, we instantly knew the problem(s) and how we could improve the odds of selling. The problem was presentation! It's the first rule in marketing IMHO. The product must be appealing and packaged properly. This is a lovely home with a fabulous floorplan in a wonderful community but the previous listings didn't convey this. If buyers don't like what they see in the photos, they aren't going to step in the door.

During the first listing, the house was occupied and wasn't showcase properly to entice a buyer. This home is in a neighborhood competing with new construction and a model home making it irrestible to buyers. In second listing, the house was vacant. The rooms looked small, lonely and forgotten. This home needed the dining room needed to be painted and the house needed to be staged. The transformation made by Melissa Marro of First Impressions is amazing as showcased in the photos below. We are expecting amazing results and can wait to report back. What do you think? Which house photos are going to make a buyer schedule a showing? They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I believe they can be worth several thousand dollars in saving carrying costs and helping a seller retain more of their equity. I wish I would have met this seller sooner because I believe if we had taken this listing sooner and made these changes, they would have sold sooner and at a higher price since the market has changed in the last 10 months when they went on the market.

UPDATE 11/16/09: We've been on the market 10 days and we just got our first showing and an offer!! While it was a low offer and I'm not sure if we'll work it out, it goes to show staging works! This property was on the market with another agent for 10 MONTHS with NO action. Just 10 days with staging has produced an offer!

Staging before and after-vacant, occupied

We are Relocation Specialists with Carolina One Real Estate in Charleston, SC. Contact Top Real Estate Agents, North Charleston, SC Relocation Experts, CRS, GRI, ABR. Licensed Realtors® in South Carolina at 843-849-5217 to list your home for sale or to purchase a home in Charleston, Goose Creek, Summerville, North Charleston, Hanahan, Mount Pleasant and the surrounding areas in Charleston County, Berkeley County or Dorchester County, South Carolina. The Charleston Relocation Experts Team specializes in relocations, first time homebuyers and creating marketing exposure to sell your home in the Charleston SC Real Estate market. We can also be contacted at info@CharlestonRelocationExperts.com. To view all North Charleston SC and surrounding homes for Sale Click Here and then click on Search for Homes.

Posted by Michele Reneau, Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI ~ Charleston, SC Relocation Experts Team on 11/07/2009 12:18 PM

Comments (16)

Staging in the ActiveRain Channel

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This post has been included in South Carolina Information Berkeley County, SC Information
Post is included in group: Staging Secrets
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Post is included in group: Stage It Forward...
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Post is included in group: ABC's of Real Estate Marketing

16 Comments on Occupied, vacant, then staged: Look at the difference staging makes in this house!

NOV

Much better after staging, Michele! I'm glad the red paint was replaced with a more neutral color in the dining room.

Diana-It's amazing the difference the right coat of paint will make!

Great post.....didn't know that the difference could be so obvious. I think that folks need to take advantagte of this, especially in a market like we have now.

Larry-That's exactly right! In this kind of market, staging is a fantastic tool to compete with new construction and other resale homes. It will definitely make a home standout.

You did an excellent job. Is there any way you could make the pictures larger? I'd love to feature this post in the group Staging Before & After Pictures. However, you'll need to add it to that group first.

Kathy

Kathy-Thanks so much! I owe it to the seller for taking our advice and to our stager for the wonderful results. I made the pics larger. Let me know if that works.

Michele- Wish more Realtors think like you. Staging properties before they go on the market is so importatn. It is amazing how color can transform a room.

Michele,

Beautiful transformation! Painting really improves the look of the home and is the most cost effective way to update a home. It was great to hear you say from the begining you knew what to do to make this home sell. Better yet you acted on it. I wish you all the best on a quick sell.

NOV

Red rooms are great when you live in the home. NOt when the house is being sold.

Great job on the staging and may the buyers come flocking to the door.

You did a very nice make over girls, it looksk great and comfy!

Barbara-I agree, it's hard to market a property when its not in the right condition. Many sellers use it as a last resort.

Linda-Paint is one of the most inexpensive yet dramatic ways to transform a house. It's interesting that many sellers resist it because they don't want to do the tedious work, buyers are thinking the same thing so they pass on the house.

Virginia-I love red too and many other bright colors, but you are right. Living in a house and selling it have 2 different approaches.

Evelyn-We are looking forward to fast results. My stager always does an amazing job!

Great work! I have been in 3 houses this week that need staging terribly but I'm afraid the sellers won't go for the costs. One has been on the market since July. It was filthy, empty and had a poor location. The second one was a flip not quite complete. For 1.3 mil. I'd want the front door to at least close properly wouldn't you. The third one is on its 3rd agent. It's partially empty, needs cleaning and over priced but the sellers keep blaming the agent instead of facing the fact that it's too high. In this market people need to make their property not just 'talk' to the buyer but 'sing';)

NOV

Thanks, Michele.

Congratulations. Your home staging is being featured in the group Staging Before & After Pictures.

Kathy

NOV

Michele, staging never fails to amaze me! It makes such a difference!

NOV

Michele, I'm getting ready to sell my personal property as soon as my tenants move out. I've already contacted my home stager about helping me select paint colors, light fixtures and will have her stage it BEFORE photos are EVER taken and certainly before my sign goes up and my listing goes in MLS.

Presentation is EVERYTHING. The Buyer needs to see themselves living in that home, and they need to fall in love with the home within thirty seconds of walking in the door!

Great photos!

Taylor-It still amazes me everytime too!

Lori-Good planning. I'm sure you will sell quickly with the right action plan and it sounds like you got it!

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