Members: 114,168 - 1,588 Online Now  Login
 

I showed a vacant house this morning.  I was expecting to walk into an empty house and to my and the buyers surprise, this was a staged house.  WOW!  What a difference!  My buyers loved the house so much that they signed an offer in the house at the kitchen table. 

I need to find stagers in the Houston area to work with on my listings, vacant or occupied.  I would like to pay for and provide staging as an added bonus to help get listings.  I think this can be a fantastic win/win for everybody involved!

If you know of any stagers or if you are a stager in the Houston area, please give me your info so we can talk and possibly do business together.

If any Realtors have had a similar positive reaction out of your buyer the let me hear about it, even if it was a negative response.

Do you think this is a service that sellers would go for if it was paid for by the listing agent?

David N. Slavin, ABR  www.SellMyHouseDave.com

 

 

8 Comments on A staged house made me wake up!

David, I bet if you post this in the Stager's group you will get a lot of response to this.

07/01/2007 03:54 PM by Betsy Talbot (DelegateNow, Inc.)


I'm sold on staged houses too...I recently wrote an offer for buyers on one that was vacant and staged just like the one you are talking about.  Staging works!

07/01/2007 03:54 PM by Mary Warren, Las Vegas Real Estate (Keller Williams Southern Nevada)


David:  I have no question that staging works, but do question that it's appeal to sellers would be universal.  I know some who would consider it an insult if you brought it up.  Of course, that is probably a house that will still be on the market next year.

07/01/2007 04:00 PM by Joan Snodgrass Tri-Lakes Realtors, Shell Knob, MO (Tri- Lakes REALTORS)


This is great David! Do you mind it I quote you in my marketing? Thanks so much for posting this.

Cheers - Happy 4th!

07/01/2007 04:00 PM by Deborah Pearce - Living Spaces - Kelowna Home Staging & Interior Design (Living Spaces Interiors & Home Staging)


Deborah, I would be honored for you to use my comments.

 

07/01/2007 04:05 PM by David Slavin, ABR, SRES RE/MAX Grand, Katy, TX (RE/MAX Grand)


It's been my experience, in my area, it's a case by case situation.  A savvy, veteran home buyer, one who has purchased in the million dollar plus range on more than one occasion, seems to prefer a vacant home.  I recently sold a $3,350,000 property, new construction less than 100 yards to the beach.  One of the things that sent my clients over the top was the distressed Hickory hardwood flooring, and the abundance of it. 

They became more comfortable each time they saw it (four times before picking up a pen), and part of that comfort level was achieved by the fact they could see all that flooring they love so much, and picture their own furniture in all the vacant space.  In fact, these same clients had seen a staged home in virually the same location, and closer to their desired price range (they didn't want to spend more than 3 million).  The fact that Mrs. Buyer hated the decor, specifically the paintings and fake flowers, kept her from looking beyond what she referred to as "the tacky props" and never stopped to take in the Malibu to Catalina Island view.

Now let me be clear, I said a case by case basis.  I've shown other vacant homes to seasoned buyers, and they hated it.  They've even commented: "Why didn't they stage this place?"

As for my own listings, again, it depends.  Of course, each of my clients KNOW their home is the best in every way... (eye roll).  But tell that to a FORMER client I recommended staging to.  I tried as diplomatically as possible to point out to them not everyone is as "close" as they are, and probably wouldn't have made the decision to put their spa tub... IN THE CORNER OF THEIR MASTER BEDROOM! 

Even if they'd taken my advice, that was a design flaw I doubt even the most experienced staging team could have overcome.

I guess what I'm trying to get across in my response to your post is one man's tea is another's poison.  You have to assess the situation, and decide what's necessary, again, on a case by case basis.

07/01/2007 05:29 PM by John Mayne & Associates (Coldwell Banker Previews International)


David - thanks again very much for permission to use your kind & wise words! I will use them acurately & respectfully.

Cheers!

07/05/2007 01:40 PM by Deborah Pearce - Living Spaces - Kelowna Home Staging & Interior Design (Living Spaces Interiors & Home Staging)


Thank you for your post covering my blog!  It was great to see that you got featured!

07/11/2007 03:56 PM by David Slavin, ABR, SRES RE/MAX Grand, Katy, TX (RE/MAX Grand)


Leave a response…

Name:
Notify me of new comments:
Comment:
What does the graphic say?
 
Real Estate Agent: David Slavin, ABR, SRES RE/MAX Grand, Katy, TX (RE/MAX Grand)
David Slavin, ABR, SRES RE/MAX Grand, Katy, TX
Katy, TX
More about me…
RE/MAX Grand

Office Phone: (281) 994-5783
Cell Phone: (281) 220-9082
Email Me
Real Estate is my life! My goal is to make your life less stressful during the buying or selling of real estate. I strive to make your real estate experience as pleasurable as possible. I'm Always At Your Service!


Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog
ATOM 1.0 Feed for this blog

Find TX real estate agents and Katy real estate here on ActiveRain.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
© 2007 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved