Am I missing something? Model homes & Staging....

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Am I missing something? Model homes & Staging....

Ok, I know model homes are 'overstaged' most of the time. They have that 'designer flare' and builders pay big bucks for them. Most of the time I love going through them, but recently I've been noticing a trend here in Charleston... it's not one I get. Let me show you photos of the model home I was in today. We are staging a home with the same layout as this project only 1 block away. This is the same builder... the home isn't selling the way they hoped and so they are going to stage another unit.... only using a stager, not a designer....

Ok, now how many of you stagers, if you saw this in MLS, would contact the agent to advise this home needs to be neutralized? I'm a huge fan of fun, whimsical, and bold - in my home - but is this really what buyers want to see when they are looking at models? Do you feel like this home is really helping the builder sell their floorplans? Personally I would say the fact that we are staging the same floorplan in this subdivision, with the same builder, the answer is NO!

How much do you think the builder paid for this designer look? How much would they save having a professional stager 'stage' it? Our bid is $3200 for this 3 bdrm home (3 months, every room & front porch) I'll post photos after we finish next week.... we'll let you decide which you prefer....

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Melissa Marro, a published artist, now turned staging advocate and national speaker speaks her mind about real estate and the home staging industry. In her 'no holds barred' approach, audience members find real answers to the industries pitfalls and learn how to overcome them with tried and true information and guidance. With marketing as her passion, she turned a small home based business into one of the nation's largest home staging and training facilities. Selling her successful home staging company in January 2012, Marro is now a full time speaker and instructor for Staging And Resign and Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)'s trade events.

For more information on having Marro speak at one of your real estate functions, please contact her at 843.619.1593 or email at marro.melissa@gmail.com

Posted by Melissa Marro ~ StagingAndRedesign.com MarketReadyRealEstate.com on 08/08/2007 08:22 PM

Comments (35)

Originally posted at: Speaking Up about Home Staging: Am I missing something? Model homes & Staging....

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35 Comments on Am I missing something? Model homes & Staging....

AUG

2007

Gee-I think I already know!

If I'm a potential buyer all I see here is WORK! If I buy this place, I have to take down wall paper, paint, etc. work, work, work!

I'm an agent, not a stager, but I can tell you that I have had many clients say that want to avoid wallpaper. While some of those rooms do look nice, the wallpapered ones would be a turn off for many of my buyers... Just something to think about

I recently bid on a new vacant condo unit in a high end development with 4 or 5 designer model homes that were waaaaay over the top. I was thinking the same thing as you. It seemed to me that the designer pulled out every idea and just had to put it all into every room. It was dizzying! I got a lot of great ideas, but not to use them all at once. It is so overwhelming. My bid was for an investor/owner who lives out of state, I think he will hold out longer, still doesn't believe he needs to stage yet. One question was your bid just for your time or does it also include the fees to lease the furnishings? Thanks.

O.k.--I know that wallpaper has made a come-back....but THAT is....hmmmmmmm...what's the politically correct word.........oh, can't find one...TACKY!

You're definately NOT missing anything....can't wait to see your pic's.

Julia

Is it awful to say I actually got a bit dizzy and "sea sick" lychee looking at the those photos? So much going on, no place for my eyes to rest and actually see what I might be buying!

Holy smokes, I am speachless! My first reaction, is OMG, it needs "staging". This is over the top!!!

I can hardly wait to see what you will do Melissa!

Julia - your post cracked me up.

Melissa - Overdone isn't the word for it! It's a mess from the word "go."

Can't wait to see your photos!

Kathy

Anytime there's "staging" or professionally "decorating" shouldn't there be some consideration to the market and current trends within? Call me wacky but the flowery print in the kitchen tells me you must sell property in Wonderland and all you need to do is find a lady named "Alice" and you will have a full price cash contract by the end of the day! I must give kudos to our stagers and designers in Naples. Most everytime I show in something dressed up it's been a royal treat of an experience.

I'll say in defense of the designers... this is the MODEL, so chances are until the whole sub sells, no one will be stripping anything & when they do, they'll get a heck of a deal on the property..... but... I'm with all of you.... my assistant and I just walked from room to room saying 'wow'.... or maybe that was 'whoa'....

It looks like whoever did this had their "dream house" in mind and went crazy with the budget. This is really too distracting for the buyers. They will end up looking and commenting at the decor, not the house.

Cheers,

Cindy

AUG

2007

Wow! This is completely over the top. Way too personal and dramatic. I doubt the builder will use this designer again after he sees your work on the home you are staging. What a great opportunity for you.

Wow -- are the 80's back? I think my mother had that floral wallpaper in lovely shades of mauve and steel blue! This is soooo over the top it looks dated!

That is why 'decorators' should not be used in preparing a house for sale. That is not what it is about. I'm sure someone will find this house charming, but not many. I know they are looking to sell other houses - not this one- but it is a representative of what they are going to buy. As some one else said, they will not be able to look past the silly decor. Pink and green? Nice in the nursery, but....

Melissa, you know how I feel about WALLPAPER!!! This is the stuff that makes sellers think they can keep their paper! It was in the model! Puhlease--this was so busy looking - the only room that i kind of liked was the living room and it even has a hint of wallpaper in it!

My memories of this model home are flowers, pink, green, busy, busy, busy (mostly, stripping wallpaper!) Oh, yes, where were the windows, and the architectural features? That's what I love about staging - it only focuses on the room's selling features...not the 'trendy' decor. I know you will do us all proud when you stage this place, Melissa. Thanks for illustrating the difference between staging and (over)decorating!

Wendy Casey

A-List Home Staging

Melissa, yes --- they are two different things completely. I cant wait to see your project.

I'm a stager and this is just too over-the-top! Can you visualize a 6'.5" guy being comfortable with all the "fou fou?" I know if I dragged my husband through a model like that his first comment would be no way!

I agree with you that the models are over-decorated today. Very often the decorating takes away from the basic architecture of the home (although being on the East Coast I'm a big fan of molding and architectural detail)

Melissa - Yikes!!! It is an explosion of color. Can't wait to see yours.

I agree with Diana.... I felt a bit Dizzy after looking at those pic's,

can't wait to see you work your magic Melissa,

Best wishes, Brian Bloom ~ All In One Staging

I agree with Joelle and others... my first thought was - some of this place needs to be staged! Melissa, I know the builder is going to be amazed at how much faster your staged one does than this one! Best of luck to you and please keep us informed.

Pam Ives - Homestagingofwilmington.com

Can you put a bid in on redoing the model Melissa? As Stagers we always say that issues like these distract the buyer from actually "seeing" the house - is the builder trying to hide something?

Melissa... I can't wait for the builder to see your house when it is done. You will have done it right.... hmmm, why don't you suggest that you and your team go back and redo the models for him? How many houses does he have to sell? It might be worth it for him to redo the models if he has several lots sitting.

Hi Melissa, Holy Moly! That's visual abuse! No place to set your eyes and completely distracting. You almost forget what you are supposed to be looking at...oh, yeh, the house!

I understand that the decor in the Models is supposed to help create the vision of a lifestyle for prospective buyers, but that decor is way too specific in taste. Yeh, I'm with the others...see if you can get back in there and redo it once you do the other house. You'll show 'em how it's done!

I've said this before--I hate wallpaper. And they used some particularly distracting wallpaper at that. I can't imagine that the wall papered rooms would appeal to very many people.

AUG

2007

This is the most distracting and unattractive model I've ever seen. It's incredulous that a builder paid a designer for this result. Please post your photos quickly so we can erase this hideous memory -- I'm afraid I'll have a nightmare about it!

These are great examples of text book stuff - the difference between designing for people who live in a home vs. styling and merchandising a property for sale, i.e. staging. One would have to assume this is what the designer and her family would do with the condo if SHE were living there. It's specific, not generic and I think the public are getting used to generic, and don't want designer anymore.

That being said, in my area of Short Hills, there's a fanciness, a look of Luxe that people will still pay a premium for.

Can't wait to see your version! They must have been getting kickbacks from the paper hanger! :)

Kim Dillon, Creative Eye Home Staging

I have a bit of a theory on these over-decorated models. Most of the models I have been into recently have been for rather boring, plain tract homes - if you walk out of the model and into an empty available house in the same development you would not believe it was the same house. I think they might be over decorating to disguise the fact that some of these houses don't have any architectural features to show off so they seduce the buyers with a lifestyle they aspire to but are unlikely to achieve. A $300,000 home with $150,000 dollars worth of furniture in it! Not to mention every upgrade available. Don't get me wrong - I would love to get my hands on a builder's model and their budget and I am in awe of the designers and the ideas they come up with. But I think you will do a fabulous job on your more limited budget Melissa - and I am sure the builder will be delighted.

Stephanie

EEK! Less is more! I don't know too many people that can relate to eating in a pink dining room or a jungle of a kitchen. These designs are just wrong! Maybe this designer thought natural and more neutral was just too boring..who knows. My hairdresser is the same way. Even though he tells me he loves my long locks he loves to cut, I like to trim!

All I can say while looking at these pictures is "YUCK". Way to distracting. I may be one of the few home stagers that never checks out Model Homes to get ideas. I have never found them appealing. This post reminds me why I don't like Model Homes. Thanks for sharing.

AUG

2007

For the love of Pete! They ARE trying to sell these homes, right?

Jinkies...

I love looking at model homes but, agree that they tend to be over the top... What I've wondered is...why hasn't anyone REALIZED that, yet???

AUG

2007

Thanks for everyone's posts. We will have this home finished by Thursday. I've been out of town until tonight. I decided to stage it with a complete juxtaposition.... we are using black, white & taupe w/ modern clean lines (transitional style) and city style art. This should appeal to the younger buyers that are actually looking at this price & size home. I also decided that it should give buyers a completely different take on the home. No sense in going traditional when they already have that... sort of.....

AUG

2007

wow - I'm shocked a builder would do that. I imagine buying new construction because of all the possibilities I have to put myself in it. If I was willing to do all the work to re-wallpapaper and paint I would probably not be looking at new construction. For me new construction equals no need to re-wallpaper :)

Flowers & stripes & toile oh my!! We have similiar decorating being done in Greenville SC too. I always wonder if the "designer" is the builder's wife or mother or some other friend/relative.

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Melissa Marro ~ StagingAndRedesign.com MarketReadyRealEstate.com

St Augustine, FL

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