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Don't Underestimate the Value of a Home Staging Consultation

By
Home Stager with Designed to Appeal, LLC

A few months ago I was contacted by Jessica Flagg, a real estate agent with The Corcoran Group.  She told me she had spoken with her client and that her client had agreed to having a home stager come in to do a consultation on her soon-to-be listed Carnegie Hill apartment.  

 

When I spoke to her client, Suzanne Dyer, she said to me:    "I doubt you'll need to be here for more than a half hour.  We really just need to figure out what to do with the dining room that I'm using as an office".   

 

I told her my minimum is 2 hours, and I'm sure we can find some other things to do.

 

Well, after an initial consultation lasting 3 1/2 hours and a follow up staging lasting 1  1/2 hours, Suzanne was one very happy client:

 

 "The staging process was definitely a worthwhile investment."  

 

 and so was her agent: "Your work really made a difference in getting the apartment sold quickly."  

 

The apartment went into contract in 50 days at full asking price in a difficult winter market!.  

 

Here are some before and after pics of the transformation.

 

Copyright 2010 Designed to Appeal, LLC  All Rights Reserved

Comments (17)

Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Donna- what an amazing transformation!  All of the rooms benefited from your talent, especially the entry.  It is now very enviting.  Good job!

Jun 20, 2010 10:12 AM
Julia Maher
Nestings: Connecticut Home Staging and Model Homes - Fairfield, CT
Connecticut Home Stager

Oh.  My.  Thank goodness she saw the light!  Dittos on the entry!  Julie

Jun 20, 2010 10:45 AM
Nancy Maurer
Whitehall Interiors & Home Staging LLC - Sparta, NJ
Home Stager - Serving No. NJ
Whoa! Quite a difference after you worked your magic, Donna -- great job!
Jun 20, 2010 11:08 AM
Lori Kim Polk
Premiere Home Staging : Home Staging Services - Roseville, CA
Home Stager - Roseville, Sacramento

Donna, I so hear you! They think that they know what to do and feel that it will be a drop in the hat. Your transformation was fabulous and I am sure that your client realizes your worth is more than just moving things around. I just did a consult yesterday that lasted 4 hours... and I am going back to check on them to see their progress in 7 days. The home was PACKED to the brim with imported items... all very lovely but way too much! It took me an hour to do the walk through, an hour to write up suggestions, then an hour to go over with the client... then they fed me and I had a glass of wine while we chatted about life. Loved it!

Jun 20, 2010 04:33 PM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Ha, I've heard that before too "it shouldn't take long...there isn't much to do". You did a really good job, love the results!

Jun 20, 2010 04:44 PM
Marianne Cherico
Interiors by Marianne Cherico - Foxboro, MA
Home Stager -Massachusetts and Rhode Island

Donna,

It is amazing what we as stagers see that Sellers don't!. You did a great job!

Marianne

Jun 20, 2010 07:48 PM
Beth Lester
Beth Lester Designs - Torrance, CA
Home Staging & Interior Decorating

Huge improvement, Donna.  I find sometimes sellers who have it stuck in their head that they only need one room done are not always open to doing more.  I'm glad in this case they were willing to listen and learn!

Jun 21, 2010 04:01 PM
Karen Searle, Home On Display
Peterborough, ON

Hi Donna,

I was so interested in this blog because we have  recently been asked by several agents to provide a 1 hour consultation which they hope will also include us moving around the client's furniture!  The agents are prepared to pay for the one hour only (at a reduced price) and often present that the client's home doesn't really need more or they suggest that we can talk the client into a more comprehensive consultation after the first meeting.

We have struggled in knowing how to handle these requests because the homes (as is evident by your photos above) would often benefit from much more in terms of recommendations and in 1 hour we would be lucky to get through 2 rooms.  Our consultations also range from 1.5 to 3 hours depending on the size and condition of the home and are very thorough.  I am curious how others handle this type of request or what your thoughts might be.

Jun 22, 2010 07:19 AM
Donna Dazzo
Designed to Appeal, LLC - Manhattan, NY
Home Stager in the Hamptons & New York

Karen, if you only have one hour, then there is no way you can prepare a detailed list as well as  move furniture.  I spent an entire 2 hours doing a small studio apartment recently.

Tell them that for this amount of time you will focus on the top 5 or 10 things that must be done.  You must of course discipline yourself to walk through quickly and jot these down and then discuss them with the client.  Of course, you can say things like "if we had more time, I could provide you with a more detailed list or if we had more time I could show you how rearranging or moving out some pieces of furniture or rearranging your bookcase or mantelpiece will make a big difference, but we don't have the time.  If you wish me to do this, we can extend this consultation for x amount of time at x$."

Jun 22, 2010 09:30 AM
Karen Searle, Home On Display
Peterborough, ON

Hi Donna

Thanks for your response, it was very helpful.  We are continuing to think through our options around this and I totally agree that self-discipline is the key re not giving away 2 hours worth of info without getting paid for it.  I appreciate the feedback about this.

Jun 23, 2010 04:15 AM
Kevin Vitali
EXIT Realty Beatrice Associates - Middleton, MA
Helping Massachusetts Home Buyers and Home Sellers

I have to admit everytime I can get my sellers to hire a home stager (and actually follow there advice) the home sells quickly and for top dollar.  A home staging consultation is worth every penny..... and then some.

I also wanted to throw a question out there.... are most agent paying for the consultation or are the home owners?  I used to pay when the market was good.... than as more homes expired unsold, I started having my clients pay, though many of them aren't opting to do so... love to hear whats going on across the country

Jun 23, 2010 08:58 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Great changes Donna! Looks like you got rid of some PINK ... good for you ;)

Jun 29, 2010 01:48 PM
Marianne Cherico
Interiors by Marianne Cherico - Foxboro, MA
Home Stager -Massachusetts and Rhode Island

In answer to Kevin's question most of the time the RE agent pays me for a report and consultation as part of their marketing. You could have the Seller pay and then reimburse them at closing. We are finding HUGE success w/ a detailed report and consult in terms of sales (has to be priced right as well)

Marianne

Jul 05, 2010 10:12 AM
Donna Dazzo
Designed to Appeal, LLC - Manhattan, NY
Home Stager in the Hamptons & New York

Kevin, here in New York City, most of the time (80 to 90%) over the past year and a half when there is an agent involved, the client pays for the home staging consultation.  I have had a few instances where the real estate agent paid, probably because they didn't think the client would pay for it.

Jul 05, 2010 10:24 AM
Anonymous
Zeta Cross

The pictures say it all, Donna! Great job. You took the "granny" out of the apartment. My buyers say flat out that they don't want to buy "mom's house" and they really don't want to buy "granny's house." Your decluttered, neutral spaces have much more appeal for the younger buyers who toured and purchased!!! that apartment.

Jul 05, 2010 10:33 AM
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