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The Secret Option for Builders to Stage a Model Home

There was a time when new condos in seacoast New Hampshire couldn't be built fast enough. Our population here in Hampton swells from roughly 20,000 to over 100,000 in the summer months. The winters are long and cold, but plenty of folks like to keep a vacation condo here for the summer months.

But times have changed. Too many condos have been built. Builders that get stuck hanging on to multiple units need to get creative in order to sell. As a home stager in New Hampshire, I've been asked, "What are my options?"

This model condo pictured below is 2 miles from the ocean; it is harder to sell than new condos located right on the water. Being a 55+ community, this also narrows down the buyer pool. This builder needed to get creative!

We agreed upon a budget of $7,000 for complete furnishings and staging of one unit.

I purchased everything and designed the space.

The builder kept all receipts and owns everything outright. (No monthly rental fees)

When this condo sells, all items will be moved into another unsold unit and used again. This means the model furnishings can be used to stage again and again, at no further cost to the builder.

If a buyer wishes to purchase a unit furnished, the builder can bump up the asking price and recoup the staging fee.

If you're gasping at the price of $7,000 and wondering, "Where the heck am I going to get that kind of money?" think about this: your first or second price reduction is probably going to be more than $7,000, am I right?

Another option is to work with a stager who furnishes a vacant home using rented furniture and accessories; there are monthly charges accrued. The option to sell the model furnished to recoup staging costs is not available. There would be continued monthly charges if furnishings were moved to another unit to be used again.

The vacant condo above was staged & photographed by Sue Argue of Staged First Impressions, a NH home staging company. Please call 603-926-2676 for a home staging consultation. We're here for you, NH.

Posted by Sue Argue - NH Home Stager on 08/19/2007 10:31 PM

Comments (43)

nh, home staging, home stager, sue argue, staged first impressions, builders, vacant

This post has been included in New Hampshire Information Rockingham County, NH Information

43 Comments on The Secret Option for Builders to Stage a Model Home

AUG

2007

Sue-what a great idea! It makes perfect sense when a builder has a lot of units to buy the materials rather than rent them. I like the way the condo was staged. It does help the buyer get an idea how things will look and the size of the rooms.

Sue - I could sooooo live there. Your proportions and placement are perfect. Nice job.

Joan, The showings have picked up considerably, and people lingered much longer at the last Open House. I hope this first unit sells quickly!

Thanks so much for your kind comments Joan.

Sheron, thanks so much for stopping by here. I wrote a blog recently about "doggone empty kitchens" and someone asked me if the food rotted...no, because the photographer (me) ate it all :)

That looked beautiful Sue...perfect!

Thanks Joan, I love your comments!

Joan great post, and nice job to.

Best wishes.

Brian Bloom~Project Manager

Sue,

That is one smart builder to partner with you -- the model looks fantastic,....good luck with this project and thanks for sharing your photos.

AUG

2007

Sue, this looks awesome! Warm and real inviting!

Brian Bloom, thanks for stopping by & leaving a comment!

Maureen, Thank you for reading this blog. Your vacant staging blog written yesterday is fantastic. Empty contemporary homes are hard to design. Don't forget to publish it Public instead of Members only!

Marci, always a pleasure to see your name :) Thanks for the kind compliment you left.

Sue - lovely staging of this condo. You have done an outstanding job. Congratulations on partnering with a builder who understands the concept of staging and the benefits. I like your presentation of purchasing and possibly selling to recoup costs. I was wondering about the food in the kitchen but more importantly the knife! Read your comment that you ate the food - hope you tucked away the knife when you were done.

Sue, Great idea. I like the clean look, not over done with too much stuff. Nice job.

Great Job Sue! The bedroom looked especially rich with my favorite coffee-bean colors and a touch of gold...great that the builder used his funds wisely!! Certainly beats renting! Thank you for sharing....Regards-Kathleen

Yellowberry--Yellowbelly's younger brother

Sue - it looks beautiful, sounds like a wise business decision on the part of the builder.

Sue -- I am so glad you sared this. I have a builder now that has 3 homes he's wanting staged and I think I can draw off this idea for another option to offer. Thx!

HI sue,

I have tried this with builders but they are cheep around here and don't want to make the investment. I do have a staged home with a builder and he pays the rental fee for my furniture and accessories. I do think it is a great deal for the builders. Great pics. I hoped you marked up that furnitue and made a good profit for your self I know how expensive buying furniture and accessories are.

Cheryl, in my "vacant kitchens are doggone empty" blog, I mention that the knife is just a staged photography prop, not left out.

Thanks for bringing this up, excellent comment!

Sandy, thanks for your kind words! It was easy to NOT put too much stuff in because I had a defined budget!

Kathleen, love chocolate brown too :) You're right, buying the furnishings outright can be a smart move in the right situation. Thanks for your comment.

Maureen, it was a smart move. There's a few unsold units to go.

Karen, try this option, I hope it helps both of you!

Maria, I got paid for my time shopping & staging. It worked out well for both of us. And I hope this option can work for you in Idaho.

FABULOUS! I love what you did with the unit. And great point on them buying furniture themselves. I haven't thought about pitching it that way. Great ideas ;)

Cheers,

Cindy

Cindy, I always look forward to your comments.

I know you do a lot of vacant staging in San Fran. Do you think your builders might go for this option to save some money?

AUG

2007

Sue - Looks great! Wonderful job! Bit by bit, job by job, client by client - New England understand's Staging Works! The knife sets off red flags.

Graphic: olosapo - tiny dog

Margaret, yes, the knife, see above comments! New England is last to catch on, but it's happening.

Sue, drapes, too? And a really lovely iron piece. I got to find me some of these. You've made the boxes into rooms that combine into a home. Nice job.

Juliet,

The drapes were not expensive, but I concentrated on the items that DID matter a lot. For instance, in front of the fireplace, those are recliners, not just chairs! And the couch is a sleeper, which is important because the condo is only a one-bedroom, thus a sleeper converts to a guest room. The wooden coffee table cubes open up for storage; there isn't a lot of space here!

These details make the condo much more "turn key" appealing to folks who might buy this furnished to use as a beach getaway.

If a seller can sell a staged unit furnished, they can recoup their staging costs...and that's pretty nice!

Joan, Thanks for making the $7000 sound reasonable. I work with builders as well and I prefer it. I get my furniture at cost make them sign a 3 month contract upfront and then get my furniture back when the house sells. I believe it is the easiest sale I can do. The builder is happy when they see the finished product and will use you over and over again.

Ann, my name is Sue, not Joan.

And I don't find $7,000 reasonable, that's why I wrote this post. This post is about creatively helping builders afford staging.

Sue, Once again you have done an excellent job of telling the story with both words and pictures. This is fantastic. I'm guessing no blow up beds here. :)

Yvonne, thank you. I did suggest an inflatable bed, but they wanted to keep it real. I have to admit, a real mattress does make the linens look a little nicer :)

Sue, Once again you have done an excellent job of telling the story with both words and pictures. This is fantastic. I'm guessing no blow up beds here. :)

Ross Colony? That's what that reminds me of if it isn't that complex.

Nice job making those spaces come alive, and it certainly does help potential buyers see the possibilities, especially in rooms that might initially appear to be challenging to them.

Ann

Ann, yes it is. Can you find a buyer or 2? I worked with Becky Lufkin on this project, a very nice lady! These condos are a fantastic buy, very affordable and convenient to everything.

Thank you for the compliments, Ann!

Ann, yes it is. Can you find a buyer or 2? I worked with Becky Lufkin on this project, a very nice lady! These condos are a fantastic buy, very affordable and convenient to everything.

Thank you for the compliments, Ann!

They are nice units, and I've already shown them so am familiar with that project. Beautifully maintained and a great location. I met both Becky and her brother - very nice folks indeed.

AUG

2007

Sue this looks fabulous!

I've been thinking about this "purchase" option myself and over the long run it does make more sense if it's going to used again and again. Investors and home flippers may like this same option too. I have offered this for small furniture and accessory only jobs for a cost effective alternative to renting to some of my homeowners and it seems to be a coming trend that makes sense and cents. May I ask, who delivered the larger pieces and who will move them when the time comes? - this is where having a company or contractor (with great rates) in the moving biz handy - or a strapping young guy with a truck.

Ann, have been working on a RES for the condo, will try to create a Localism blog that does the place justice :)

Karen, the large furniture pieces were delivered by the furniture store and I was there to meet them and show where to place pieces. When the time comes to move the furniture & accessories to a new condo, it will be in the same building complex, and the builders/owners will take care of setting everything back up.

If they need any help primping the next unit, I'll jog over and primp :)

Thanks for stopping by Karen my friend.

Great post Ms. Argue and yet another masterful piece of writting. And here you told me before you were nto a good writer. You silly rabbit!

Hey George, thank you so much:)

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