Model home v.s. Staged Home... What you've been waiting to see....

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Model home v.s. Staged Home... What you've been waiting to see....

Ok, so you might have read one of my latest blogs, 'Am I missing something? Model homes & Staging' . I advised that we were staging one of the same units because for some reason the model home just isn't selling this floorplan. Let's take a look at the changes (we purposefully went to opposite extremes to show the versitility of the floorplan)

The model home in this set of photos did have a higher countertop. Due to budget constraints we decided not to add low bar stools.

Ok, so in a lot of ways my rooms look stark. I did not have a budget for paint or curtains (though they are reconsidering the curtains). Everything in this home I personally own and am renting to them. The total cost of the staging (3 mo contract) was $3400. This in comparison to the tens of thousands (I would estimate about $50K - $75K in materials & labor) spent in the model is drastic.

Which do you prefer? This is perhaps a much more subjective question. Let me add the information that the home price is in the mid $200s and in a starter community. Which is more likely to appeal to the targeted buyer? As they say, the proof is in the pudding. We will see if this does indeed help sell their floorplans.

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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 08/20/2007 10:07 PM

Comments (46)

Originally posted at: Speaking Up about Home Staging: Model home v.s. Staged Home... What you've been waiting to see....

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46 Comments on Model home v.s. Staged Home... What you've been waiting to see....

AUG

2007

Melissa: SOOOOOO much better. Hope they appreciate all your hard work! Excelent

Wonderful Job Melissa... I pick the staged home... hands down

Just depends some rooms I prefer the model and other the staged home. I hate wall paper and have no clue why a builder would even do that, but for the most part I like your staged home.

I love the staged home. In the model I just look at the wallpaper and think (even though it's a model) everything I would have to do to it.

The staging just gives me endless possibilities.

Hmm that wall paper is a real turnoff for me! I would assume it would be for others as well. It is busy and the colors are a bit much! Good job with the staging. Let us know what happens.

The wallpaper seems a bit too much to me in the model homes. I would be more inclined to go for the staged home because it gives me a better idea of picturing my own stuff in it over the model.

Beautiful job, Melissa. Just basing it on the idea that this is a starter community, the models look way over done - out of the perspective buyers price range. When we stage models, we're always reminded to stage them so the buyer feels like they could buy everything in the place and still afford the new home of their dreams. Always made sense to me. Your staging really proves the point. You should be proud! - Calie

The staged home shows WAY Better. I do not know who decorated the model, but I think they need to take a lesson in Neutrality. The staged home is definitely cleaner, more sophisticated and all around more appealing. Nice work!

AUG

2007

Thanks for all the positive responses!!

Heather - I agree in a lot of ways. I certainly love the use of color in the model, tough I think for most buyers it is way too much color. Given the desparity in budgets though, I think we came up with a style that fits the first time homebuyer. There are additional things that would have added depth & warmth, especially paint!

This is an unfair comparison. You did a terrific job with the budget and the brief. What one gets in the model and is missing in the staging is the warmth and whimsy. If I'm a builder and that's going to cost upwards of $46,600 I don't want it! Clean, simple and inviting will sell the units. And that's the goal. Interestingly it's not what people expect. More often, people go out to look at model homes in the same way others go to Show Homes - to get decorating ideas. Fun for the participants perhaps, but a cracking time-waster for the sales staff and the builder. Consumers may not want to change their expectations, but they should. As you have aptly pointed out, staging is the smarter, more efficient way to sell a series of units. At least, I hope that's what the numbers tell us or we're all out of a job!!!

WOW....two different looks for sure. I agree with those above, the object is to SELL and if it is a first-time buyer home, simple (staging) is better. The colors of the model home overall were more interesting, however, that wallpaper was very personal IMHO. Ick. Too busy for such small rooms. In some manner, the model home felt 'too sweet' in flavor. Does that make sense?

Comparing your budgets, Melissa, you did an outstanding job! Really! Your set was far more calming and relaxing. The staged bath was maybe too void of color...but most certainly better than the crazy green wallpaper of the model! That light-green-tacky-dinner-plate-looking mess made me want to run out of there really fast! Your remaining rooms were stress-free and simple. Well done Melissa! Thanks for sharing....I liked it!! Regards-Kathleen

PS-Great job on showing the 'variety' of style which works well with the same floor plan!

Melissa- In my personal life, foo-foo decorating makes me queezy, so I may be biased here, but I think you master bedroom rocks and the bathroom is so serene, I can't imagine that anyone would prefer the latter to what you have accomplished. What an awesome testament to staging that such a beautiful setting can be created for so little. Great job!

To put it simply, comparing these two homes is like the difference between "decorating" and "staging." Since these homes are for sale, Staging wins! Nice side-by-side comparison.

Do did a great job. Sometimes less is better then more!

Hi Melissa, With the staged home you did, I can envision myself and my things in it. On the other hand, the decorated model's wall paper is really distracting (being nice here) and it's narrowed the clientele who would be buying that particular unit.

I don't mind a few tasteful bold features, subjective I know, but your work would win me over.

I recently went to a Parade of Homes here in GA and I gotta tell you, the over the top decorated homes were so distracting. It was a shame because there were some beautifully built homes w/ all the bell and whistles but a few models were too hard to focus on because they were stuffed & crowded.

Our group was in agreement, the homes with the clean lines won us over.

AUG

2007

You did a great job! I was like.. these are the same unit?! Craziness! Also love you use the pier 1 iron wall decor as head board. Very clever!

Cheers,

Cindy

WOW! Fun blog. You did a great job...I thought the model home photos were the BEFORE shots before I went back and red the text...I think they went a little overboard on the wallpaper! I agree that window treatments would be nice but I also understand the cost issues builders must consider.

AUG

2007

I agree that the differences are dramatic. Simplifying seems to be the key. The other big difference is up-to-date room fashions. Unfortunately that usually equates to a more contemporary theme. Our home is in the country and that theme is not how people decorate. For staging, should it appeal to the demographics of the potential buyer?

Thanks

Elizabeth - I do think that the staging should fit the demographic of the targeted buyer. Since these buyers would be young couples just starting out & in the middle to lower middle income bracket I felt that the furniture I chose fit that targeted buyer much more than the model home. I feel that the model home would have been more appropriate in a $500K home not a $200K home.

Melissa - they are not even in the same league. Maybe the builder could hire you to neutralize the model. :)

Can't wait to see which one gets better feedback and sells faster.

Hey Melissa, the staged home wins...

Model homes should be staged not decorated to the nines like that. What it is selling is 'lifestyle'. The staged home gently suggests a lifestyle to suit the general population of home buyers. It proves our point 100% that specific decor can be distracting from what it is they are trying to sell...the house, the space, the key features of the home, not the fancy-shmancy draperies, paint jobs and WALLPAPER! LOL

Great post!

AUG

2007

Hi Melissa,

The model homes seems over the top. The staged homes is perfect. Wonderful job!

Kristi

AUG

2007

Hi Melissa!

This was a great blog! So many times I've walked into model homes and scrateched my head wondering "Why on earth...??" The goal is to appeal to the masses! Your outcome was really fantastic!! Clean lines open spaces, no stuffy wallpaper! Looks really beautiful! Should make a HUGE difference!!

Sherri

Melissa: You're AWESOME! The home you staged is great, and epitomizes everything today's buyer is looking for. The model is over the top grandmother/victorian/gag me 70s. No wonder it wasn't selling! Go get 'em, girl.....I bow to you!

Cheers, from DC!

Jaynee

Hi Melissa!

I love what you have done! I wonder why anyone would choose that wallpaper for a model home! That's also probably what a lot of buyers would be thinking instead of looking at the space. Your staging shows the space soooooo much better.

Melissa,

Your post illustrates the point I share a lot that Models are DECORATED and Staged houses are not - as we prepare them for an unknown buyer and don't decorate them according to what we think looks good. WOW - I hate wallpaper for the exact reasons your photos illustrate - that kitchen is awful! What are they thinking - and do they really expect a buyer to be able to get past all the frills and fruit and flowers?! Great job with the Staging - neutral pallette, but still very tasteful, and THOUSANDS less than a decorated (over decorated) model!

"wampee"- a new type of teepee or what a child says while doing the "pee pee dance."

Melissa, well done here, absolutely. The house is the star, not the stuff!

Oh my god, the one on the left just had too much going on! I love what you did, such clean lines and neutral colors, this is the look of homes nowadays, the other one is just old country style and really shouts out cheap and tacky. Especially the wallpaper. It just makes the house look old! I just wish they would have let you put in curtains though!

AUG

2007

Honestly Melissa I thought you were kidding when you said this was the model home 'decorated' by the pros for the builder. The model is so over the top that first time buyers would run screaming from that one into yours and breathe a sigh of relief. (Do people really wallpaper every square inch like they did in that kitchen?) I wouldn't be surprised if you have a new job staging models for that builder. Well Done!! Betty PS Your master bedroom is my favorite.

Beautifully done!

Attempting to use my "buyer's" eyes, it was very difficult to see past the kitchen wallpaper to notice the basic architecture of the room and the lovely floor; even though the builder's model bathroom had a huge window vs transom size in your, the wallpaper made the room look busy, dark, and anything BUT relaxing.

This is a perfect illustration of what staging accomplishes ...

Cindy P

Melissa,

Was the model home decorated in the early 90's? Your staging is more today...young first home buyers like that. Great job!

Debbie

No time to read the comments, but oh, my god! There is no way the decorator was thinking 'starter'. The home is decorated for the retirement community. Don't get me wrong, I love the decorated version, but they are not my lifestyle nor anyone under well heck...I don't know anyone who would use that much wall paper since the early-mid 90's?!

You will no doubt have a much better outcome with your decor. BTW, I love!!!! the martini glasses and the shaker...am I a lush?...I've got 2 kids, 2 dogs (one with bladder cancer - I'm getting new flooring!!!) and one with arthritis and a young buck of a husband...you'd be a lush too!

Sorry, I'm just giddy to be back commenting on AR! Thanks for the great pictures what a huge difference...truly shows the difference between decorating and staging...I see more work with the builders in your future!

The staged home is much more contemporary and hip. I am way over wallpaper.

This home was designed within the past year. I've seen a lot of wallpaper in models in the past year. I know a lot of designers say it is on the 'in' list. I personally think this is what they want to happen. I don't really know anyone who wants it back!

Dane - welcome back. I don't drink, but I seem to use the props a lot! lol.... what does that say about me?

I did hear that in the other model we did that week for the same builder that they sold 2 of that floorplan within the week. Considering they were upset that they weren't moving prior I would say we are up and running.... I did get 2 calls this week from other builders - both $1M + homes... I guess we are moving up in the world

Melissa, congratulations on the condo job with new builders - you deserve it. Also I was very happy to hear that two of same floorplan you staged moved that week. Great job. Betty

SEP

2007

Melissa that is great news!

I don't doubt it will be sooner than later that builders start seriously looking at stagers over decorators (from both the price point and the detail (read understanding) to the market).

Which means decorators who do models are going to be worried some day about losing a job to a stager.

There is definitely a need for stagers and the market is just starting to sense we are not a flash in the pan.

SEP

2007

This is soooo much better. I too just recently did a blog about the same thing...well I did not restage a model, but the idea is the same. They completely did the home is shades of reds with roosters everywhere...well you'll see my pics.

It looks like this home was decorated in the 80's, you rock...they must have loved you and wished they met you sooner.

Phyllis Pafumi

SEP

2007

Melissa,

Great job!!! Staging hands down!!! This is the difference between decorating for a specific taste vs a universal approach. What were they thinking??????

Penny White

Beststagedesign Inc.

Melissa,

This is an amazing transformation. In the homes I stage around the $200,000s I put in Target furniture. Much more real for the intended buyer. Great job, girl! You are amazing!!

I agree with Penny. And with this being a starter community you have to appeal to a younger market. There are alot of young professionals these days but most people just aren't as formal anymore. Modern and easy is taking over.

Melissa,

I prefer the staged home. Staging is for selling, decorating is for living. The model home is clearly a decorating project. You hit the nail on the head with the sparsity. It leaves enough to the imagination so that a prospective buyer can visualized his furniture and style. Great job!

Sandy

SEP

2007

I love the staged home. It is simple and clean and you are able to appreciate the space. Great job!

SEP

2007

Melissa,

Amazing job. You show that we can do just as good of a job of a model home designer (AND BETTER!!) and we are at a fraction of a cost. I would have paid double to see the staged home design than the "model home" design!

SEP

2007

Melissa - I much prefer your staged model with or without the demographics, but certainly considering the demographics. I noticed most of the comments were from other stagers, have you gotten any more feedback from the builder or agents as to what they think based on demographics? I do think you've nailed it though.

Jackie

Fabulous illustration of what we do! You did a great job with a small budget. It is great to hear that the one you did earlier is beginning to sell! Keep us posted on these results!

Kim Dillon, Creative Eye Home Staging

Jackie - A few agents have commented, but I don't think any builders have. I'm not actually sure they do very much on any of the posts to be honest. Business has been super busy for me, so I am getting noticed somewhere.... we are staging unstaging a 2nd house this week & staging another home 2nd this week for a total of 18 currently staged, once vacant homes. I also have 3 vacant walkthroughs tomorrow & another I know I stage as soon as the floors are done. Busy busy busy....

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Melissa Marro ~ StagingAndRedesign.com MarketReadyRealEstate.com

St Augustine, FL

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