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Online Dating and Home Staging - First Impressions are Everything

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Home Stager with EXIT STAGE RIGHT

Online Dating and Home Staging - First Impressions are Everything

Ron Howard

Imagine you enter the world of online dating.  You start looking at the photos of potential mates. 

First, you see the photos that are blank - the guy is too shy or has too much to hide to post his photo - Next!

You go on to some more photos.  You see a guy that resembles Ron Howard when he's not at the Oscars.  Scraggly beard, dreadful baseball cap, hiding his eyes, messy t-shirt and basically sloppy and unkempt looking.  Do you want to read more about him?  Do you want to delve into his profile?  Of course you don't.  Why waste your time when there are so many more men to look at?  You move on.

Cary Grant

Ah, now it starts to get interesting.  You see a photo of a guy that looks the spitting image of Cary Grant.  He's well dressed, with a casual but dapper suit and tie.  His hair is nicely groomed, he's clean shaven, and he has a twinkle in his eye and a "come hither" look.  Will you look into his profile?  You bet you will!  Not only that, I bet you'd want to send him a message, and even meet him in person, you know, for the walk and coffee...

Presenting your home on the mls is no different.  You want your home to look its very best when posted online.  You want potential buyers to be interested enough to want to read the profile about your house for sale, and make an appointment to go check it out in person.  Stage your home to look like Cary Grant, not Ron Howard on a bad day!

Happy hunting!

Show All Comments
Anna Dovger
Add Value Home Staging LLC, 281-704-6607 - The Woodlands, TX
Home Staging -The Woodlands, TX

Sally,I suggested your post it because it's right on target. MLS is the first place Byers are looking to find their new home. That's why staging is so important. I tell my clients that PJ is sure comfortable but you wouldn't were it on your first date or job interview. Hose make over is so important and worth every penny.

Aug 31, 2010 04:38 AM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Maureen - Ha ha - thanks!  I too would be happy to meet Ron Howard - I think he'd have very interesting conversation.  I couldn't find a photo of a sloppy, random guy, so had to use someone famous.  But you get the gist.  Oh, and as for Cary Grant - I was clearly born in the wrong era!

Kathy - It's all about the external package.  There needs to be an instant potential "love connection" between the buyer and the mls photo.

Anna - You're so sweet - thank you.  I love your line - you wouldn't want to go to an interview or on a date in pygamas!  It's the same idea.

Aug 31, 2010 04:48 AM
Leanne Zumbrunnen
Z Touch Design Services - Lenexa, KS

I'm with you Sally, I always had a thing for Cary Grant.  And Ron Howard still has his boyhood charm.  So cute and such a great director.  You are so right though, if you only had pictures to judge.....

Aug 31, 2010 05:27 AM
Julia Maher
Nestings: Connecticut Home Staging and Model Homes - Fairfield, CT
Connecticut Home Stager

...or Sean Connery!  I KNEW that was really Opie!  Great point, Sally!  Julie

Aug 31, 2010 06:46 AM
Joshua Zargari
MJ Decorators Workshop LI staging and home decorating - Lynbrook, NY
MJ Decorators Workshop

Great post!

Aug 31, 2010 12:56 PM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Leanne - Ok, I knew I shouldn't have used famous people, but when I googled "free clip art sloppy looking guy" nothing turned up! 

Julie - Aaaah, Sean Connery - yes - he would have made a great example for a well presented guy.  Complete with Scottish accent would be the equivalent of great accent cushions! 

Joshua - Thanks!  Now get those runners on and go for a hike!

Aug 31, 2010 01:13 PM
Patsy Overton
Patsy Overton Interiors, Atlanta, Georgia - Duluth, GA

How about a "staged" Clark Gable in that opening staircase shot of him in Gone With the Wind?  Still gives me goose bumps.  Cute post!

Aug 31, 2010 01:48 PM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

I like your analogy Sally...........great job.............and I love that you chose Cary Grant, such a handsome man!

Aug 31, 2010 03:33 PM
Heather Cook
Beyond the Stage Homes - Kitchener, ON
Delivering beautifully staged spaces

Sally - great post! I posted a blog article last year comparing shopping online with speed dating, telling sellers that if they wanted to get a 'first date' then they had to have impressive pictures with their online listing.

Honestly, most buyers flip from one listing to another saying ... "Ugly .. ugly ... ugly .... ooooohh that one's pretty! Let's go see this one!"

Aug 31, 2010 03:39 PM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Frankly, my dear Patsy, I do give a damn!  Too funny.  Yes, Clark would definitely be the "staged" guy!

Roger - Thanks - this was fun to write.  I was giggling to myself as I was composing.  Yes, Cary was probably one of the 20th century's most handsome men.

Heather - Oh my goodness!  And here I thought I was being so original!  I went back and read your blog - too funny.  I wonder if there is really any subject that hasn't already been written about here on A/R.  I never thought to us a house as an example!

Aug 31, 2010 03:52 PM
Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

I agree whole heartedly-Cary is one of the most handsome of all time!! Love your analogy to staging!! I am doing an office presentation tomorrow before my staging and I hope you do not mind-I am going to use your example and talk about your blog, give you credit. Great topic Sally!!!

Aug 31, 2010 04:48 PM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Hey Cathy - That's great!  Good luck with the presentation.  Yes, do use this example.  I spoke at a BNI meeting, and instead of talking about me, my company, blah, blah, boring, boring, I started out saying "Have you ever gone "online dating".  You should have seen the jaws drop.  It was pretty funny.  It certainly grabbed their attention.  Please don't give me credit - just go for it. 

Aug 31, 2010 04:58 PM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

Very cute post and great analogy.  Cary Grant was a handsome guy wasn't he?  I actually have met him before, he was of course much older, but still very distingued.

Aug 31, 2010 05:35 PM
Linda Scofield
Toccoa, GA

Sally - Very creative and so true, its all in the packaging.

Sep 01, 2010 02:50 AM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Cindy - Screeeeeach - stop the bus! - what?  You met Cary Grant?  He was like Paul Newman (oh, there's another "staged" actor) - handsome even in his senior years.  Would love to hear how you met CG!

Linda - Yes, actors aside(!), that's the message here.  The home has to be appealing from the start to attract buyers.

Sep 01, 2010 04:15 AM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

Hey, Sally — I left a surprise for you in my blog post this morning. What? You thought I was going to tell you exactly what and where? Ha! But this comment is a clue.

Happy Saturday!

Oct 15, 2011 07:25 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

How did I miss this first time around??  Thanks to Russel for bringing it to my attention now!  Loved it!

Oct 15, 2011 11:45 AM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Russel - Thank you so much for linking to this blog.  That was very sweet of you!  Looks like you were up to some monkey business!

Sharon - Oh my goodness, I'd almost forgotten about this post!  Russel is too funny!

Oct 15, 2011 03:40 PM
Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate
M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Sally, You did a great job with this article. I know many buyers that would have to skip over the first 'Ron Howard' house and move right on to the next good looking, nice smelling, house that looks oh, so inviting.  Love the post!

Nov 08, 2011 05:47 AM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Sandy - Buyers don't want to settle for anything less than the "Cary Grant" house!  And can you blame them?!!!

Nov 08, 2011 08:01 AM
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Sally Weatherley

Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C
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Author Bio: Sally Weatherley is the owner of Exit Stage Right, home staging and redesign. She is a Canadian Certified Staging Professional, and a member of Professional Real Estate Staging. Sally also holds a Management Certificate from the Interior Design programme at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), and holds a certificate in textile design from City & Guilds of London textile programme. Art and design have been constant throughout Sally's life.

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