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Never Underestimate the Power of a Home Stager!

By
Home Stager with Rooms With Style

I got a call from a very busy Realtor in town that I had never worked with. The Home Stager she had used for years had moved away and she got my name from a co-worker.

She asked me to go to one of her upcoming listings that needed some guidance and help. She told me upfront of some things that needed to be done but qualified it with, "I have already talked to the home owner and she will not take the wall paper down or paint".

So off to the Home Staging Consultation I go. Wondering what I really can advise if the home owner is already saying no to changes.

Of course when I got to the home many things needed to be done but the first and most important was right inside the door. Extremely outdated wallpaper in the entry and very dark and outdated paint on the living room walls.

I stressed the importance of taking down the wallpaper and repainting the entry and living room a warm neutral color. I brought up the fact that wallpaper can be seen as a "project" for the buyer. I further explained why it was important for the first impression of the home to be perfect and to set the tone for the rest of the house.

 

Vintage Pink and Blue...

Two days later I got a call from the home owner with a follow up question. She told me she had already taken down the wallpaper and was in the process of repainting both the entryway and the living room.

Well then.....sometimes a Professional Home Stager can bring a second opinion, said in a different way, backing up the thoughts of the Realtor and providing just enough push to get a homeowner to make the necessary changes to sell their home.

So listen to your Realtor AND hire a Professional Home Stager to give you the best advice to make your home the best it can be.  

 

Chuck Carstensen
RE/MAX Results - Elk River, MN
Minnesota/Wisconsin Real Estate Expert

Hi Shar...send me some business cards.  650 Dodge Ave, Elk River, MN 55330  Thanks

Sep 16, 2010 12:48 AM
Linda Scofield
Toccoa, GA

Good Moring Shar - Perfect! Sometimes it is all in the way you address the issue. By you stating the facts of how a propective buyer would look at it, I am sure made all the difference and it is always good to hear a second opinion, that is one smart Realtor, don't argue just take Shar, a seasoned Home Stager who knows what makes a house sell. Great Job!

Sep 16, 2010 01:02 AM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Well done Shar............we have a way of getting it across to the sellers don't we..........it's a gift.  Often times I think the Realtor just presents it wrong and gets the negative response.  Remember, it's the same thing that happened to me a few months back. 

Sep 16, 2010 01:11 AM
Christine Pappas - REALTOR®
eXp Realty - Willoughby, OH
When You’re Ready To Move, I’m Ready To Help

Shar, I couldn't agree more!  It is critical in today's market to put your best home forward the first time around!    Since print ads have become almost obsolete and I have pretty much stopped running them, I now hire our buddy Roger for a one hour consultation with the homeowner.  I make it a part of my service package and it has worked out beautifully!  Honestly, it is just too much information overload for the sellers.  When Roger comes in, it's all about the house and how to package it for sale, when I'm there, it's too much other 'stuff' going on.  

Sep 16, 2010 01:58 AM
Shelley Roufs
Simply Staged Homes - New Ulm, MN

Shar - Great advice. If that's the wallpaper pictured, GREAT call. When I fisrt looked at it I thought there were snakes intertwined with the flowers. If I was a buyer entering that house, I would have turned and ran...

Sep 16, 2010 03:00 AM
Julia Maher
Nestings: Connecticut Home Staging and Model Homes - Fairfield, CT
Connecticut Home Stager

WootWoot!  I love the "Well then..." comment!  Kudos, Shar!  Julie

Sep 16, 2010 03:19 AM
Kathy Burke
Sensational Home Staging~~Danville, CA - Danville, CA
S.F. East Bay Home Staging

Absolutely....many times a seller will listen to the recommendations of a professional home stager vs what they heard from their REA.  I've had agents tell me exactly the same about what the seller won't do....I meet with them and by the end of the consult they have decided that they will do those items.  And I'm sure hearing it twice...once from the agent and again from the stager validates the "issue(s)" that need to be addressed!!

Sep 16, 2010 03:25 AM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Shar - I was going to say what Kathy said - sometimes a homeowner needs some time to mull over and let it sink in that they may have to make some changes.  That said, I also think they view a home stager as a design expert, whereas they view a Realtor® as good for all the business and negotiating items, but maybe don't trust their design opinions. 

Congratulations on the new Realtor®-Stager collaboration!

Sep 16, 2010 04:53 AM
Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

Yahoo!! I am so happy they consulted with you and took your advise-this paper is so dated and at first glance I thought it had worms for a background, then I read Shelley saw snakes. YIKES!!   

Sep 16, 2010 12:33 PM
Wendy Hayden
Photographer, Home Stager, ePRO - Richmond, VA
Chesterfield, Richmond & Powahatan

I always ask sellers how many books of wall paper did they look at before they picked out that particular one.  Usually the answer is 40 or 50 but sometimes it is a 100 or more.  I then ask them "what are the chances that the potential buyers walking in the door would look through the same number of books and pick the very same wall paper?"  That usually brings it home! 

Sep 16, 2010 03:25 PM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Chuck, I sent them out today! Thanks.

Linda, I agree that sometimes the second opinion helps.

Roger, I do remember. I think it is about tact as well as persuasion.

How smart of you Christine to hire Roger. Best business decision you ever made!

Shelley, this isn't the exact wallpaper as I didn't take a picture since it was a consultation. I found this picture in a search of "vintage" wallpapers and it is very close although mine was darker!

Julie, it is exactly what went through my brain when I got the call.."well then".

Kathy, if they don't believe it the first time maybe they will the second, LOL

Sally, she did call a couple days later for another consultation. Hope it continues!

Cathy, worms and snakes.....not a good thing! Not the exact paper, mine was worse. LOL

Wendy, I love that!! But of course they would say their taste is better. :)

Sep 16, 2010 04:11 PM