Real Estate Blog - SOOOO FRUSTRATED!!!

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SOOOO FRUSTRATED!!!

I know this stuff happens, but I am so frustrated I could scream!

I have been talking to a builder about staging one of his listings for about a month now. He has been easy to deal with, but other factors have slowed down the process and we finally worked out a deal. The contract is signed, the check is deposited (and cleared) and I was scheduled to deliver the inventory this evening. The trailer is packed and I have the skinned knuckles to prove I loaded it myself.

Two hours before I was scheduled to arrive, the builder calls and asks if we can postpone for a week or two. WHATT??!!! They received an offer today (it has been on the market for over a year) and want to put things on hold to see if the deal is legit. If not, they will proceed with staging when it is resolved.

All is not lost, though I may end up returning the fees, because he will be finishing another model soon and wants to have it staged BEFORE it goes on the market. But man, talk about the last minute!

I was so excited about staging this house. It is really nice, just needed some life breathed into it and I knew it was gonna look great. Now I have a whole trailer loaded and no where to take it. Anybody need a vacant staged?

Posted by Kimberly Wester on 09/13/2007 06:33 PM

Comments (23)

home staging, real estate staging, staging career, staging, staging process

23 Comments on SOOOO FRUSTRATED!!!

SEP

2007

Kimberly - too bad you don't live by me. I'm doing a bid tomorrow. How nice would it be if we could just do the whole thing tomorrow.

I have had that happen to me before also. I had one where I did the bathroom on a Friday, I wanted to get a head start before all the furniture arrived Monday morning. Wouldn't you know it sold over the weekend. I completely credit the sale to the spalike bathroom. :)

Kimberly - I know that feeling all too well. You should have an understanding with your clients that there is a restocking fee of 'whatever %". I have had to pay it many times and I never expected to pay a fee even when I know there is one. We never expect the unexpected but it is not a favor...it is real time and effort and like I say many times "you could be sitting around the pool drinking chi-chi's but nooooo, instead you were schlepping and lifting, and planning, for someone else instead.

I would take a percentage out of the fee and refund the rest. If you are afraid he won't call you for the next project then have him help you load up the van next time as part of the deal! Not kidding.

Can you be here by 10 am? I should be out packing up for one tomorrow, but instead I'm on the computer! Well, if you can't make it tomorrow, how about next Wednesday??? All kidding aside, I've had a couple cancel but not after the trucks been loaded. I can't say I blame him for wanting to hold off, but he should certainly pay you something for your time and energy.

Hey Kimberly, I had that 11th hour cancellation too. Thank goodness I had the furniture rental salesperson's cell # so she could call in to cancel the delivery scheduled for the next day. Since then, I've instituted the deposit to be non-refundable within 2 days of the scheduled staging day. That way, they can still say 'oops, I changed my mind' for whatever the reason is but I still get something for all the preparations made and the anxiety of cancelling everything that was scheduled. In their case, I'd charge a fee even to postpone---like Sheron said, a % (10%, 20%?). I charged my client $150.00 to postpone a $1,900. job, the night before I was due there. That was before I instituted a non-refundable deposit clause.

Hi Kim,

I wish I had a vacant to sell. Actually I have a vacant coming on the market next week in Hammond but I already talked to her about providing your services and right now she is declining. I have been trying though.

I have a relo home in St. John that is immaculate (but I think your touch would help). I talked to the seller to see if they would be willing for you to stop by. I will keep you posted.

Take care.

I could use that inventory! Come on down to Atlanta and we'll home stage a home together (smile).

Kathy

This is good news for your builder! So it should be good news for you, too! He will be able to move his property and get on with his business - share his success! Unpack the trailer, have a glass of wine and celebrate! Anything UAG in this market is a godsend!

I agree with the ladies. It sucks but that's why there is the "restocking/cancellation fee" in our contracts ;) But now he will stage his second project with you, and that's fabulous!

Cheers,

Cindy

We also have a nonrefundable fee we charge for last minute cancellations. This is to cover any rental fees we will be hooked with, and any special items we have to go out and purchase for the home. I can feel your frustration!!!

Kimberly, I may not understand your frustration from a staging point of view, but I can surely feel the pain from a realtor point of view. I have had a buyer pull out the day of closing after showing homes for several weeks, writing 3 other contracts on homes only to have something happen to each deal. I finally gave him the boot! Not worth the hassle any longer. I trust you will be better off than I!

Kimberly this happened to me last month just when everything was actually delivered to the property. They decided that morning that they were going to wait 3 more weeks before putting it on the market. My contract states that once signed it cannot be canceled so I did not refund their money but did offer to give them a break on the renewal fee. Since then my contract has been amended (yet gain) and now if the property is not prepared as discussed (and documented) there is a daily charge until it is. Live and learn.

Kimberly, quick - jump into your truck and haul your trailer up to Calgary. Do you think you can be here by 9:30 tomorrow morning? LOL Would love to have your inventory to stage with. Kimberly, I am happy you will be staging his new model - and before it goes on the market. Betty

SEP

2007

Kimberly,

This is important for all stagers, but especially new ones, to read. You might consider posting it in the Newbie Stagers group also. My policy is to collect a deposit upon signing of the staging agreement; clients may cancel the staging 24 hrs before it's scheduled to begin and receive a refund. After that, the deposit is non-refundable due to the expenses incurred. But I might also consider a partial refund based on the individual circumstances. I would hate to have the entire trailer loaded though -- ouch!

Kimberly, this really sucks!!! I agree with everyone who has the cancellation fee provision in the staging contract. In my case, because i cannot load the stuff myself I would have been out $500.00 and I do not eat that kind of cash myself. I would have refunded less the $500.00! Period.

09/14/2007 Carol R. Ellis----Luxury Domain to Home Stage

I had 2 bids yesterday, one for $700K, one for $3.3M, and two for today, $995K, and $1.5K.... I have the furniture for the first 2, but these two I don't think I can accomodate without doing a lot of shopping... do you think it'll work for either of them today? lol...

Thanks, everyone for the encouragement and advice. I agree that I need to have a cancellation fee in my contract - actually I thought I did. I will now, that's for sure. This may not be a cancellation after all - the builder is asking for a postponement only. He is skeptical of the deal, so he has asked me to just hold off. He doesn't want to go through the whole process again if it falls apart. We'll see...

As for all of you needing my inventory - I wish I could help you out...or would we be helping each other? LOL

Chuck - You are so sweet! I would love to take a look at your relo house either way. Thanks.

Sending you a hug and good thoughts Kimberly!! It would be a nice thought if we all were able to quickly fly to help one another! Hang in there and adjust your cancellation fee as needed!! Regards-Kathleen

Kim, And here I was fussing because my potential client postponed our meeting to look over his property by one day. I take it back. This is worse. I agree with Sheron Cardin. Restocking fees make sense to me. I've paid them myself.

I have a cancellation clause that says if the seller cancels 3 days prior to the staging date I keep 50% of the fee, which I have already collected as a deposit. However, if I have not gone to any trouble and there is no problem in cancelling the help I might refund more, although this is not written in.

Kim - I feel your pain. It really stinks when this happens. I don't have a cancellation policy in my contract. Thanks for sharing your experience it has helped me to realize I need to update my contract. Live and learn!

OCT

2007

Hey Kim, what was the outcome, did he finally sell it. THis is awful because I know all too well that you killed yourself shopping, piecing together your inventory and then packing it all after that. How many sleepless nights did you spend designing that home as well. There is a small paragraph in my contract about cancellation, needing notice 14 days in advance. But then again, what was the builder suppose to do, he did get an offer.

This happened to me while I was about to give a consultation, they got an offer 2 days before. Not the same thing, but hey at least they got an offer. Consider updating the contract.

Did you get his other house?

Phylis Pafumi

Hi Kimberly, congratulations on the contract even if you don't stage this particular one for the builder.

I was going to suggest you add a 'restocking fee' but I see Sheron beat me to it!

Phyllis - We are still 'on hold'. They received an earnest check, but they are dealing with an overseas buyer, so....He has yet to complete the next house. :(

Dane and Everyone else..thanks!

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