Over the past 3 years I've done quite a few consultations and proposals for home owners who rent their properties but have decided to sell them rather than continue renting. The situation is usually that the renters have moved out already, or are getting ready to move out, but sometimes they're still there when the house or condo goes on the market. This last scenario can create some difficulty in selling the house. Renters have no vested interest in getting the property sold, and they're probably not amenable to having people come through the view the house. Not only do they have to pack, but they have to keep all of their belongings neat and tidy for potential buyers, and they aren't even benefiting from the sale. Offering them an incentive such as a reduced rate on the last month of rent is always an option, but even still... What if there was a conflict between the renter and home owner? Would they mention this to the potential buyers? The whole situation just doesn't sit well. Having seen a similar situation as just described (no conflicts in this case), I think it's just better to wait until the renters are gone. There's going to be touch up painting and cleaning to be done anyway.
We staged a house on Monroe St. NW, Washington, DC last spring that was a rental property with a few furnishings, but had been unoccupied for a month or so before the home owner called me from Seattle and asked for a proposal to stage it.
There was very little interest in the property and she was getting concerned. Not only did we stage it using the furnishings that were left as well as adding some end tables and other items from our inventory, but we also arranged for the house to be professionally cleaned (windows, too!) prior to staging it. In the end a new rental contract was signed less than 2 weeks later (the home owner decided to rent instead of sell) - a happy ending for everyone.
The week before Christmas we staged another former rental property. As soon as the renters had moved out, we came in to stage. I liked some of the decorating ideas of the previous occupants, and copied their ideas where it would benefit the overall presentation of the townhouse. The major differences, though, were that the rental furniture I had chosen was more to scale and in more complete groupings, such as coordinated end and cocktail tables, and a complete bedroom set in the master bedroom. This makes for a more complete and polished look, and helps potential buyers to envision themselves living in the house.
This latest staging is located at 1652 Beekman Place, NW, Unit D, a gated community right off of 16th Street NW, and across the street from Meridian Hill Park.
If you'd like to see what Preferred Staging can do for your listings, just give me a call at 703-851-2690.
All the best,
Monica
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