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A Tale of Two Townhouses

By
Home Stager with Nestings: Connecticut Home Staging and Model Homes

Last night (yup, Sunday - and it was my birthday! - but the referring Realtor has been great to me!), I did a pre-listing Staging Consultation for a delightful couple who are still in the midst of newly-wed bliss.  This was fairly last-minute, but I did have time to do some research on MLS re:  their competitionOne of their neighbors went on the market four days earlier - for the same price!  It's the  same model townhouse!  The MLS photos?  No staging was evident - clutter abounds!

As I was going through the house, I called the couple into the kitchen and showed them the competition's kitchen photo.  It was practically identical to theirs.  Knife block, small appliances, plants, spices, oil & vinegar cruets, etc. abounded.  While I explained that I understood that their things were neat, clean, and useful - this was how their kitchen would look on MLS if they left it as-is.  They got the picture!  They have a lot of packing to do, but I believe they are sold on Staging!  Whose house will sell first?  For the most money?  It really helps to do the research.

 

UPDATE:  I'M SO PROUD!!!  THIS COUPLE REALLY WENT OVER AND ABOVE.  WHAT A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO PROPERTIES - IN EVERY ROOM!!!  HERE IS THEIR KITCHEN SHOT ON MLS (WHICH ONE HAS MORE COUNTERSPACE?):

 

 

Photo courtesy CT MLS.

Staging and Staging Consultation provided by Nestings, serving Fairfield County, CT. 

 

Natalie Langford
Realty Negotiations - Winchester, VA
Winchester, VA Real Estate
You share one of my pet peeves! Thanks for taking the time to post!
Oct 29, 2007 07:00 AM
Kris Wales
Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center - Macomb, MI
Real Estate Blog & Homes for Sale search site, Macomb County MI

It's amazing to me the differences in the MLS's.  Our MLS does not allow photos to be uploaded anywhere else - once they are uploaded to the MLS they become the property of the MLS. 

Let us know which one sells first.

Oct 29, 2007 07:40 AM
Kathy Riggle
STAGING SMART N SOLD - Houston, TX
Houston Home Staging

Hi Julia-

It worked out great that the competition photographed so poorly.  Good point on taking the time to research the competition on MLS.

Kathy

Oct 29, 2007 07:59 AM
Anthea Click
Fresh Perspectives - www.InsideNashvilleHomes.com - Franklin, TN
Nashville Home Stager - Selling Nashville, TN homes quickly!
Julia,
Great job on researching the competition and actually showing it to your clients. A picture is worth a thousand words.....you converted them. Way to go!
Oct 30, 2007 02:07 AM
Jackie Peraza
Perceptions AdverStaging(TM), LLC - Framingham, MA
Home Stager - Framingham, Massachusetts

Julia- way to go!  Really, you couldn't lose with this approach; if the other townhome had been staged well, your prospective client would have gotten the message as soon as you asked them to take a look at what the competition was offering (I use the digital camera screen, it's an apples to apples look); as it was it worked out perfectly as well because they realized they needed to differentiate their property. 

Happy Belated Birthday!!

Jackie

Oct 30, 2007 07:56 AM
Stephen Joos & Chris Brubaker- HouseFront
HouseFront - Denver, CO
You make really great points to the new couple.  More people need to understand selling your home is a competition and you need to work for the sale, most people are just expecting someone to walk in a say ok I'll take it here's my money.
Oct 30, 2007 08:24 AM
Julianna Hind
eXp Realty - Tacoma, WA
REALTOR, 206-679-4768, Tacoma Federal Way, Auburn, Kent, WA
Wow, what an amazing take on the townhouse staging!
Nov 13, 2007 01:20 PM