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Brick wall - meet my head!

Has anyone else had one of those days when you feel like you are beating your head against a wall?

It still amazes me that so many homeowners are hesitant to stage their properties. Has it not been proven over and over again that investing as little as 1% of your listing price will net you the closest price to asking, if not more? Why is the concept of spending money to make money so hard to relate? I know there are areas in this great land that have totally gotten it, and they thrive. The market is turning and now, more than ever, a home has to show it's very best. Education is key to a successful home selling transaction. Every property benefits from staging, even the most luxurious. It takes a fresh pair of eyes that are not involved in the bottom line to truly make a house a show home and create a 'buzz' around the listing. Got a stale listing that you keep dropping the price of? Take it off for a few weeks, get it staged, and put it back on at the original asking price and watch the flurry of activity!

I know change is usually resisted. I know I can wait it out and continue to educate anyone who will listen. Until then, I will buy a helmet and smile.

Posted by Michele Muir, IDDP, ISP, CDECA Silk Purse Decor, Halifax NS on 11/05/2007 01:44 PM

Comments (7)

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7 Comments on Brick wall - meet my head!

NOV

2007

Michele, you are right on the money. Another area that benefits well from staging is the rental market. I don't know of anyone who is doing that in southern California right now, but it is something that bears looking into! Any house of ours that is tastefully decorated rents in a fraction of the time that it takes a vacant house.

Keep educating! They are coming around...or getting out of the business :>)

Jonathan, I am glad to hear your thoughts on rental staging. I actually met with a property management company last week regarding that very thing. They seem very open to it but we are all sort of floundering as far as charging for it. Since they have to sell the idea to the property owners, it brings me back to convincing home owners that staging is a good thing. Even if you are renting the property you own. Thanks for your feedback!

Love the blog title, Michele. We get tired of repeating the staging advice,but as a former teacher I remember having to retell & restate information over & over before it sinks in! :-)

Kathy

As A Realtor, I was also a bit skeptical about staging at first until I witnessed the success first hand. I think it takes a champion in each real estate office who can prove it and then other agents come along. As far as the public is concerned, some people simply don't have the funds and others don't feel they'll benefit. I have to say, I have a beautifully staged house listed now (three weeks so far) and not one showing. It's well priced and in a good neighbourhood but in a sector of the market that is not currently moving. When things like that happen, whether it is staged or not won't make a difference yet too many owners look for guarantees. Don't get me wrong - I am a huge fan of staging and have had incredible success with a local home stager both for sales and for rentals.

NOV

2007

Michele,

Never thought about wearing a helmet.....my forehead's a mess.

I think we all feel the same way at times. A good marketing idea is to have a Staging Open House the evening your next house is finished. It's just an informal open house with the homeowners, listing agent, neighbors (because they're dying to see what the house looks like now) and agents who are getting off work and want to get a first peek and of course you are the star. The listing agent may have someone who is thinking of selling, (or has already put their house one the market) stop by to see what a staged home looks like. The neighbors might know someone getting ready to sell, or possibly getting ready to sell themselves. Agents who stop by to "check it out" will probably have a little more time to ask questions and really look at the staging. If they know there is food and drink available it's even better. You would provide some finger food or possibly split the cost with the listing agent because the venue is valuable marketing for you both. The homeowners are usually pretty good about these opens because not only are they blown away by the staging, they are glad it's done, a buyer may walk in when they see the open house sign, and it's just fun.

Good luck..

Michele,

I am so with you..banging my head along the way. I have found education to be the key in areas that don't get it. We have to keep trying and educating. The rest will come around.

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