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Week 1 - Reviewing the Real Estate Home Staging Shows - Beth Patnode's Take

With the increase in the amount of shows highlitghing the benefits, work involved and process of how Home Staging works...I was curious what are your favorites.

I don't know about you, but I honestly can't keep up with them all and don't like being caught off guard when a client says "Have you seen "XYZ" Staging Show?" Myself and the team at Stylish Transformations Home Staging DO try and keep up on the latest trends, techniques and data to help our clients sell their homes quickly and for the highest profit possible...but we can't do that AND watch tv all the time :)

Each week I will try to review one show in hopes of helping us all out on what may be the best Staging show for us to invest your time in.

This weeks revew - the new Staging show called "Get IT Sold"

Get It Sold shows the process of staging a home to sell.
(Photo from hgtv.com/getitsold)

First off...i have to say Sabrina soto is adorable and has great public speaking skills. I think they provide some great tips for sellers and a very realistic approach by having the comps show the interior of the home to REALLY see what they are up against for competition.

Saying that a 3 bedroom, 3 bath, 4,000 square foot home is listed right down the street for the same amount does NOT mean it is comparable. what else are they offering in the competitons home - granite? updated lighting? etc. So many of our sellers don't realize it's way more than square footage and bedrooms when it comes to a true comp.

i have only seen a couple of things that I disagree with on the show (i.e bringing in a fake fireplace or putting a bed infront of the window).

I have only seen this show a couple of times, but so far so good.

What do you Professional Home Stagers and Realtors think of Get it SOLD?

All the best,

Beth

Beth Patnode, Founder and Co-Owner of Stylish Transformation ~ Home Staging and Redesign

My name is Beth Patnode. I am an Accredited Home Staging Professional in Minnesota and I'm a member of IAHSP (International Assoc of Home Staging Professionals), MN-IAHSP (Minnesota Chapter of Home Staging Professionals) and affiliated with HSE (Home Staging Experts). Thanks for investing your time in reading my blog. If you're interested in contacting me, please visit my website at http://www.StylishTransformations.com

Minnesota's Premiere Home Staging Firm specializing in Real Estate Staging, Staging and Redesign Consultations and Model or Vacant Home Stagings.

Posted by Minnesota Home Staging Firm, Minnesota on 11/26/2007 06:06 PM

Comments (35)

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35 Comments on Week 1 - Reviewing the Real Estate Home Staging Shows - Beth Patnode's Take

NOV

2007

Hi Beth,

I would have to say that "Get it Sold" is my favorite of all the HGTV staging shows because it is the most realistic. I do like Sabrina Soto and think she is a good stager but, invariably, she usually manages to do something that makes me cringe; i.e. the fake fireplace. The last show I watched (a couple of days ago) she spray painted the front lawn green! While it definitely did make the lawn look better, she was covering up a problem rather than solving it. Even though it would have cost more and been more time consuming, she should have suggested that the brown spots be re-seeded or resodded. Viewers will think that all stagers spray brown spots green and this will give NAEBA one more thing to add to their list of complaints about stagers.

Hi Judy!

From what I've seen so far...I agree that Get it Sold seems to be closer to what we do than some of the other shows I'm caught.

i definetly missed the one where she painted the grass green - ha! In a pinch it would help, but you are right it's not solving the problem.

All the best,

Beth

Get it sold is definately my favorite of all the staging related shows on TV. I personally didn't see the painting the lawn green episode, but don't have any problem with it. It is no different than fertilizing the lawn, maintaining it daily and showing off a green lawn. Does doing all of that lead them to believe that if they move in the lawn will always be beautiful? Both are misleading to some degree.... so are rolled towels in the bathroom, etc. Who lives like that? Virtually none of us do, but we are showing the potential and showcasing a possible lifestyle.

I LOVE the fact that they show homes they are up against & BEST OF ALL show that sometimes a price reduction is necessary to make the sale - EVEN AFTER STAGING! That is my favorite aspect of the show. It still doesn't talk about stagers fees, etc, but it is far more realistic than Designed to Sell (though i do love that show too).

Beth - I like "Get it Sold" - darn I'm bummed I missed the spray painting of the grass...my decaf is all over.

Jackie

I'm a fan of "Get It Sold", but I still like A&E's "Sell This House" better. To me, it's closer to reality.

NOV

2007

As much as I love these shows, I can't consume my downtime with them because it's like more 'work'...I'd NEVER turn it off then.

I haven't seen "Get It Sold" yet, but I think that "Desgined to Sell" really distorts the money and effort it takes to stage a place properly.

Gosh- I REALLY love that show and Sabrina as well. I think out of all of the staging shows on the channel it is by far the best. I thought her spraying the grass was genius. I looked into it, and she used a dye that is made for the grass to help it. I just keep getting reruns, we need new shows!

Hi Beth! Great topic you little TV critic you.

I like this show too. It is more realistic with again, the exception of "no money" when it comes to the labor aspect. Sabrina (adorable, perky and great on camera - just like Beth Patnode would be) does the work with a crew I'd assume but does not charge for her talent, creativity, intellectual property, design or physical labor and that again is where I have the most problem with all of these shows. Exposure is great for the industry, but I'd love to see a breakdown of the actual labor costs so the general public would have a better understanding even if the markets are different in other areas.

NOV

2007

Now see, Teresa loves Sell this House... I think Roger is a moron most of the time. The colors he picks & the accessories he uses... is he kidding? I'll give him that they look better, but seriously.... paint for staging should not come from the oops bin 98% of the time! I do watch the show, but for shear amusement and to typically roll my eyes and wonder 'WHY?'

DEC

2007

Hi Theresa!

I'l have to check out "Sell This House". That is one I haven't seen yet!

I just did a short review on "Designed to Sell" today. Have you seen the show?

Hi Melissa & Jackie!

Couldn't agree with you both more.

Hi Abbey!

I can relate...although try to fit in a little short "research time" to make sure there aren't any cool trends or tips that I'm missing out on. :)

Hi Patricia! I agree and if you didn't see it, I actaully just wrote about the misconceptions Designed to Sell gives sellers. Hopefully the sellers are smart and reallize that there is no labor - for both the professional stagers advice AND the construction crew included in that $2000 budget.

Hi Beth Harris! Interesting...do you know the name of the dye that helps the grass. I must admit I am not familiar with this product but would love to know more.

Hi Karen!

You crack me up...but thank you so much for the kind compliment! I'm spazzing right now over a 4 hour presentation I have to do...I think that means my television career is probably not anywhere on the horizon :)

You are SO RIGHT! If they started showing the TRUE costs of what the staging really entails in some of these shows, maybe some of the clients we all encounter wouldn't have unrealistic expectations or sticker shock. Hopefully they gradually start introducing the more realistic fees as people become more and more familiar with professional home staging.

DEC

2007

Beth,

Get it Sold is definitely my favorite. Sabrina does some great work, even though I don't agree with everything she does. That show is the one watched the most in our household - the hubby has a little crush on Sabrina. :)

Hi Beth - Thanks for the post. I am out of the loop on the home shows. I have never seen Get it Sold but I will be adding it to my Tivo "To Do List!"

P.S. I am guilty of telling a client once to spray paint a few spots before Open House. It looked great! :)

Hi Anthea!

Too funny...I can see why he has a crush. She is a sweetheart!

Hi Janice!

I think you'll like it. Hey, question off the subject for you. HAve you ever used a regular DVR before puschasing your TIVO. Am curious if you like one over the other and for what reasons. We were looking at dropping our DVR service and getting our own TIVO instead.

Beth - I have only used TIVO which I bought for my husband 2 years ago on Valentine's Day! At that time our local cable company didn't offer DVR but kept promising us it was coming to our area soon.

I purchased the one time TIVO service fee..I think it was $300 then....not sure what it is now.

Anyway, I LOVE my TIVO. It is easy to install and use and was very affordable. I am planning on adding one to my bedroom so that I don't have to bore the kids with my shows and visa versa! Good luck with your decision.

Thanks Janice! I'm going to check into it. Is there a monthly monitoring fee?

Not with the one time fee! I know you can pay a month to month fee if you want to. I just thought it was easier and cheaper :) to do the one time fee.

Hi Beth;

I love the post you have started about the HGTV shows on Home Staging. I recently had the pleasure ( and I really do mean pleasure ) of interviewing Sabrina Soto for my radio show. She is an absolute delight to speak with...just as personable as you would expect her to be. We shared a lot of laughs during the commercial breaks and many laughs on air. She loves shopping Target.com, Overstock.com and Walmart for staging props and needs. Her mother was a Realtor and so she comes by her talents naturally as she really worked in the trenches. I was a bit disappointed to find out that the show does pay the budget, but she did tell me that home owner's will occasionally pitch in when the budget has been used and there is still more work to be done. She may not divulge all of the costs associated with each transformation as mentioned about, but she is VERY cost conscious as she realizes the target market of the show and wants it to be a real user friendly experience. You can hear her interview with me if you like at www.radiosandysprings.com It's archived and available by going to the web site, clicking on show schedule, then Friday's and then scroll down to the Diva in the House-The Voice of Real Estate Staging show page. Her show was dated October 12th. Is there a way that I can keep up to date with your posts? I want to be able to track what everyone is saying about the HGTV shows as I am continually trying to bring people from the network on the air. Thanks again for starting such a great post.

Cheers,

Gina McNew

Hi Gina!

How fun to interview Sabrina...and I'll have to check out that radio interview.

I'm sad to admit but I'm not certain how you can automatically get updates on my new blogs. If you "subscribe to my blogs: up top that may work but I've done that for others and don't automatically get emails when they create a new blog.

Perhaps one of our other AR friends can tell us both how though :) Anyone, anyone...Bueller???

If you'd like to get updates on the comment on THIS particular blog, I do know the answer to that one. Simply check the box below where you place your comment that says "Notify me of new comments". :)

Nice mtg you on the Rain..and love your web site!

Hi Beth;

I am trying to figure out how to connect to your blogs and in doing so completely lost the last post I was working on to you. Anyway...I'll get this figured out eventually. It was very nice to have met you also and thank you for the kind comment about my web site. I was fortunate to find a web site designer who " knew me " without knowing me if that makes any sense. She pegged me immediately and the rest is history.

Just have to love technology...the world gets smaller day by day and we can make and keep new friends with just a few pecks on keyboard. Hope to continue to enjoy your company in the Rain.

Cheers!

DEC

2007

Not a stager. Came across this site because I was googling Sabrina Soto. My wife is obessed with this show and to be honest... I love it too. Not only because of Sabrina (she is easy on the eyes), but really I learn how do repair things in my house when she dumbs it down for me. I like the show a lot and as I was searching, it doesnt seem like she or the show get as much praises as they deserve. Like your website by the way, Beth!

DEC

2007

Sell this House - the worst...gosh sheets for sofa covers??? thought we stopped doing that years ago. ugh. I haven't watched one episode without cringing...and I've only watched three and then gave up.

Design to sell - ok sometimes, but seriously unrealistic too.

Get it Sold, the most realistic from a Realtor/Stager point of view because it does go into the other factors. If the price is not in line, the staging doesn't matter the house won't sell. Very well done and more comprehensive than the other attempts. Don't like that they don't figure "real" cost, like the others though.

My 2 cents though, great post. Terrylynn Realtor/Staging Specialist

DEC

2007

Great blog Beth!! Love, love, love the idea o reveiwing the shows to point out which ones are really worth our valiuable time.

Must say you seem to be right on the mark about Get it Sold. Seems pretty solid, Sabrina is great, just need to fix some of the few false suggestions to homeowners. Now if we could get all of the other crappy shoes off the air so that the sellers don't have the wrong idea about staging that would be great.

Will look forward to the next one!

DEC

2007

LOVE this show so much and I adore the host. It seems like lately HGTV has had some questionable hosts on their programs.. but she is a treat to watch. I like Design to Sell, but Get It sold is much better.

Hmmm...anonymous writer above - is that you Sabrina? Ha :)

I'll agree with you too Susan. The host does an excellent job of passing along valido information to the sellers and public in regards to Staging..again with the exception of labor and her talented Staging Expertise.

DEC

2007

Hi Terrylynn - haven't watched Sell This House but will have to for the review :)

Thanks Tom, Gina and Martha!

Beth-Great idea for a blog! I have not seen this show yet, but I do try to catch Designed to Sell, and Sell This House. My honey and I are determined to watch TV together, so he has to limit the James Bond and motorcycle shows, and I try to limit all my "decorating" shows!!! But, I think I will have to make a point to catch this one. I'm all about reality, and it sounds like this one comes a little closer than most!!!

Wait!!! I forgot one thing! I'm looking at YOUR picture and Sabrina's, hmmm....twins? Perhaps separated at birth???

Ok Elaine...can I just tell you....you need to get your eyes checked, but you just made my YEAR! Thanks so much for the kind compliment. I can't say I think I look like Sabrina but I take that as a huge compliment.

On to your earlier comment, I hear ya on the needing to watch the same shows as the hubbie so you can catch up and relax together. I have to tell you though - I'd watch James Bond anytime. My husband and I actaully watched all of the James Bond movies over the course of a year (this was BEFORE kids - ha!). Love em - but prefer the original James Bond over them all.

Thanks for stopping in...and again making my year :)

JUL

2008

I have watched several episodes and I'd love to see the affect that the staging has on a home that can't sell WITHOUT it being accompanied by a drastic drop in price. I'm left wondering if all the home needed was a more realistic price and not all the expense of the staging. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of staging a home to sell, but price dictates 99.9%, whether listed with an agent or offerred "by owner". The true test of staging would be to show a house that was competitively priced but that doesn't show well and give it the needed update.

NOV

2008

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