10. The listing photo is crooked: Why is the house tilted? I personally prefer my home level and my pens won't roll down the table when I set them down (it can be quite a hassel!) I feel like I am on the Titanic... Leo, where are you?



       9. Taking photos without turning on lights/flashes nor opening the blinds: Everyone wants to buy a bright and airy room, very rarely someone would prefer a cave.

        8. Reminding your buyers of their own clutters: clutter eats equity!

       7. Forgot your yard is on sale too: Come on, it's not so difficult to put the trash can in the garage! Also just because the agent layed down the broom "neatly" doesn't mean we won't notice. It doesn't count as a plant nor splashes of color sellers should opt for.

        6. Featuring an unattractive view: I found this photo on MLS as the featured photo for a property. Really?  This one? There wasn't a better one? And guess what kind of property the agent was selling? A Single Family Home! Who would've guessed?

        5. Losing the architecture focal point to something else overwhelming: In this particular case, all buyers can see is the oversized tree and it becomes difficult to see the fireplace. There are also too many things going on. I didn't even see the piano when I first saw it. Or the view! Did you see the windows at the first glance?

         4. Forgot the exterior is on sale too: How can we sell the listing if it's hidden behind trees? Don't let the buyers play peekaboo with the house.

      3. Photos not available: Why isn't it available? It's part of an agent's job to present his/her product well. In the internet buyer's age, this laziness needs to die. I see a lot of this "photo" on expired listings, which I am not too surprised.

        2. You didn't stage! However if you are in an area where vacant inventory still moves fairly quickly, it's fine to not stage. In areas like mine (San Francisco Bay Area) where it is competitive, then you would need to if you have the budget. If you have financial concerns, talk to a few accredited staging professionals. I have written about how to hire a stager before, feel free to check it out. Here is an example of before & after.

 See Before Staging

 See After Staging

1. Instead of actual staging, the seller or agent half bakes it: Sometimes what is worse than not staging is put random things in the room and call it "staging." This still does not give buyers the correct spatial relations of the room. The next owners are not just going to have a side table, a tree and a TV in the room. It will be easier if there is a couch there to have a better sense of the space and will be easier for the buyers to imagine their belongings in the room. Just half-fake the staging like this will still make people feel like they are walking into someone else's space -- someone who forgot to finish packing.

If you have financial difficulty, talk with your accredited staging professional. A good stager knows how to work with your budget and to achieve the best results. But do have reasonable expectations. Afterall, champagne taste on a beer budget is just not going to work. Just talk openly with your agent & accredited stager to sort out your concerns. It is their job to assist you in the selling process and to ease your stress. ;)

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

(This is an original post written by Cindy Lin, Owner of Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns www.staged4more.com. All Rights Reserved.)