Selling homes today presents challenges and requires creativity and cooperation between the fields of real estate sales and home staging. Sure times are tough, but hard times can bring great new ideas and actions into being.

Several weeks ago I posted a blog about a savvy real estate agent who not only knew the value of home staging, but actually helped the owners and me, the stager, prepare the home for sale. She went the extra mile and was rewarded with a profitable sale one day after the staging was completed!


The next agent who contacted Selling By Design-Staging had several new builds listed, and an owner who wanted them sold asap, but was not willing to pay for staging. A dilemma indeed, and since Selling By Design-Staging's inventory was mostly being used already in other listings I could not be of help even if the owner had wanted to pay. What to do?

We came up with a plan of attack. The agent would buy the major furniture pieces and I would supply the accessories. We would stage a small one story first, and when that sold, move the staging to one of the two story houses, and repeat that senario until all the homes sold.

We knew it was a risk since neither of us would see any money until closing, but decided to take the chance. A contract was drawn up by me and signed by both of us stating that at the closing of the last house I would receive the furniture as well as my usual staging fees.

The first home sold in about 3 weeks, the second in a day after it was staged so now we're on to the third. The agent and I move the light stuff and hire two big guys to shoulder the heavy pieces. We're getting it down to a smooth operation .

So far this has been an exciting, win, win situation for all involved, and hopefully an inspirational experience for other agents and home stagers who may follow with creative solutions of their own to get the real estate market moving.

1200 sq. ft. 3 bed, two bath home.

 

Photos of the larger home will be posted in the next blog Creativity........ Part two.

 

 

 

Linda Thompson

Fresno, CA- home staging and redesign services

                  Selling By Design-Staging

Selling By Design-Staging specializes in giving homes an edge on the competition by creating atmospheres that are appealing, inviting and that say to potential buyers "Welcome home." For more information we invite you to visit our web site at   http://www.sellingbydesign-staging.net


 linda@sellingbydesign-staging.com

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7 Comments on Creativity + Cooperation = HOMES SOLD in Fresno, CA

APR
12
2012
1,030,837 Points 238 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Linda- very creative idea.  Did the seller pay anything at all towards the staging?  And you got the furniture + your fee?  I love that you both worked out a win-win situation.  
5:12pm • #1
580,485 Points 37 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Linda ~ I think whatever method you and the listing agent come up with that's mutually beneficial, that's a good thing especially if it gets the home sold quickly -- as they say, a win-win for everyone involved.

So, if I understand your plan correctly, you received your full staging fee AND all of the furniture (that the agent paid for so you got it for free) and this was in exchange for payment at closing?  What if the home had not sold -- did you build an option into your contract to protect your financial interest in that event?
7:19pm • #2
APR
13
2012

I have done something like this using some of my furniture and changing the look with new artwork and accessories.  The only problem I can see is that all of the listings continue to look the same.  I had a realtor inquire about by business taking over staging in their office because the stager they were using makes every home look the same.  In fact, some of the buyers thought they were looking at the same house they had already seen.
Nancy Rolli-Healy
4:53am • #3
Outside Blog

Hi Kathy, Maureen and Nancy, thanks for your comments and questions. I realized by some of your questions that I had not fully explained the arrangement and money issues so I will do so in my next blog and show pics of house #2. Stay tuned.
12:15pm • #4
Outside Blog

I didn't answer your question in my new post since it was mainly about the fees and management of the project. For the 2nd house I did bring in more furniture and changed the bedding etc.  I use some of the same things over again in my projects, but make enough changes that they don't look the same.

 
5:15pm • #5
APR
24
2012
1 Featured Post

Linda

 

I love to see real estate professionals think outside the box and come up with a good plan for all involved. I'm a fairly new stager so when I initially read through your article I thought that's perfect. Then as I read the comment left by Maureen I realized it wasn't totally fool proof. So what was the plan if the house didn't sell in 30 or 60 days?

Thanks for sharing. We all learn so much from posts like these.
7:04am • #6
Outside Blog

Hi Chris,

Thanks for your response. As to the question of what would we do if the houses didn't sell, there was no plan, but I decided ahead of time that it was worth the risk. I put in my time and accessories ( that I already owned) so there was no expense on my part except paying the movers. However, since the homes were moderately priced, in a good location and new, which is what is selling in our area, I knew the chances that they would not sell quickly were minimal.

I would not recommend, nor would I do this under all circumstances, but since both the real estate agent , who takes the risk of not being paid each time a listing doesn't sell, and I figured in this instance it wouild work, we decided to go for it.

Very few things in life are totally fool proofl,  but some are more so than others. I guess I find some kind of a thrill in calculated risks. It's like in sports ( I like skiing) if the conditions are right, strap on your helmet and go for it!
12:07pm • #7


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