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Y Real Estate Agents Sometimes Despise Hm Stagers & Home Inspectors

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Compass 0524642

When a home stager tells someone who is about to list their home "how to market the property" or how their staging will increase the sale of their home by X percent it infuriates me. It makes me want to kick their potted plant through a nearby window. If you aren't licensed, shut your hole.

2. If you wanna tell horror stories and scare the daylights out of people head to a campfire. When I first got in the business I remember a home inspector asking my buyer.... "You surely don't want one of your kids to be in front of the stove when it falls over, especially when it's on.. do you?" He was making light of the anti-tipping devices, or lack thereof. The buyer demanded a new stove as she was certain this stove would open and grab one of her kids and drag it to the depths of hell.

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Posted by
Greg Nino
Realtor
RE/MAX Compass 
Direct & Text 7 days a wk: 832-298-8555 
 
 
Realtor since 2004
Mediator & Arbitrator for the TX Assoc. of Realtors
Member of the Professional Standards Committee for the TX Assoc. of Realtors
Arbitrator for the Comptroller's office for the State of TX for Arbitration of Property Tax Values

 Member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame & Platinum Club

 

The information contained in this blog is believed to be reliable and while every effort is made to assure that the information is as accurate as possible, the author of this blog, and its comments disclaim any implied warranty or representation about it's accuracy, completeness or appropriateness for any particular purpose. All information is copywritten and the property of Greg Nino.  

Comments (18)

Dan Jasmer
Fine Properties - Sarasota, FL
Changing the way you look at real estate

"Shut up" seems to be the most used comment in my vocabulary right now as everyone has way too much to say, and not enough knowledge to back up their nonsense.  I agree totally with you!

May 20, 2012 10:30 AM
Ken Brandon
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage (Jacksonville, NC) - Jacksonville, NC
Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, NC

I agree with you. I have never appreciated irresponsible comments by other "professionals" that exceed "professional guidance: status.

May 20, 2012 11:59 AM
Mark Delgado
houses for rent, Solano County & Glen Cove - Benicia, CA
Benicia and Vallejo, Property Management, rental h

Greg, I couldn't agree more with your point.  I'll admit though that I figured you would write a much longer blog on this sort of topic.  Your talents as a blog writer and your experience as an agent have given you the materials to probably write an entire series on this topic.

May 20, 2012 01:10 PM
Bill Jones
Discovery Real Estate Ltd. - "Homes By Jones" - Airdrie, AB
Realtor (403-701-1739) Airdrie & Calgary Area Homes and Condos
You nailed it, far too much nonsense from the mouths if those trying to make themselves seem important. Stop the world and let them off. Bill
May 20, 2012 01:13 PM
Amanda Christiansen
Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843 - Fort Wayne, IN
Christiansen Group Realty

Exactly.  I've had this happen a few times as well.  Ridiculous.                                                                                                                   

May 20, 2012 10:21 PM
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Thank you for having the courage to say what most agents are thinking.

May 20, 2012 10:34 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

You've obviously had a bad experience.   Even though you wrote "sometimes" despise,  it still appears to be a trashing of all stagers and all inspectors.  As for "shutting our holes if we aren't licensed"...there are plenty of licensed Realtors out there that don't deserve the title of professional. 

Don't get me wrong....I agree that there are people professing to have all the answers that aren't worth the time of day and they are doing far more damage than good in the world.  I recently had a nightmare experience with some "mold experts" that nearly pushed my husband to violence.  Every profession has idiots that don't have a clue.

As for telling a seller how to "market the property".... I agree that home stagers have no business discussing price, if that is what you refer to.  However,  "marketing" is exactly what a home stager does.  Merchandising a product using visual appearance is marketing 101.  

May 20, 2012 11:00 PM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Writing this post didn't take courage, Sharon's comment took courage and I agree with her.  Visual appearance is marketing 101.  Obviously you haven't been working with the right people, but trashing all stagers and all inspectors is rude and unprofessional............and I'm quite surprised at those who agree with you.

May 20, 2012 11:17 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Greg- I'm sorry you've had a bad experience with home stagers.  I and most of the stagers I know defer any talk of price to their Realtor, and in fact I always tell my clients to listen to their Realtor.  I also tell them that staging will help make their home present better in the MLS listings ( if whoever places the photos in the listing knows how to take pictures and knows which ones to enter) and I also tell them that preparing their home for sale will help it compete in the market, I never ever tell them that they'll get more money. 

As for marketing, preparing their home for sale IS part of marketing a home.  The Used car salesman may price the car but the car detailer helps in marketing by making it look its best. 

But I do agree... it's a thorn in my side as well when someone that really doesn't know that much about a subject puts their two cents in.  I've had agents tell my sellers to paint every wall white, remove everything from the house  and just bake some cookies in the oven.  

May 20, 2012 11:24 PM
Doug Rogers
RE/MAX Coastal Properties - Destin, FL
Your Real Estate Resource!

In Nino's defense, it does not seem like he was bashing the craft of staging/home inspection. The problem develops when a stager says, "do this and thine value will rise 18%".

 Don't get me wrong, I'm always up for some Nino bashing. But pick something he is doing wrong. Did you know he pays people to wash his car? No self-respecting male engages in such behavior. What's up with that?

May 20, 2012 11:35 PM
Greg Nino
RE/MAX Compass - Houston, TX
Houston, Texas

Roger,

 

I don't know if you actually read the post or  noticed the title, but I did write "sometimes." Nobody blanketed the industry. Well, it sounds as if you are.

May 21, 2012 12:18 AM
Beth and Richard Witt
New York, NY
The best Retired Brokers !!!!

Oh my.... this post is to controversial for me...  I think at times we all say and do things that we wish we hadn't but, whatever... I just want to wish you a Happy Day Greg

May 21, 2012 01:08 AM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Yes, I actually read the title and the post, but you don't speak very favorably of inspectors or stagers even though you wrote "sometimes".  Unless the entire real estate industry reads this post, I didn't blanket an industry either.  I only commented on those who agreed with you.  "Shut your hole".............rude and not the least bit humorous.

May 21, 2012 01:18 AM
Greg Nino
RE/MAX Compass - Houston, TX
Houston, Texas

Roger,

I wasn't meaning to be humerous. I was being very direct about people who say and do things that are stupid. And some agents, inspectors, plumbers and lawn care people are stupid. Some of them should shut their mouth as it causes problems.

May 21, 2012 01:22 AM
Greg Nino
RE/MAX Compass - Houston, TX
Houston, Texas

Roger,

 

if you don't like the post you aren't required to read it.

Have a good day.

May 21, 2012 01:23 AM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

I know I'm not required to read any post, but it always intrigues me when someone who is trying to make a point, like you were with this post, comes off equally as stupid as those you are talking about.  Normally I pass crap like this up, but you seemed so passionate I couldn't resist commenting.  I'm glad that wasn't an attempt at humor by the way.

For some reason, I have a feeling you'd be all over an inspector if he didn't point out something that could be dangerous to children.  I also doubt very much if every house you walk into is marketed properly and that the sellers couldn't use some advice from either their agent or a stager.  If you've ever advised a client to de-clutter, edit furniture or neutralize the color on their walls, you've done the work of a stager....................just sayin.

You can delete my comments if you find them offensive, no skin off my teeth.

May 21, 2012 01:38 AM
Greg Nino
RE/MAX Compass - Houston, TX
Houston, Texas

Roger,

 

First, I'm glad you find me passionate, because I am. You don't have to call my post stupid. That's not nice. It's like me saying your profile picture is more ridiculous than mine. That would be unkind. You shouldn't be so hasty to assume that I'd attack my inspector verbally for not telling horror stories. That's kind of silly, because I wouldn't. And every seller should get advice, I agree. Do you think a Zestimate is good advice for home sellers and buyers? Are you okay with a Realtor citing code and discussing how air conditions work if they aren't licensed? I'm not. If you aren't marked in the trade you should shut your big, fat mouth. Some people don't know when to shut their trap, Roger. They think by talking some how their adding value. Next time you doubt that tape record yourself as you "coach" a client. You might be a little surprised how foolish you could sound. That's me just trying to give you a little advice. I can tell by your insistent commenting that you love to argue, talk, get red in the face and have the last word. That said, it takes one to know one. I need to shut up sometimes, too. Blog posts are written from within, Roger. This is why many of us love to write. Why would I delete your comment? If you want to be abrasive and goofy, go ahead. I'm here 7 days a week. Free of charge. It's members only, talk all the shit you want brother.

May 21, 2012 01:48 AM
Nellie Lytvinenko
Homes by Nellie-Working with Buyers & Sellers - Raleigh, NC
919-210-9992, Raleigh - Cary NC Real Estate

OMG..are you all originally from Jersey? These comments remind me of living there.

If you don't like what the stager is saying, why are you hiring them to stage your home for sale?

May 21, 2012 02:47 PM