Special offer

Home Staging = Sweat Equity ON STEROIDS!

By
Industry Observer

 Realtors, with the spring selling season just around the corner I think now is the time to FLEX YOUR MINDS to make a very GOOD point! While home staging does not raise the appraised value of a property, IT STILL CAN BE A VERY PROFITABLE VENTURE!

Here's why... As every realtor knows, a home that goes to market has a possible low/high list price point range.  This low/high price is primarily based on location, condition, features, and finishes.

But you might not know is that if staging is done correctly, and at the right time, the asking price can be raised toward the high side of the range... considerably in some cases!

So, look at staging as "sweat equity on steroids!"  And if you are able to convey that fact to sellers BEFORE it is listed (in fact that is a good way to explain to sellers staging is) then staging can bring HUGE returns to the seller... and a faster sale to you.

Our (Real Estaging's) best "sweat equity on steroids" success story was for couple who last spring ended up LISTING their home for $20,000 MORE from what the agent originally was going to list it for, HAD WE NOT STAGED IT! 

YES, you can stage a house after it has been on the market... but timing matters. If everyone (seller, agent and stager) wins bigger from by staging prior to listing the property... then why not do it?

Realtor and seller both need to understand that staging BEFORE a property goes to market is key to tapping into the financial rewards possible from staging. That is why we at Real Estaging have coined a simple phrase... "stage it, list it, show it, sell it."  THAT ORDER WORKS THE BEST! 

So FLEX YOUR MINDS... and bring new sweaty and profitable ventures to your sellers.

 

Suzanne Marriott
Keller Williams Arizona Realty - Anthem, AZ
Associate Broker, CLHMS, e-PRO
Craig - Let's be honest - if you placed that picture in a staged home how much attention would the buyer pay to the home versus the picture?!  Great post!
Jan 10, 2007 02:10 AM
Craig Schiller
Trempealeau, WI

Okay Craig.. I was drinking my coffee & spit it on the screen laughing.  YUCKY! (The guy kinda reminds me of Rocky from Rocky Horror Picture Show.... hmmm.  That shows my age).  In the last 24 hours I have heard:  "oh if my house dosen't sell in a few months I will call you..."  and "my realtor told me NOT to paint because the new owner will just want to paint anyways..."  I can scream LOL.  But as we stagers do, we smile & think hmm.... you'll be picking birds nests off of your lockbox.

Staging should never be a last resort. 

Jan 10, 2007 03:55 AM
Judy Kincaid
Tampa, FL

Craig & Karen---I think both of should put "spew alerts" on your blogs and comments.  I agree with Karen about the image conjured up by that picture.

Karen---I sure am glad I wasn't drinking anything when I read your comment.  I would have had to buy a new monitor for sure and I'm still chuckling!  We need to put that in our marketing materials:  "Home staging keeps you from having to pick bird nests off your lock boxes!"

Jan 10, 2007 04:27 AM
Janice Sutton
1st Stage Property Transformations - Murrieta, CA
Home Stager - Temecula Murrieta

Once again wise words from the Master!  I live by those words every day...stage it, list it, show it, sell it!  I agree that order works the BEST.

Two days ago I was taking pictures at a home that I finished staging and met a realtor who asked for my card.  She contacted me yesterday and told me she was getting ready to list a home that had been listed last year and then taken off the market.  She mentioned it needed furniture and help in a few rooms.  She said that she would be paying for the staging out of her pocket.  I mentioned that it would be wise to stage it before she lists it and she agreed.  I will be meeting her later this week so stayed tuned!!! 

Jan 10, 2007 05:00 AM
Carol Rumak
Geneva, IL

Craig, right on the money again! Its all about creating that great first impression because when you Stage your home, you sell your house! Price it right, it will be shown, show it right, it will be sold!!

Keep Staging it forward!

Carol

Jan 10, 2007 06:19 AM
Maureen Maureen
Orangeburg, NY
Craig - Great post - I love that tattoo on the guy's arm!  
Jan 10, 2007 12:29 PM
Jessica Hughes
Ambiance Staging - Boulder, CO

"stage it, list it, show it, sell it"  hmmmmm, I like the sound of that ;) very catchy

I seem to be being called in to stage vacant homes that have languished on the market due to being overpriced.  I don't know what the deal is.  I staged a home as a favor to a friend back in November, and it still hasn't sold.   They have now lowered the price by $140,000 and it's still overpriced.  I just don't get this market.  The pricing here is WHACKED.

Jan 10, 2007 12:30 PM
Craig Schiller
Trempealeau, WI

Lucy: I think there is a whole blog that can be written in what you say.

Suzanne: Sex sells!

Karen: "Birds nest on lock boxes"... sound like a blog title begging to be written.

Janice: "stage it, list it, show it, sell it."  it should be the staging mantra for every stager.

Carol: PRICE IT RIGHT! THAT is a given.... well it should be. Staging isn't a bandaid for overpricing a property.

Maureen: I am learing aboug subliminal advertising from the Codgers up in MN.

Jessica: I feel a blogg coming on... either you or me should write it!

 

Jan 10, 2007 11:07 PM
Dawn Shaffer Life is good!
Battle Ground, WA

Craig - stage it, tour it, list it, show it, sell it.

 

Jan 11, 2007 09:13 AM
Craig Schiller
Trempealeau, WI

DAWN... YES! I LIKE I LIKE! Miss seeing you in the rain sweetie! Me

Jan 11, 2007 11:15 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude
Good points, Craig. Just some more great information for sellers, and agents, to know about and ACT ON! I have seen too many UGLY homes that could definitely benefit from the services of a professional stager. And BLAH vacant homes, too. The more examples we have to give sellers about how successful staging is, the easier it is to convince them - so many just don't have a clue.
Jan 11, 2007 12:55 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert
Craig, I have walked into some Open House that I just wanted to turn around and walk out. It is amazing that some sellers don't seem to understand that they way they present their house and the first impression that someone gets when they first walk in goes a long way.
Jan 11, 2007 01:20 PM
Debra Gould
Staging Diva / Six Elements Inc. - Toronto, ON
The Staging Diva

Then there are all the houses that no one walks into because from the street they decide they hate it.

I bought 6 of my own homes in 8 years (long before I was a professional stager), and I know when I was sitting in the agent's car knowing that we had 8 or 12 houses to see in an afternoon, if we drove up and I didn't like it, I'd say "forget it let's drive on to the next appointment."

I'm sure I'm not the only buyer that does this. That's why I wrote the article, "House hunting is like speed dating" a few years back. To wake homeowners up to the fact that buyers will make a decision not to buy within a few minutes and no amount of sweet talking will get them back!

Much better to romance them from the street, get them in the door and keep the love going throughout their visit. That's what great home staging does!

debra

 

P.S. Craig to answer your previous question to me, yes I've invited many Staging Diva Graduates to join this group. I'm pleased to see that several of them are leaders actively contributing to the various discussions, including: Judy Kincaid, Lucie Quigley, Kerri Brencsons, Lisa Kauffman, Mary Seferian, Leigh Olsen, Sveta Melchuk and others.  

 

Jan 12, 2007 04:14 AM
Audra Slinkey
Home Staging Resource - San Diego, CA

Craig,

 I completely agree with Debra and to add to it, MAKE SURE YOUR "AFTER" PIX are being marketed online.  Since 80%+ (this figure keeps rising) home buyers are searching online BEFORE going to the home, it's crucial that the home stagers work is what's shown on the agents site, Realtor.com etc.

Since some of us aren't doing the staging work until AFTER the listing has gone up, MAKE SURE as a courtesy to the agent, you pass your after pictures to the agent (or better yet, have them there to take them and see your work).  Every Professional Home Stager should also be an excellent photographer or consider hiring one.  I have a lot of great tips on taking those "After" photos at: http://www.homestagingresource.com/pixtips.asp (this article includes a great post by Craig)

More real estate agents need to understand that home staging serves a tremendous marketing dual purpose.  Home staging not only helps market the home on the inside (when buyers enter in), it markets the home on the outside through gorgeous photos (driving traffic to the home).

FYI - I've noticed A LOT more real estate agents calling our Members BEFORE the listing then ever before (which is super encouraging!)  I have two full day appointments this weekend from two Realtors who called one of our Members in the Directory and are paying them directly.

Keep preachin' it Craig!
Warm Regards,  
Audra Slinkey
http://www.homestagingresource.com/
audra@homestagingresource.com
1-888-563-9271  

Home Staging Resource...
Working together to make the practice of professional home staging an industry standard

Jan 12, 2007 06:20 AM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection
Craig I agree that the staging should be done prior to listings.  As a realtor I am telling more an more potential sellers about this service.  It make such a big difference, and as you rightly statedthis usually result in the house listing for more.
Jan 13, 2007 02:15 AM
Debra Gould
Staging Diva / Six Elements Inc. - Toronto, ON
The Staging Diva

Since this discussion leads into the whole issue of well photographed listings to market properties, any agents reading this discussion might be interested in a related post on my Six Elements blog, Virtual Tours Versus Still Photos to Market a Property

 

debra

 


 

Jan 13, 2007 07:20 AM
Anonymous
Phyllis Pafumi

Craig

I love this blog and I really believe that realtors are FINALLY getting it. I know for one, that my phone has not stopped ringing and I have been swamped. YEAH!! But I truly believe that they do not want to experience the same dead Spring market that they experienced last year. They know they have to do something and staging is it!!

They are actually calling me in BEFORE they list it. CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?? STAGE IT, LIST IT, SELL IT! Hmmm I heard that somewhere, oh well.

Phyllis Pafumi 

Jan 14, 2007 01:41 AM
#30
Jeff Turner
RealSatisfied - Santa Clarita, CA
Craig :: I'll agree with the other comments on this post. This is a very creative and accurate way to look at staging, "sweat equity on steroids." It just hits the right tone.
Jan 14, 2007 06:09 PM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Still trying to catch up with all the wonderful posts before my time on AC. I have a particular agent in mind to show this to.

Thanks for allowing us a glimpse into your creative world.

AC rocks!!!

Kathleen Lordbock

Re$ale Design 

Mar 23, 2007 07:36 AM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes
YOU READ MY MIND!  I didn't read your post until now but I tell you I was saying "SWEAT EQUITY"  all morning to my consult clients!  Minimum expense (sweat's cheap and so is paint) = Maximum results.... I think we're psychic-ly connected which is magically delicious....now go read my post and help me with my problem - pretty please...
Mar 23, 2007 07:42 AM