“I Stood in Your House While People Looked At It”
This was either a very misguided individual, or someone what has had a bad experience in the past with an agent. We all know a great real estate agent provides much more than what she is implying... and we all know too that 80% of FSBO's don't sell and eventually use the services of an agent.
I would go see the home, no pressure to list, just a friendly visit and perhaps offer to spruce up her feature sheet, or offer some other kind of token. Perhaps give some advice on furniture re-arrangement to show the home at its best advantage...Establish a relationship with her.. you never know.. she could call you to list it for her!
It happened to me..!
“I Stood in Your House While People Looked At It”
(Perspectives on Real Estate and More from a Home Staging Pro)
When leaving the grocery store I noticed a For Sale By Owner (a.k.a. FSBO) periodical. Since it caught my attention, I thought I’d take it home and look it over. While flipping through, I noticed an ad with a smug looking woman with her arms crossed and a box saying, “I stood in your house while people looked at it. That’ll be $16,000 please.”
My first reaction was to think that if all your agent does is stand in your house while people look at it then you hired the wrong agent! I always recommend an agent for Real Estate transactions but Sellers need to do their homework and thoroughly look at both sides before making a decision. If your decision is based solely on how much money it will cost you, you’re very likely to make a choice you will live to regret.
The decision to use a Home Stager is just as important. Whether you decide to Stage your home yourself or use a professional requires a firm understanding of exactly what you can expect from a Home Stager and what the likely result will be. A qualified Home Stager will do a lot more than move furniture around. You’ll want to work with someone that understands the market and knows how to use furniture and accessories to show off the best features of the house. There are Sellers that know how to decorate their home, and frankly it is just lovely and very personal. Home Staging is not decorating. If Home Staging is not done well, it will be as if the house was never Staged at all. The result may be extended days on the market and more mortgage payments for the Seller or even a reduced asking price.
Most Home Stagers offer a variety of services to suit your budget. Before moving forward, speak to a Stager and find out what they offer. They will usually be happy to show you ways you can save your hard earned money. Whatever you do, don’t go cheap! Your home is a major investment and making good choices from the beginning will save you a lot of headaches in the long run. Do your homework and make your decision based on all the information, not just costs.
Wishing you a quick sale!
Kathy Strader, ASP
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