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You want to pay me to come to your home and tell you it needs help?

By
Home Stager with Hampton ReDesign, Home Staging and Redesign

I'm in awe of some of my clients. Truly. It hit me the other day, they have such courage and are so brave. To ask for help staging their home for sale and invite a perfect stranger into their home when they have no idea what they will hear. I imagine their internal dialogue must go something like this….

Client on the phone

 

"I know I need help getting my home ready to sell. I'm not sure what to do or how to do it. My realtor told me I didn't need to stage but I decided I wanted my home to look right. To be the best it could."

 

" I need to take some time searching online for a home stager in Dallas Fort Worth. I read the testimonials, look at the photo gallery and then pick up the phone and call."

 

"I'm going to invite a perfect stranger into my home and wait for the comments. I don't know what I'm going to hear but I'm ready with my note pad and pen."

 

"I need to get my husband on board, we need to contact a moving company and start packing"

 

"I'm gong to follow all of the recommendations from this perfect stranger and then invite her back again to help me with the finishing touches I know I need help with. I don't like shopping and I trust her to get it ready for my Broker open which is in three days!"

 

I just finished helping this particular client get her home ready for sale. She followed every single one of my recommendations. Even though her family hasn't even started looking at where they are going to move, she was totally on board with getting her home ready to sell. 

 

Is it any wonder there were two showings before it even hit the market? When sellers are this motivated, things start happening.

 

And sellers who are this motivated are my favorite clients. I really respect the fact they are willing to let me into their private space and listen. I think that's completely brave and courageous on their part. 

 

The handwritten thank you note made my day too :)

 
Posted by

Tessa Skeens

Interior Design, Real Estate Staging and Marketing Support 

M 817-891-9563  

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Comments(22)

Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Those are the sellers we stagers live for!  I've had many clients who called me even though their agent said they didn't need a stager....sure sign of a motivated seller!

May 13, 2013 09:14 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Tessa- don't you wish we could clone them?  Like Sharon, I've had sellers who insisted on getting a Stager even though they were told they didn't need one.  It's not easy selling your home and I do applaud those who are willing to let us come in to help them. 

May 13, 2013 11:49 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Tessa ~ Like you, I've been amazed at how sellers contact us to ask for help, even though they have no idea how it will go!  Thank goodness our clients tell us how much they appreciate our help, time and time again!  I think you have their "thought process" down pretty well :-)

May 13, 2013 12:03 PM
Julia Maher
Nestings: Connecticut Home Staging and Model Homes - Fairfield, CT
Connecticut Home Stager

You're right, Tessa!  It does take a lot of courage and commitment to ask a total stranger for help during what is usually a very stressful time.  I feel honored by my clients.

May 14, 2013 12:31 AM
Tessa Skeens
Hampton ReDesign, Home Staging and Redesign - Grand Junction, CO
Staging For Realtors, Builders & Investors

Hi Adrian - that is always good to hear. I love it when Realtors are on board with staging. From your lips.... :)

Thank you Kathy! - I agree. It gives me a great deal of satisfaction to know I've helped them navigate what could be a very stressful time.

You got it Sharon. Don't you love it? I was so impressed by my client. At one point after she had removed a lot of furniture and was not sure about how empty it looked, she said "promise me it will look ok by Thursday" and I said "I promise"! 

May 14, 2013 12:48 AM
Tessa Skeens
Hampton ReDesign, Home Staging and Redesign - Grand Junction, CO
Staging For Realtors, Builders & Investors

I agree Kathy.The level of trust they have in us is inspiring. This client is listing with the head Broker of a group I've worked with before. Ironically while the Broker is telling them they don't need it, what made her pick up the phone and call me was a testimonial from one of the Broker's agents on my website!

May 14, 2013 12:50 AM
Tessa Skeens
Hampton ReDesign, Home Staging and Redesign - Grand Junction, CO
Staging For Realtors, Builders & Investors

Hi Maureen! Thank you. We don't always get the immediate feedback from our clients but when we get one that reaches out and hugs us as we leave we know we've touched them. Hopefully given them a positive experience with a home stager to share too :)

May 14, 2013 12:54 AM
Tessa Skeens
Hampton ReDesign, Home Staging and Redesign - Grand Junction, CO
Staging For Realtors, Builders & Investors

Couldn't have said it better Julia. I too feel honored.

May 14, 2013 12:54 AM
Wayne Johnson
Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper REALTORS® - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio REALTOR, San Antonio Homes For Sale

Tessa-I'd say thank your lucky stars and pinch yourself because that sort of executing your suggestions to the letter will probably not happen everytime. But when it does, your clients will be rewarded with a quicker sale and you'll get great testimonials.

May 16, 2013 04:52 PM
Tessa Skeens
Hampton ReDesign, Home Staging and Redesign - Grand Junction, CO
Staging For Realtors, Builders & Investors

Wayne - I know! It's not often we get complete acceptance of our suggestion,s but when it happens it's very rewarding.

I admire any seller who has the savvy and the self awareness to reach out and ask for help - whether or not they are able to follow all the recommendations. 

May 17, 2013 12:43 AM
Jon Kolsky
Kolsky Realty & Management - Long Beach, CA
Licensed California Real Estate Broker

Tessa~ when sellers want to get top dollar for their home "they need you" In order for sellers to sell their home best, the home must look great "as well as" be in good shape

Dec 19, 2013 12:49 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

I often think of this too....how hard it must be to welcome us into their home and trust us.  A motivated seller is the best to work with!

Jan 04, 2014 11:14 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Tessa - People who really understand the importance of one of their biggest transactions will get the help of a professional stager before "showtime."  Those are great comments.  I can see you have a great following.

Jan 28, 2014 03:24 AM
Jon Kolsky
Kolsky Realty & Management - Long Beach, CA
Licensed California Real Estate Broker

Tessa~ I love this post and I am suggesting it big-time! We have to create a big picture that's adorned. There's a fine line between guiding & pushing, we can't ever push our way into homes! We have to be confident but in a guiding way  

Feb 04, 2014 12:47 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Tessa, good for you!  And those hand written notes are really special.

Feb 04, 2014 03:28 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

This is why people who entrust a task, an assignment, a procedure to someone better make sure they are handing the keys over to someone who can drive!  

Feb 04, 2014 03:38 AM
Suzanne Otto
Six Twenty Designs - Lansdale, PA
Your Montgomery County PA home stager

I think some sellers just click with you over the phone and they know they can trust you. Those are my favorite clients, when you can have a little banter at the end of your conversation and you feel completely comfortable with them.

Feb 04, 2014 03:46 AM
Tessa Skeens
Hampton ReDesign, Home Staging and Redesign - Grand Junction, CO
Staging For Realtors, Builders & Investors

Grant and Jon, thanks for the support! I totally agree. You can be of service to your clients without ever pushing. And yes, there's a knack to guiding and that's the difference between a pro and an amateur ;)

Feb 04, 2014 05:01 AM
Tessa Skeens
Hampton ReDesign, Home Staging and Redesign - Grand Junction, CO
Staging For Realtors, Builders & Investors

Patricia, that's what it's all about at the end of the day isn't it? Client appreciation. Thank you!

We try our best Carla and I do love it when I get to drive :)

Don't you love those clients Suzanne? It makes it so much fun. 

Feb 04, 2014 05:14 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Tessa, hiring someone you do not know is taking a leap of faith, but they know they need some help!

Mar 31, 2014 10:23 PM