For home sellers it is the best of times, it is the worst of times, it is the age of wise choices, it is the age of foolish decisions, it is the age of sales success and the age of missed opportunities.

In short, now is an age where sellers are finally realizing that how their own "sales tale" plays out is more within their control then ever before. More and more know that to sell their home they need to take responsibility and a proactive role in its sale. How? Well, besides hiring a Realtor, today's sellers are starting to finally believe that they must do all they can to make their properties look and be as visually attractive as possible.

In fact this posted tale is about two couple who did just this... they hired experienced professional that knew how to add the right appeal required to get buyers interested in their properties. What makes this tale more interesting is the fact that this all took place during the worst real estate market in years and at the slowest selling time of the year... a cold and snowy Chicago December.

Late last year, we here at Real Estaging  got a call from two different Lincoln Park couples. While each seller had different were at different points in the sales cycle, each wanted to hire a real estate stager to advise them as to what they could do to best prepare the homes they were selling, yet still living in.  The first couple (Home #1 -above) had not yet listed their home and they wanted to get it in tip top shape before they formally put it up for sale in the market. The second couple (Home #2 - below) unfortunately had had their home on the market for over 6 months and was not getting ANY offers on it. This couple was tired, weary and was ready to get on with their lives.

 So we here at Real Estaging stopped by each home and did what most stagers do... we toured the properties and gave the typical and predictable staging advice and suggestions (i.e. declutter, depersonalize, make repairs, clean up, thin out and rearrange the furniture). But while staging consulting advice is good and helpful, both homes still need more. It is "MORE" that makes this staging tale a bit different and helped make 2 prospective buyers respond in the favorable ways they did.

You see both these homes needed just a bit MORE in the way of decorative accessories and furnishings (props). While bringing additional props into occupied homes is not always a typical service offered by most home stagers, we here at Real Estaging have found that by adding a few select accessories, a home can be totally transformed and given a final FINISHED look that influences buyers to make offers. Adding the right props helps to: 1) Add visual appeal, 2) Tie the home together so that it has flow and continuity, and 3) Solves perplexing space issues. The red dots in both sets of pictures above marks the props we add in some of the rooms.

So the first set of pictures (Home #1) is from a Lincoln Park home staging that got an offer just a few short hours after it had been toured by the very FIRST person who looked at it. For this particular property we loaned the sellers 45 props to give the home a finished / polished look. In particular, we replaced a massive coffee table with a smaller one, brought in a kitchen table & 4 chairs (they did not own one) and replaced "controversial" wall art with more understated art.

For the second home (Home #2) we had to add a few more items. For this listing we brought in about 50 items. One problem we had to address was the fact that the fireplace had no visual appeal. It needed some accessories to add some visual interest and attraction to it.  Another problem was with the wall directly to the right of the fireplace, it had NO art on it. The massive 12 foot high wall was a big, blank and boring! We are now proud to say that after being on the market for six months, the sellers of this property finally received an offer just 1 week after we staged it!

So that is our tale of two stagings... that ends happily for two Lincoln Park couples wanting to sell their homes. It all started when both took a long hard look at the real estate age we are in and then chose to do all that was necessary to help them market their homes successfully. Each may now be saying... "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better opportunity to move on now that I have staged than I have ever known." (Sorry for the sappy ending... but you get the point.)

Staging It Forward...

Me

 
Post is included in group: Stage It Forward...

43 Comments on A Tale of 2 Stages

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FEB
26
2008
2 Featured Posts

This story shows what can happen when talented, professional stagers work with motivated clients.  The ideal clients will work with you and be receptive to your suggestions.  Not always the case in this market.  Good for you and them- and great work!

Pam

8:13pm • #24
1,653,168 Points 134 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
Excellent job and it paid off for the sellers.  This blog should make believers out of any doubters.
8:50pm • #25
256,846 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog
Those red dots were really fun - and great for pointing out the adds. While I don't as a general rule place our inventory in occupied homes, I have.  Otherwise I source for them, especially  those with kids and pets.
9:06pm • #26
269,928 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

HI Craig!  I like controversial" wall art.  I have not thought to use this word! Genius! Great post and chic staging!!  

Warmest Regards, Cathy Lee, ASP  www.cldesignservices.com

 

 

10:30pm • #27
245,817 Points 56 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Craig, great to read you once again. I've been away myself but certainly not to the extent that you've been.

Just another great example of the importance of home staging. Certainly has caught on and you dear man have helped make it so.

10:39pm • #28
867,011 Points 18 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Craig -- I think your pictures certainly exemplify what stagging can do to help seller make their property more attractive to a buyer.  Sometimes it is the things that tie everything together.  Often sellers believe that it will cost and fortune.  This illustrates how stagging can be done with a more modest budget.  Very nice.

11:14pm • #29
189,359 Points 7 Featured Posts
Great tale with 2 fabulous endings!  In the current market home staging is a must. The home sellers were lucky to have such an excellent real estate stager.  Bravo Craig! :)
11:29pm • #30

Great post that highlights the importance of offering addititional services to clients.  The decorative accessories and props you added definitely polish off the rooms and they look wonderful!

11:31pm • #31
FEB
27
2008
1 Featured Post

The two places look great and what fantastic outcomes. I bet you just made several new "best friends"!

I'll bring things into lived-in properties as well, although I draw the line at soft goods. Usually, homeowners are happy to go and buy these things and I suggest colors and styles that will work for Staging, but will also be a fit for their new home. I also offer to purchase some items for them when they are wiling to give me an advance to be their "professional power shopper".

12:47am • #32

Craig,

That's a great post.  If I was selling my home, even though I think it's lovely, I would definitely hire a stager to put the finishing touches on the production. 

7:06am • #34
Attended Rain Camp

Wonderful story!  Thanks for sharing what you did to make the homes more appealing - the artwork and finishing touches.  Staging a home is a must today.  Everyone wants a home that looks like a ad.

 

 

11:43am • #35
120,304 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Great story, good stagings. and congrats on getting it featured, Good for you ! GO STAGERS!
2:32pm • #36
122,017 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Excellent post and beautiful photographs. You did an excellent job. I wondered what all the red dots were at first. It took me a minute to figure it out. Congratulations on helping those two couples. 
7:24pm • #37
238,927 Points 7 Featured Posts Outside Blog

:)

I still think it's funny that you count all your accessories. I should be doing that, but I was clearly a liberal arts major after math 1a (there are just some Asian stereo types that I don't fit) ;) Great post as usual. miss ya lots!

Cheers,

Cindy 

8:08pm • #38
111,221 Points
Congratulations on your sellers successes!  Buyers have a difficult time imagining different room colors or furnishings.  Professional staging alleviates this problem.
8:25pm • #39

Congratulations!  Wonderful staging.  Great blog!

Neil  Bindelglass, Let Me Organize You Professional Home Staging

10:04pm • #40
842,602 Points 85 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
Craig...I never knew a thing about staging....until I joined AR.  Obviously, you have become the master at it.  Congrats....
11:52pm • #41
MAR
01
2008
385,863 Points 75 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Was just thinking about you and thought I needed to stop by an say hi to my favorite real estager!
7:53pm • #42
MAR
08
2008
190,910 Points 7 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Craig,

Thanks for the post. A great read as it provided a wealth of insight and information. Thanks for sharing.

7:37pm • #43

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Craig Schiller

Chicago, IL

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REAL ESTAGING, a nationally recognized leader in Staging.

Address: PO BOX 5267, Aurora , IL, 60507

Office Phone: (847) 384-9369

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These are the creative writings of Craig Schiller, a home staging professional, passionate real estate marketing professional and founder of the Real Estaging, one of the nation's leading home staging companies.


















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