Real Estate Blog - Can Small Changes make a big difference? Absolutely and here's the proof!

Home : Blogs : Melissa Marro www.StagingAndRedesign.com www.RedesigningCharleston.com : Staging And Redesign - My View of the Industry

Can Small Changes make a big difference? Absolutely and here's the proof!

Parts of Charleston are innundated with real estate inventory. In one particular subdivision of North Charleston there are currently 131 active properties. The average DOM for existing homes is a whopping 136 days! This particuarly property had been on the market since 02/08/07. After expiring and relisting with a new agent (one of my best clients) I was called in for a staging consultation. The homeowners decided they didn't need staging. It was one of those, why spend money on a house we are moving out of situations! (Dont you just love those?) Finally the agent and I worked together to come up with a bare bones staging project that she was going to pay for.... This always makes me nervous - particularly in owner occupied homes.

You can see the results in this blog Can small changes make a big difference? You decide.... We limited ourself to one room, the biggest bang for the buck and overall the elephant in the room (if you will).

Anyway - This home finally reflects the status change in MLS today to under contract. It will be closing on the 18th of April. Let's check out the statistics for these small changes (less than $500).

Listed on 02.08.07

Staged on 02.13.08

Under Contract on 04.02.08

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Average DOM for neighborhood - 136 Days

DOM prior to staging - 327 days

DOM after staging - 52 days

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

So, can small changes make a big difference? Absolutely! The proof is in the numbers!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

First Impressions Home Staging & Interior ReDesign is a nationally award winning company owned and operated in Summerville, SC a suburb of Charleston, SC. We provide high quality staging for both occupied and vacant homes in the greater surrounding areas and beyond! For more information please visit, www.WeStageSC.com. If you are interested in learning about making Home Staging your profession, please visit, www.StagingAndRedesign.com for more information.

Posted by Melissa Marro www.StagingAndRedesign.com www.RedesigningCharleston.com on 04/02/2008 09:42 PM

Comments (13)

Originally posted at: Staging And Redesign - My View of the Industry: Can Small Changes make a big difference? Absolutely and here's the proof!

Post is included in group: Stage It Forward...
Post is included in group: The Art Of Marketing You
Post is included in group: South Carolina Real Estate
Post is included in group: Services for Real Estate Professionals
Post is included in group: Real World Home Staging for Newbies

13 Comments on Can Small Changes make a big difference? Absolutely and here's the proof!

APR

2008

Just shows how well staging works. Great post. Have a good evening.

great job, the house looked great and i am happy that you were able to sell it a little quicker

Melissa - I just love hearing these success stories from staging! Great post and keep up your success!

Absolutely the best $500 they ever spent! Its hard to argue with these numbers...

Jeff - Thanks! It surely does, doesn't it? I love it when a good plan comes together!

Dave - Thank you! Yes, shaving more than half the average DOM off is great, especially when it had already been on the market a year.....

Justin - Stats are the best way to help show consumers that staging works. I love it when we can show it in black and white!

Bevin - actually the agent paid for the work. She does that from time to time because she KNOWS it works! We have an excellent track record to prove it.

Oops - missed that detail in the post. Well she will get her money quickly! Of course she knows it works :)

APR

2008

Melissa - I have got to keep better statistics. They really make a dramatic point. Congrats on the quick sale.

Melissa - great job.I'm always amazed at how big an impact a tight and cozy conversation grouping makes. I bet buyers never sat in that room before and now it gets lots of time. I'd sit and consider the home simply because you made it look comfortable.

On another point, 136 days is short by our measurements. We usually disregard the average days on market when pulling stats and focus on the price range and neighborhood. The results are often eye-opening: even if the market time is 100-150 days, pockets of homes is certain price ranges will have much higher avg DOM, making for an easier sell. Careful targeting is one of the keys to a successful staging business.

Happy staging

Thomas

Melissa ~ That's great! Seeing your previous post refreshed my memory of that one. Great statistics too!

Melissa, obviously your Realtor has a lot of well placed trust in your ability to increase the marketability of the homes you touch. It may be nerve racking to you, but this is a very high testimonial to you in the form of her actions. And I say good for you that you have developed that trust.

I remember this project from you earlier post, Melissa. As a "first impression" room, staging it was key & your changes made a huge difference.

Kathy

Bevin - Yep... with a short sale she'll be getting it very soon.

Maureen - I have to get better about compiling them somehow... I have all kinds of great stats, now what to do with them?

Thomas - There are so many homes for sale in this neighbhorhood they are all experiencing a glut of competition. That's why this agent knew staging would make such a big difference. You are right about how important a good sitting area in a living room is. It needs to feel like a room you want to spend time in if you expect someone to buy it!

Kathy P. - Thanks! I love great stats!

Gary - Yes, sometimes I am amazed at her confidence in my abilities! It is extremely flattering. Thankfully we have a very high success rate & she is great at educating the clients before we do the work so they are on board - making things even more successful.

Kathy R. - This was the only living space in the home, that made it particuarly important!

APR

2008

Again, congrats Melissa. You always do fine work with on an occupied or a vacant.

This blog does not allow anonymous comments