Home : Blogs : Lori Kim Polk, Sacramento Area Home Staging : Artful Journey Designs and Staging

Listen to your Realtor... and Stager too. A success story.

I had staged a house last year that has been on and off the market for 8 months. Beautiful custom home, 5 bedrooms, three fire places and overlooking a golf course. When you think of 5 bedrooms, you often think family... right? It didn't have much of a yard, was not kid friendly, and only had a dining room where you could sit together. The kitchen had a bar set up. I could not find a place to put a kitchen table. But the clients wanted to show it for a family... ok. My original design was to stage it as an entertainment home, possibly an elite couple who like to entertain, have their jet setter friends stay or maybe have the grandkids over. So I proposed this to the Realtor and the clients. The REA agreed but the clients gave me the thumbs down and also did not want to drop the price for the REA. We looked like two pouty little kids... but we did what the clients wanted. The house showed well for about 3 months but with no offers. Then a renter moved in for a period of time and used it as an entertainment home. The house went off the market for 5 months.

3 weeks ago it went back on the market. Now the clients were rethinking their game plan. The REA dropped the price a bit, I went back and took out all the kids rooms, moved things around to make it look artsy, put my wine set ups in, put wine bottles in the cellar, staged each bathroom unisex and added a plant outside the back window which drew the eyes out to the view. I changed the whole feel actually. We had an Open House the very next weekend with hors-de-vors, music playing softly in the background..... and an offer! ;)

Sometimes it takes an interesting situation to help the client see the light. But when they do... it changes FOR SALE to SOLD!!!

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Lori Kim Polk is the Founder and Lead Designer of Artful Journey Designs and Staging, a full service Home Staging and Design corporation located in Roseville, California. We proudly service Granite Bay, Rocklin, Lincoln, Sacramento and surrounding areas. Call us today at 916-300-0402 for our premier services.

"We are Expert Staging Professionals and We will Exceed Your Expectations!"

Coming soon... StagersLIST.com the resource for Realtors, Stagers and Homeowners in North America.

Posted by Lori Kim Polk, Sacramento Area Home Staging on 04/26/2008 01:01 PM

Comments (18)

staging, home sales, artful journey, sacramento, roseville, granite bay, home staging, builders, custom homes, real estate, stagers list

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18 Comments on Listen to your Realtor... and Stager too. A success story.

Lori,

Great post! Home looked great.

04/26/2008 01:13 PM

by Mike Smith (Fair Housing Resource Center)

Thanks Mike. It really is a unique and beautiful home which was a pleasure to do. It ended up being a win-win for everyone once we were all on the same page.

04/26/2008 01:19 PM

by Lori Kim Polk, Sacramento Area Home Staging (Artful Journey Designs and Staging : Stager)

Lori- I really think this is an indication of how we are perceived as decorators. Clients need to trust our experience and expertise when it comes to marketing their homes, because the bottom line is marketing is what we do. We figure out what the home has to offer, who our buyer will most likely be, and make the home appeal to that demographic but retaining an appeal to the masses as well. Not something anyone can do!!! Great success story, because not only did you get the home sold, but you proved to everyone that YOU knew what you were talking about!

04/26/2008 01:22 PM

by Elaine Manes IRIS~Colorado Stager ~ A Wonderful Space, LLC (A Wonderful Space, LLC)

Hey Lori don't you wish they would trust our instincts. That is one thing that drives me crazy. If we see it we will make it work and the house will come to life. Thankfully you were right and proved it to all.

Phyllis Pafumi

04/26/2008 09:23 PM

by Phyllis Pafumi-ReStyled to Sell Staging Homes NJ (ReStyled to Sell Home Staging New Jersey)

Elaine: You are right! It is more like a chess game actually. It did make me feel better when they went with my original proposal... It just didn't feel right when we staged it for a family. So I guess that same feeling transfered to prospective buyers in the first months. It isn't decorating, staging evokes a feeling. Thank you for responding.

Phyllis: Boy do I wish that! Thankfully my REA believes in the power of staging. He is even more of a believer now ;) Thanks for the comment ;)

04/26/2008 09:37 PM

by Lori Kim Polk, Sacramento Area Home Staging (Artful Journey Designs and Staging : Stager)

Perseverance paid off...and everyone walks away happy, and a sold house to boot!

04/27/2008 12:07 AM

by Cindy Bryant~Houston's Home Staging & Home Stagers By Redesign Etc.~RESA~ASHSR (Redesign Etc., Inc.-Texas)

Great job Lori, and good for everyone that your persistence paid off! What was the home's list price, if I could ask? It looks like a beautiful spot.

04/27/2008 12:54 AM

by Maureen Bray ~ Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR (Room Solutions ~ Staging that Sells Homes!)

Seriously, all that experience really does contribute to a successful sale, if they'd only believe.

04/27/2008 09:02 AM

by Gabriele Campbell, ASP, CID (D F Campbell Ventures Group Inc.)

Wonderful success story to tell your future clients. Maybe the next client will listen a little more.

04/27/2008 09:11 AM

by Virginia Tatseos Stage-Show-Sell (Stage-Show-Sell)

Lori, Gorgeous job. Don't you love it when it comes together. when the client and the Realtor listen it just works! Kym

04/27/2008 09:38 AM

by Kym Hough, Stager, Live Green, Live Smart Certified Trainer, CSP, RESA, LGLS (www.Staged to Sell & www.StagersLIST.com)

Lori, this is a great story! More agents should ask for stagers in almost all situations!

04/27/2008 02:37 PM

by LaNita Cates (REMAX of Joliet)

This is so true! We are the ones that are researching the area and trying to find the right segment of buyers that would choose a particular home in a particular neighborhood. That is sweet satisfaction!

04/27/2008 02:47 PM

by Staci Wolff (Advantage Realty)

LKP you are such the professional, finding the right demographic is key and you nailed it. Congratulations on a great job!

04/27/2008 09:10 PM

by Karen Otto, Collin County, Plano, TX Home Stager (Home Star Staging)

Thank you everyone for your positve push for staging. I know that our markets are tough right now. We as stagers need to be creative and make it a win win for everyone... even ourselves.

The house was listed at $1.499.00 and was reduced to $1.299,000. Re-staged for the jet setter group and with an offer in one week. Price and Staging for what the house was really for.....was the winning combo on this one!

04/29/2008 12:31 AM

by Lori Kim Polk, Sacramento Area Home Staging (Artful Journey Designs and Staging : Stager)

Great work Lori. As always done with vision and class.

04/29/2008 01:56 AM

by Terrylynn Fisher Realtor-Live Green, Live Smart Trainer (Diablo Realty-Buy Stage Sell www.StagersLIST.com)

It always helps to add a bit of maturity to the scenario when the house resurfaces for a new owner. You added some very nice creative touches to the place and it seems to be playing out well for you.

04/29/2008 02:01 AM

by David Saks - Real Estate Broker (The Real Estate Mart of Tennessee, Inc.)

Lori,

That's a great success story! Loved the part about two pouty kids! ...LOL

Mike in Tucson

05/05/2008 09:14 AM

by Mike Jones (Tucson Mortgage Company, LLC)

Lori

Nice looking home. I think the point you stress is so important; consumers need to listen to their Realtor, and everyopne trying to put the deal together for them.

It does not pay off in the end for Realtors until one little thing happens; the property closes.

Sincerely

Tom Braatz

RE/MAX Realty Center

tom@tombraatz.com tombraatz@remax.net www.tombraatz.com www.buyingvip.com

06/15/2008 05:59 PM