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Will a bed even fit in this room? Home Staging Dilemmas.

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team

Our biggest Jacksonville Home Staging customer is the Investor. It's not uncommon for us to be in homes that have troubled floor plans. Despite beautiful renovations, awkward floor plans, or rooms that seem too small for a bed (or other furniture) can be common reasons for a buyer to decide not to buy.

Are you sure it is the bedroom that's the problem?

First off, you have to decide, as the home staging expert, whether the bedroom is the actual problem. I staged a home, not too long ago, that the seller was convinced was being held up by a small secondary bedoom. After a quick consultation, it was clear to me that the real problem was that the seller didn't know where to watch TV. Because the feedback kept coming in that the home was too small, when the living spaces were actually quite large, it was surmised that the small space had to be the bedroom.   

should I stage the secondary bedrooms

What you probably can't tell from this photo is that the TV watching area of the living room is actually an L-shape. The kitchen bar jutting out into the living space was really awkward when the home was empty. Most buyers would have imagined their TV going on the long wall, where the couch is now. It may whave been where the cable was installed, confirming their initial opinion. If the TV went there, then sofa placement by the bar stools becomes incredibly weird. To my stager's eye, this was much more of a problem than the room below. 

staging a childs room  home staging and selling in Jacksonville fl 

Sure. This room may have looked small when it was empty, but we were confident in our decision that it was the other room that was actually the problem. Either way, we addressed both issues. The results were nothing less than spectacular. 

How do you stage a bedroom that looks too small? 

In some cases the bedrooms really are awkward and seem too small for an appropriate sized bed. What do you do then? 

how do i stage my bedroom

This small home in the Murray Hill area of Jacksonville had been fully renovated, but the 1900s vintage layout was problematic. Staging these spaces showed potential buyers the way they could live in the space. 

staging small spaces

In a different home, in Historic Riverside, the rooms were just as awkward with almost no walls that a bed could come out from. Because of the location of the doors in and out of this room, buyers could really be puzzed as to what to do. Adding all of the necessary pieces lets the room become a usuable space where potential buyers can see their guests or children hanging out. 

staging awkward bedroom spaces

Both of the homes with awkward bedrooms sold quickly, with multiple offers. 

The key to selling a home fast is eliminating objections

Eliminating objectsions is the key to selling a home quickly. The more obstacles there are in selling a home, whether it is an awkward floor plan, proximity to a busy road or other negative feature, home staging can help overcome buyer objections, creating faster sales and higher offers.  

Posted by

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 Author Bio: Melissa Marro, Home Staging Industry leader, Realtor, and entrepreneur offers a unique perspective on New Home Construction, Resale Residential Real Estate, and Home Staging

For more information on buying or selling in the Fleming Island, Orange Park, or Jacksonville, area, visit StageListSellNEFL.com or call Melissa Marro (marro.melissa at gmail.com), Keller Williams First Coast Realty, for more information (904-466-2093).

 

Comments (22)

marti garaughty
garaughty.com - Montreal, QC
a highly caffeinated creative type...

marti garaughty, abstract art, graphic design, marketing, WordPress consultant

Jul 03, 2016 05:25 AM
Melissa Marro

marti garaughty Your cookies are some of my favorite! 

Jul 03, 2016 07:32 AM
Nicholas Crane
Woodland Companies - Cadott, WI
Managing & Appraising Forest Land

Melissa these are some great pictures of a well done staging, open floor plans and oddly shape rooms can be very difficult to paint a picture of a future home. 

Jul 03, 2016 06:04 AM
Melissa Marro

Thank you Nicholas Crane. Everyone says that they want open floor plans but frankly those areo often as difficult as the ones with weird walls and angles. 

Jul 03, 2016 07:33 AM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Melissa - Your post and the accompanying photos are a powerful argument for the benefits of staging and a showcase for your skill. Very nice work.

Jul 03, 2016 06:17 AM
Melissa Marro

Thank you Dick Greenberg. I've been a stager for a long time (10 yeasrs) and now have a team of skilled stagers. It feels great to see the results of a job well done. For us, those resuts = sales! 

Jul 03, 2016 07:34 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Nicely done and as always clearly explained!

Jul 03, 2016 07:20 AM
Melissa Marro

Sharon Tara - Good to see you! Thank you for the compliment. 

Jul 03, 2016 07:35 AM
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Melissa, excellent well written and illustrated blog!  I actually had a listing fall out because the buyer thought the room was too small for a bed (even after measuring it).  The stager did a phenominal job and put a queen size bed in there.  House sold for more money and I am sold on staging!

Jul 03, 2016 08:08 AM
Melissa Marro

It's all about fixing issues before they become issues. =)

Jul 03, 2016 02:04 PM
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

One old house with a king sized bed cost the seller about 50-100K. Inspite of its huge size of 2400 sf on a 7200 sf and excellent location, it was sold not more than one just over 1,100 sf.

Should have removed the bed or spent a little money fixed up the office. The sellers potential gain is buyer's gain in this case.

Jul 03, 2016 08:57 AM
Melissa Marro

The correct furniture can create a feeling of lifestyle and the perception of value. 

Jul 03, 2016 02:06 PM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Some buyers don't have much of an imagination for spaces.  I do find I can help them visualize things even when they are not there with software from time to time.

Jul 03, 2016 12:11 PM
Melissa Marro

Personally I'm not a fan of virtual staging because it doesn't help with the issues when the buyer is actually in the home. 

Jul 03, 2016 02:07 PM
David Alan Baker | Laveen & South Phoenix Realtor
Keller Williams Realty Phoenix - Laveen, AZ
Your local Expert

Great photos and I loved the post, thanks for sharing.

Jul 03, 2016 01:51 PM
Melissa Marro

Thank you for stopping by and the kind words David Baker Laveen Realtor & South Phoenix Realtor 

Jul 03, 2016 02:07 PM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Melissa Marro - it is how one can visualize the space - even if it is tiny (from buyer's perspective) and it is for sellers to 'stage' and show...

Jul 03, 2016 03:02 PM
Melissa Marro

Thank you Praful Thakkar !

Jul 04, 2016 03:31 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Melissa, your pictures really are worth a thousand words, and I had this exact conversation with some buyers last week! 

Jul 03, 2016 05:08 PM
Melissa Marro

It happens more and more as buyers are spending more time shopping online and making judgements from photos. 

Jul 04, 2016 03:32 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Wonderful job with your explanations and pictures! This is proof that staging can make a huge difference.

Jul 03, 2016 08:10 PM
Melissa Marro

Thank you Kat Palmiotti

Jul 04, 2016 03:32 AM
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

Thanks for sharing your explanations on staging, sometimes sellers as well as buyers have a very difficult time visualizing room possibilities

Jul 03, 2016 08:54 PM
Melissa Marro

Yes. This is particularly true for investor's I think. They have never lived in the space and they are often more concerned with the finishes of the home than the lifestyle the buyers are thinking of. 

Jul 04, 2016 03:33 AM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

this is exactly what sellers need to see in order to buy into staging! Great post

Jul 03, 2016 10:07 PM
Melissa Marro

Thanks Lise Howe. I appreciate the compliment. 

Jul 04, 2016 03:34 AM
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Melissa Marro "Eliminating objections is the key to selling a home quickly." Absolutely agree - always have the property "Ready for Showtime" before professional photography and before opening the doors to prospective Buyers.

Right on target - and - re-blog!!

Jul 03, 2016 10:40 PM
Melissa Marro

Thanks for the follow and the reblog. I also followed back. =)

Jul 04, 2016 03:34 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Informative posting here and with a good point made. This is what you can expect with Melissa Marro on board

Jul 03, 2016 11:48 PM
Melissa Marro

Thanks Richie Alan Naggar. This is what our company produces ofn a regular basis. =)

Jul 04, 2016 03:35 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Melissa

The examples and photos you've provided really help to show how valuable staging can be, especially for awkward spaces where buyers might have a tough time figuring out how to use a room - bedroom or otherwise. Eliminating the awkwardness objection could make a huge difference to selling the home for the right price or not.

Jeff

Jul 04, 2016 12:20 AM
Melissa Marro

Thanks Jeff Dowler CRS. We find this works like a charm more than 90% of the time and have great statistics to prove the value. 

Jul 04, 2016 03:36 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Well done! You show just how effective Staging can be!

Jul 04, 2016 01:19 AM
Melissa Marro

Janice Ankrett, I apprecaite the kind words. 

Jul 04, 2016 03:39 AM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Will the monthly payment fit into the debt ratios of the household income is the bigger issue than the bed squeezed through the door frame in small rural markets. The only staging is remove clutter, debris, replace all the light bulbs, clean and make the place available for showings round the clock on the right priced property listing! 

Jul 04, 2016 01:44 AM
Melissa Marro

Andrew Mooers This probably is true in more rural areas. I have found over my 10 years of home staging that the condition of the home trumps price reductions every time. 

Jul 04, 2016 03:41 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Awkward walls definitely look better staged as lots of buyers can't visualize how to use a room with short or long walls.  Great post!

Jul 04, 2016 06:17 AM
Matt Berman
Berman Estates Inc - San Marcos, CA
Matt Sells SD

they all look great!

Jul 07, 2016 02:23 PM