We have definitely seen a shift in recent months, have you?
Home Owners / Sellers are calling, by the droves, for staging services! From simple consultations, to full blown make-overs complete with new paint, flooring, etc. It's been quite a phenomenon the amount of calls we're getting from Home Owners / Sellers who want to make their home as competitive as possible for a quick-er sale.
In some cases, Sellers are calling us before they have even called in a Listing Agent, and what's worse, some Sellers believe that if they get a home staged it will look so fabulous that they won't even need an Agent - something WE do not agree with what-so-ever, but this is how the market is shifting... Sellers are embracing the fact that there are hundreds of homes they are competing with, and to sell their own property have literally opened the doors to the fact that maybe what their eyes have gotten "comfortable" with, is not what Buyers are looking for.
So we've been left scratching our heads on the other side. While some Realtors and Brokers have embraced this valuable marketing tool with open arms, others have shunned it like the plague, and there seems to be no grey area in between.
The following are just a few objections seen posted here on AR:
1. Fear of offending the Home Owner by the implied perception that by suggesting Staging to a Seller, that their home looks like c*#p.
2. Staging costs too much
3. Not all homes need staging
4. Small homes don't need staging
5. Multi-million dollar homes don't need staging
6. Finding a good, experienced, reputable stager is a hard and daunting task
7. The infamous: "I already do that for my Sellers"
Here are only a few quick rebuttals we can think of:
1. The Home Owners are calling us more and more every day, before they are even calling you, the Agent or Broker. Once you have a listing why not merely ask, "How would feel about a Professional Home Stager coming in and giving us their opinion so that every picture and impression is top notch?" - There is nothing offensive in that line of questioning. Remember to mention the very fact that 80% of Buyers are shopping via Internet photos and virtual tours first.
2. Some company's (such as PHS) offer bids for FREE, and consultations at a reduced rate to the listing Realtor (very reasonable for a 5-8 page detailed report of everything to be done to a property for Staging) as well as helping out at Broker Opens and Open Houses for FREE for properties which we have Staged.
3. True, not all homes need to be staged, just the ones that you want to sell more quickly.
4. Small or larger, Staging can benefit every property in one way or another. From curb appeal to paint colors to place settings. Our team at PHS has staged everything from 2 bedroom condos in Santa Paula to $4M homes in Hollywood. Have alisting with 20 year old wall paper? We can help with that as well...
5. You can find a Stager in your area as easily as looking around here on AR - Stage It Forward is a GREAT forum for finding Stagers in your area.
6. Yes, many Realtors do offer some suggestions to declutter, pack-up, etc. Some Realtors have even gone through staging courses of one kind or another. We're not belittling those who have, but when it comes to a vacant home, where are they getting their inventory, furniture, accessories, artwork, etc to "stage"? Or a home that is SO cluttered the Realtor or Home Owner couldn't possibly handle it on their own, that's where a Professional Stager can come in and help to save your valuable time, energy and marketing dollar.
So in the spirit of a little "market research", we would like to ask what hurdles Realtors and Brokers have to the Staging Industry, and how we might be able to overcome these hurdles together. We would like to hear what services REALTORS would like to see offered from Professional Stagers and how WE can help YOU!
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Platinum Home Staging, Inc. has been recognized and grown into a tremendous success built on customer service, integrity and best of all, customer referrals. Specializing in Home Staging, Interior Decorating and Model Home Interiors. Serving the San Fernando Valley, Conejo Valley and greater Ventura County areas. A home's first impression is the most important one. A home should be inviting and memorable; to stand out among the hundreds of homes that Buyer's may be looking at. Selling a home, is in fact, selling a product. Market the product, "package" it to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible. After all, ...How you live in your home, and how you sell your home, are two completely different things. Call us today at (805) 553-9952
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