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Getting back to basics - Why what we do is SO important

By
Home Stager with Platinum Home Staging, Inc. : RESA-Pro

Wellworth Ave, Westwood
Owner Occupied home is Staged and opens escrow within 1 week!

Wiscasset Drive, West Hills
Sold for within 97% of asking price after Staging

Saint Thomas, Oak Park
Received 5 offers and closed escrow for $ 20,000 over asking price within 45 days of Staging!

 Arroyo Del Mar, Camarillo
Vacant for over 7 months, Staged with PHS, Inc. and currently in Escrow in just 10 days!

Effingham, Los Feliz
Vacant remodel, Staged and opened escrow in 1 week!


These are not tales of lore from a Real Estate market in the past, where Sellers can only dream of full price offers and being able to sell their homes within the first weeks on the market. These are happening in today's volatile Real Estate market - Just in the months of June and July 2008 alone!  What do they all have in common?  They all embraced the marketing tool of a Professional Home Stager.

Where a "price is king" mentality is running rampant in today's current Real Estate marketplace, there are some key things that home owners can utilize before they consider a price reduction.  Yes, the home does need to be priced right to be competitive with comparable homes in their geographical areas.  However, considering that some areas literally are competing with hundreds upon hundreds of homes in the same price range - Seller's and Realtors need to understand that there are ways to make their home stand out amongst the sea of properties that potential buyers will be looking at.

What is Home Staging?
Using another analogy; When you sell a car, the first thing you do is wash it, clean it inside and out, take pictures in bright sunlight and make sure everything is working under the hood.  Why not then take the same approach when selling your most valuable asset; your home? The cost in comparison is usually less than a fraction of a % of your homes sale price, and will ALWAYS cost less than a price reduction.

Room-by-room, in doors and out, a Professional Home Stager will give you a thorough understanding of what a Buyer will see through their eyes as they tour your home or condo.   Many times home owners can't "see" the clutter or realize the smells which will be left imprinted on the minds of potential buyers. A Professional Home Stager will alleviate the negatives which distract the buyer, and showcase your home - not all your personal belongings.  Stagers will also make sense out of awkward floor plans, ensure better traffic flow and bring the buyers eye to great details of the home such as a terrific view, built-ins or crown molding.

Why Should Every Home Owner & Realtor Consider the Services of a Professional Home Stager?
Simply because over 87% of today's potential buyers "shop" the internet for homes before they request a personal viewing of the property.  If your home does not translate well via pictures on the internet, home owners will "write off" every property that does not appeal to them visually in that very first impression.   Here are some examples:

 

In this home, the first MLS photo shows how this home was represented via the internet two years ago when it was still considered to be a Seller's Market - yet they received no offers. 

The room looks huge and cavernous, and although there is a fireplace, it gets dwarfed by the overall size of the room.

 

 

The second picture was Staged by Platinum Home Staging, Inc. using all of the Home Owners own furniture, then adding a few accessories.  By bringing the room into scale with furniture and accenting the fireplace; the second picture brought a potential buyer, within the first few DAYS of being listed, from over 45 miles away to see the home and who ultimately made an offer.  (This home was Staged by PHS, Inc. on July 22, 2008 and is currently entertaining multiple offers)

Staging is not only for the million dollar listings, in fact it is the homes under $750,000 that would benefit the most from the services of a Professional Home Stager.  Staging does not have to be expensive either.  Seller's who are on a tight budget can benefit from a Staging Consultation, where for about the same price as it would cost to detail your car, a reputable Stager can present a room-by-room, indoors and out report of everything needed to prepare your home for sale.  Repairs, cleaning, upgrades, furniture editing and placement, even paint colors and curb appeal  suggestions :  A Professional Home Stager will be able to give several different options that will fit each home owner's budget and get them the biggest "bang for their buck", without wasting valuable time.

If the Consultation Report seems too overwhelming for the Home Owner to do themselves, Professional Home Stagers can do all the work for an agreed upon fee, as well as be able to extend great rates from storage and moving companies, cleaning services, upgrades and repairs.

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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 greater Los Angeles & 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

Posted by

Proud RESA-Pro Home Stager

  •  Connie Tebyani 
  • Principal Designer / Owner Platinum Home Staging, Inc. 
  • Platinum Home Staging, Inc. 
  • (818) 878-9936
  • Preferred Interior Designer for Pottery Barn
  • Member of the Real Estate Staging Association
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Comments (15)

Mana Tulberg
805 County Real Estate - Camarillo, CA
Real Estate Agent - Camarillo CA

Connie, Great points for both realtor and home sellers. I know that I personally prefer to look and preview a satged home.

Jul 29, 2008 09:34 AM
Connie Tebyani
Platinum Home Staging, Inc. : RESA-Pro - Calabasas, CA
Platinum Home Staging, Los Angeles and Ventura County

Thank you, Mana.  ~ Just a little education can go a long way!  Staging is by no means the "magic little pill" - but for such a small investment with such a huge return one wonders why more do not take advantage of Staging.

Jul 29, 2008 03:18 PM
Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

Great post Connie!  Bravo, cheers to your sales too!

Jul 29, 2008 03:25 PM
Terri Lucas
Exclusive Home Staging - Redondo Beach, CA
Exclusive Home Staging Los Angeles

Hi Connie, excellent post for home sellers and realtors to read. 

Jul 30, 2008 01:25 AM
Charlene Storozuk
Dezigner Digz - Burlington, ON
Home Stager - Burlington Ontario

Very well written post Connie and those are terrific statistics for your company.  Congratulations!

Jul 30, 2008 01:41 AM
Connie Tebyani
Platinum Home Staging, Inc. : RESA-Pro - Calabasas, CA
Platinum Home Staging, Los Angeles and Ventura County

Cathy & Charlene ~ Thank you! More & more of us are seeing sales like this these days which is great for everyone!

Terri ~ Hey there! I hope more people DO read this and that more people experience that "ah-HA" moment of clarity =)

Jul 30, 2008 02:36 AM
Connie Tebyani
Platinum Home Staging, Inc. : RESA-Pro - Calabasas, CA
Platinum Home Staging, Los Angeles and Ventura County

=)

Aug 17, 2008 06:36 PM
Scott Hoen
Carson City, NV
Carson City Clerk Recorder / Public Administrator

agree with getting back to basics -- it then just comes down to execution on the basics we all know --

Aug 20, 2008 05:08 AM
Sharon Paxson
Sharon Paxson, RealtorĀ® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA
Newport Beach Real Estate

I believe staging makes a huge difference with properties.

Aug 20, 2008 06:54 AM
Connie Tebyani
Platinum Home Staging, Inc. : RESA-Pro - Calabasas, CA
Platinum Home Staging, Los Angeles and Ventura County

Scott ~ You hit the nail on the head.  Some of the most obvious basics, are the ones that are most often overlooked. 

Sharon ~ Yes, it can and DOES, Thank you!

Aug 22, 2008 02:21 AM
Terrylynn Fisher
Dudum Real Estate Group - BuyStageSell.com - Walnut Creek, CA
HAFA Certified, EcoBroker, CRS, CSP Realtor, Etc.

Very nice work and good examples of what sells.  Buyers want to fall in love, it's alot of money they are spending, they want to be enticed.  You did that.

Aug 22, 2008 02:46 AM
Connie Tebyani
Platinum Home Staging, Inc. : RESA-Pro - Calabasas, CA
Platinum Home Staging, Los Angeles and Ventura County

Terrylynn ~ TY, we try to "entice" with every property we stage.

Can I add a few more little "Woo-Hoos":

Seaward Dr., Ventura - In escrow within 3 weeks

St. Croix, Oak Park - after Staging consulation, opened escrow in just 10 days!

Homes ARE selling, with OUR help! =)

Aug 23, 2008 04:42 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Congrats on these great results Connie!  I'm sure your sellers and their agents are delighted that they hired you!

Aug 23, 2008 01:42 PM
Connie Tebyani
Platinum Home Staging, Inc. : RESA-Pro - Calabasas, CA
Platinum Home Staging, Los Angeles and Ventura County

Maureen ~ I certainly hope that they are, they ARE what drives my business.

How's this for a strange turn of events - the Sellers of the Wellworth, Westwood house (noted and pictured in this blog) might actually be buying one of my other Staged properties!  The "which would you Prefer" penthouse in Hancock Park - too cool!

Aug 28, 2008 02:02 AM
Connie Tebyani
Platinum Home Staging, Inc. : RESA-Pro - Calabasas, CA
Platinum Home Staging, Los Angeles and Ventura County

Update:  This home is closing escrow Friday, Sept 19, 2008!

Staged, sold and closing escrow in less than 60 days! woo-hoo! 

Sep 08, 2008 01:59 AM