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Asking Price RAISED $55,000 after Real Estaging!

I know I keep ranting and raving about how staging can impact the asking price of real estate. So I am just THRILLED to share this story of a property we JUST finished staging yesterday morning (September 1). We fully staged the Foyer, Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Hallway, Master Bedroom and Master Bathroom of this luxuary condo with VIEWS TO DIE FOR!

The realtor, who has used Real Estaging services before knew the quality of our work... when she recently got a listing she convinced the seller that if he had it us staged it he could ask for more... $55,000 MORE! Our fees are well covered and the seller stands to walk away with alot more cash in his pocket. Plus the seller can expense our fees as and advertising expense... reducing his capitol gain. WIN WIN WIN!

The realtor no longer is selling a drab vanilla box. In fact, yesterday... no sooner had we finished then the realtor had a second showing... to someone who had already toured it when it was listed at the lower price. They buyer was blown away.

Here are before and after pictures of the living room... the before pictures were taken a week ago TODAY (on Aug 26th). The after pictures were taken YESTERDAY (Sept 1).

Needless to say this was A LOT of work... but I am thrilled with the result. Oh and by the way, ALL props are from Real Estaging's Prop Library.

I'll keep you all posted as to how this story transpires.... just remember QUALITY staging is well worth the investment!

Craig

Posted by Craig Schiller on 09/02/2006 11:47 AM

Comments (22)

illinois, real estate staging, staging, staged homes, best stager, tips, capitol gain, prop library, stagers portfolio, home staging

Originally posted at: Real Estate Staging / Home Staging Blog: Asking Price RAISED $55,000 after Real Estaging!

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22 Comments on Asking Price RAISED $55,000 after Real Estaging!

SEP

2006

It looks marvelous, but I would expect nothing less. I keep telling you that you have to take your show on the road. Bring those props and I promise to call you.

Craig - what does this kind of service run? We very nearly moved onto a 60' Stern Paddle Wheeler (that'd be a boat) mostly because it'd been staged (kind of funny, staging a boat).

Ditto? How much? Kum La Ka Lakka.

Do you charge for staging at closing or upfront? Great look sure it will sell.

You guys are out of this world. Great job!!!!!

Looks great. Staging definitely improves the look of the home which will bring more $$$$$$$$$$$ on an offer!

I wanna live there! What a world of difference furniture and a can of paint make. It now looks warm & Buyers can definitely imagine themselves living there.

Craig, this looks like a property on the Golden Mile (Lakeshore)?!? Wow, what a transformation and congratulations on the outstanding success of your business. You have always been passionate about what you do and it shows, this time in pictures as well!!!

Great job Craig!! Staging allows the buyer to visualize. You gave this condo a strong first impression! I am sure this sale will have a happy ending.

p.s. Thanks for the phone call. I am well on my way! Your assistance is greatly appreciated. Your my mentor!

Great work. This is the first time I've seen before and after photos taken from the same camera angle. Usually the photo angles are different (much like the weight loss ads in the back of the TV guide), leaving me to wonder how much is staging and how much is camera work. This is clearly all you, though.

Absolutely STUNNING!! You *RULE* :)) Wish you were here in the NW :)

Dawn Shaffer, www.allaboutvirtualtours.com

I am glad I could share this with you all on AR. Staging really is a great tool for you and YES I do love it. But I love it because it "works" on so many levels.

It does however take a lot of work to accomplish this so quickly... AND while I was doing this one with my team... we had a second team working doing the exact same thing in a second home. PLUS we have yet another totally vacant property to do this upcomeing week... so keep watching.

The break down for pricing is as follows:

STYLING & MERCHANDISING SERVICES $ 1,680 Which includes all of the following services:

Develop Interior Design & Styling Plan
Color Consulting
Select Furnishings & Accessories from Prop Library
Source Project Specific Furnishings & Accessories
Provide up to two on-site Property Stylists for maximum of 3 ½ days
Project "After" Photography
Marketing: Sponsor & Advertise Agent Open House

The initial 3 month minimum Prop Usage Fee breaks down to $240 per area per month. For that amount each of these areas within the property was completely set with the appropriate style and amount of furniture and/or accessories befitting a fully furnished model home. The props we will install include: Furniture, Decorative Accessories, Framed Wall Art, Area Rugs/Floor Coverings, Bed & Bath Linens, Lamps & Lighting, and Green Plants.

Think about it... so even if the seller ends up selling it at the price he INITIALLY listed it for... he comes out ahead.

Oh and Terry THANK YOU for noticing that each picture is from the exact same vantage angle. I have been a stickler about that (for the reasons you point out) and if you go to my website gallery at http://www.realestaging.net/ you will see that we do that in the 100's of photos of before and after we post.

Finally... I wish Real Estaging could help all the wonderful AR agents I have met here in this community who are scattered all over the USA. Just know that there are other wonderful stagers out there in your area. BUT there are many less than talented amatures out there too. If I can be any assistance helping you evaluate a stager you are interested in working with... just ask me, I would love to help in any way I can. After all THAT is what a community of colleagues is for.

Craig

WOW major comment Craig :) In our area I haven't seen anyone use staging, I'm not saying it isnt being done, but our region is in development and "maybe" getting ready for it.

Curb appeal and interior layout is a big plus. Our Broker semi-stages the homes for pictures but never anything beyond that. For us, it seems that getting a home owner to stage while they are living in the home.

Does your company or you stage homes with current residents or just vacant properties?

do you have a definition of marketing?

Hi Toby...

Yes... we stage "regular" homes too. Go to our site and see our work. The secret is is that what we do blends with what the home seller has. We will bring in whatever it takes to make a home look FANTASTIC. But the a buyer should not be able to detect that the home has been staged.

To be honest... I NEVER expected to do as many totally vacant properties as we do do.

But what works, works... regardless of the starting point.

Craig

PS: I have blogged on my approach to Marketing... it cuts thru the noise. I use staging as a marketing tool. If you all get what staging can do in a picture, just imaging what it does in real life.

It is a starting point and I am going to have to go visit your website for more info...I visited once but only stared at the pictures :P

SEP

2006

Craig,

You did it again! I love your work. $1680 is too little to charge when you just increased the client's home by $55,000- What a great return on their investment. You are right- staging is marketing and should be the first step to preparing a property for sale. KH

Craig,

Just fantastic! Proving that "staging" can definitely out shine the competition.

I liked your comment that a staged home should NOT look like a staged home.

I showed a home here in Naperville a while ago...and it was definitely staged. Why? In the foyer was a silk chair and casually laid across the chair a fake rose and black leather gloves. So totally out of character that my buyer and I both laughed. We also noticed that the furniture had been moved on the diagonal in the living room...but the carpet still have marks from where the furniture had been previously placed.

Like anything else, a pro is a pro!

Craig, well done, nice job.

I have a similar success story for a house I staged recently in Elgin.

The realtor increased the price after staging by $20,000 and the house sold for 100% of the new staged list price in just 7 days!!

Of course, both the homeowner and realtor were thrilled at the result!

Stage your home, Sell your house!

SEP

2006

Craig,

Nice to see an artist at work!

AWESOME. That was a nice ROI. I bet the client was thrilled.

SEP

2006

Once again, I hear about this staging thing. I'm really going to have to do my research and it sounds like a really great and affordable service that is worth every penny. Just of note, I hadn't even heard or at least remember hearing of 'Staging' until I joined Active Rain.

APR

2007

Great Job !! Thank you for sharing your expertise with us.

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