The web never ceases to amaze me.  This morning, I discover a tool that will tell you the average Return on Investment of home improvements... by ZIP CODE!!!  And in my zip code, it turns out that money returned on staging is 378%.  Let me repeat that -

 

378%

 

My sales presentation is now down to 1 page.  Guess what it says?   Do I really need to say anything else?  Not a bad ROI, huh - especially in today's market.

What's the tool?  It's the Sellers Tools at Home Gain. (the url is http://www.homegain.com/sellertools/)

Web 2-0 for Real Estate

 

Enter your zip code and you are immediately taken to a 3 page questionnaire that asks which of 10 aspects of your home are ready (i.e. in showing condition). It then priorities what you should work on first... and then gives you average cost, ROI and what percentage of realtors recommended it.

 

Can you imagine? What a great way for home sellers to navigate the stormy, changeable seas when preparing their home to go to market?

 

 

Here's what came back in my zip code, with nothing ready in the house at all -- after all, that's what it's usually like when I get there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty Amazing, huh?

Now... what is the % for your zip code?  I think I read that they surveyed 200,000 realtors/RE-Professionals... is that enough for reliable data?  I would prefer to rely on my colleagues in the trenches - you guys - those of us out there doing it every day.  Please post your area and your % and let's see if there's any difference.  If not, then I say thank you to the 200,000 and I'm using it as a "national average".  If the #s do differ, then I think we have an interesting story.  Either way, I'm using it.  What about you?

 

___________________________________________

Juliet Johnson Staging services the luxury real estate market of suburban NJ, specializing in the $1 - 3 million niche.  For more info about how to leverage web 2.0 for Real Estate, please click here.

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Myrtle Beach Home Staging provides SC Luxury Real Estate in Myrtle Beach, and all along the Grand Strand, with onsite staging and property styling combined with online promotion services.

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22 Comments on Staging ROI is 378% in my zip code. What's it in yours?

SEP
22
2008
Outside Blog

Wow!  Thanks Juliet!  I am off to enter my zip code and find out the percentage for our area.  Thanks for sharing!

7:49am • #1

That is amazing , I agree , people like to see a dream home not a Eggshell 

7:57am • #2
115,236 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog

Juliet:  Looks like 278% in my area...  Surprising that Clean/Decluttering gives 878%!  Wow!  Thanks for the pointer to this site!

7:59am • #3

It is also important to have a complete inspection of your plumbing system so the home doesn't have any water issues when someone stops by. We work with a stager here in Los Angeles to give each home a chance to shine.

I believe we also have the same online person assisting us with our articles, social networking, and blogs.

8:32am • #4
1 Featured Post

Don't miss the free downloadable homesalemaximizer guide that is on the site. http://www.homesalemaximizer.com

For Home Sellers:
Download the Home Sale MaximizerTM Guide for more information, tips and tricks for getting your home ready for sale.

*The guide is a PDF file. You can download the free viewer by clicking here.

Also when you are done with homesalemaximizer you can get a free instant homevaluation.

Just click the button at the bottom of your results and then type in an address!

What's Your Home Worth? Get a Free Home Value Estimate   Get Value

8:46am • #5
4 Featured Posts

Jim - that would be unlikely, since I am the person who does my own articles, social networking and blogs.  ARe you thinking of Connie Ragen Green -- she's one of my mentors and quite wonderful -- however, she don't write nuttin' for me; I do it all myself.  Which is why it looks the way it does!!! <grin>  if you're Connie's guys from that flight to Atlanta - we gotta chat!! I feel like I know you already!

 

Steve -  That's remarkable.  Thank you for sharing that!!

Georg - so true, and interestingly put!

Michele - c'mon back, wanna hear what it says for you!

 

8:49am • #6
178,600 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Juliet ~ Just next to the staging line it says "93%".  Am I supposed to add up all the other percentages?  I think this is a neat tool because I don't feel like I would just be spouting off percentages or surveys; I can actually direct people to the site and they can see it for themselves.

9:05am • #7
4 Featured Posts

Hi Kathy, I thought that % was the total number of realtors who thought that line item was a priority - I agree; it's other people's words, not ours or even our "training schools"!!

9:36am • #8

Juliette, thanks for reminding me of this tool.  I have bookmarked it.  BTW, I love your blog.  What program do you use NVU, Wordpress?  I need to work on my look and get my rear in gear and blog.

11:45am • #9
210,703 Points 5 Featured Posts

It is 378% in my area too.  This is a great tool, thanks!

12:47pm • #10
218,625 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog

I haven't done of the zip codes that I farm yet. But once I do,I will definitely come back to give you a report. Thanks for sharing. Great post.

1:59pm • #11
216,280 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

ooohhh... I bet you get a cute monkey for this!!  I love homegain & not too terribly long ago I blogged about them also and got an adorable peach gorilla in the mail - it's part of their gorilla marketing campaign.  Darn, did I spoil the surprise?? shoot..... he's really really soft & cute!

BTW, I know that was off topic, but fab stats and great info!

3:56pm • #12
216,280 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

btw, I answered YES to everything in their survey, except, "is your home staged" and I answered NO to that.... here is what they said....

Area of Home Average Cost Increase in Selling Price Average Return on Investment % of Agents Recommended
Staging
Buy some fresh flowers, live plants and other decorations to liven up the home. Consider hiring a staging consultant.
$ 380 $1,878 - $2,350 456% 86%

3:59pm • #13
458,858 Points 28 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Juliet, I actually used Homegain myself years ago when I was considering moving (and there was no activerain :).  It's a huge site and I'll have to go and google my zip just out of curiousity.

4:16pm • #14
6 Featured Posts

Oh my this is just great.  thanks for doing the research for us Juliet. I will add it to my next presentation. Kym

5:07pm • #15

Juliet - Thank you! This is great and the timing is perfect as I am putting together a marketing presentation. Its always great to be able to point to objective statistics :)

Here is the scoop on my neighborhood - actually same stats for two different zips.

Cost - Increase in $ - ROI - Agents who Recommend

$ 647 $1,973 - $2,473 244% 86%

 

 

5:21pm • #16

Juliet - The number is 456% for Winter Springs, FL (near Orlando). Your timing was perfect! We have a presentation to a real estate office tomorrow, and part of it is going to be statistics to back up staging. Thanks!

7:39pm • #17
4 Featured Posts

'Struth!  456%, Laurie?  Wahoo!  Now dem's some numbers, eh?  Glad to hear the timing works... so often those things come one day too late!

Tessa - 244% - nice, not over the moon, thanks for docking the info.  ... I might be tempted to use "national numbers" since there are other areas with quite dramatic percentages.  Might be...

Kym - You're most welcome!

Carole - I had no idea the site was well established and that Melissa has already blogged about it, and that Louis is a regular commenter here on AR, with over 16,000 points!  Sometimes, I feel so out of the loop.  There really are some wonderful tools out there, aren't there?

Terri - thanks for the kind comments on the blog.  I do use WordPress for some of them, but not the AR one.  That is all AR, with beautiful header from Marti Garaughty of The Art of Marketing You.  Splendidly creative fella.

8:03pm • #18
SEP
23
2008
137,760 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog Hit Router

Cool tool and even better statistics.  Nice when what we know is verified in statistics for the world to see.  Good post.

3:45am • #19
4 Featured Posts

So true, TerryLynn... so nice to be able to say - look, don't take my word for it, here - let's do it now, live online hereand you can see for yourself!

8:33am • #20

Juliet,

Thanks so much for the tips.

8:56am • #21
SEP
26
2008
1 Featured Post
We made some changes to the Home Sale Maximizer page last night.
 
We added a button to allow you to easily forward the Home Sale Maximizer to a friend.  You can also order free Home Sale Maxmizer desk top guides as well as download the free PDF survey and checklists. You can find it at http://www.homesalemaximizer.com
9:53am • #22
SEP
28
2008

Thanks for the tip.  I e-mailed them to see if they have a similar program for canada!

9:42am • #23

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Juliet Johnson - Home Staging Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach, SC

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Carolina Real Property

Office Phone: (973) 477-7000

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Once a Manhattan realtor, I have bought and sold 12 homes in 19 years in 4 countries. That, and 7 years of staging homes for sale in New Jersey adds up to a lot of experience. If any of it can help another, I have served my purpose. Thank you, AR members, for your own generous sharing.

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