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Selling Lower & Selling Slower

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty Professionals MN Broker #40288835

    staged bedroomHomes are selling but they are not selling for as high a price nor are they selling as quickly.  Does that sound familiar in your area? 

     As a home stager with Re$ale Design & Home Staging, I know at least a partial solution to the problem. In order for your home to sell better and faster than those of the competitions' it needs to be properly presented and be priced competitively, from the start. A home that shows well both outside and inside is going to get offers.  When prospective buyers make an emotional connection with the home - they want it! I keep hearing from Realtors "home staging - we do that".   Then I look at the MLS photos. Home staging is more than cleaning and decluttering (although a lot of the photos were also missing that element). Color, traffic flow, highlighting focal elements, curb appeal, up grades that pay back - that is what we know.

     Let us work with you as a team player to change the statistics and make 2009 a more productive year.

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Welcome from the Brainerd Lakes - where outdoor and indoor recreational opportunites abound. Looking to buy on one of our many lakes? Ready to move up or down?  Having trouble selling your home? 

Call me!

Comments (14)

Ginger Foust
Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA
Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Kathleen,  I just read an article in the local paper that said seller's must price their houses to actively compete with all of the foreclosures on the market.  OUCH!  I wish that it had also said "AND prepare you house to shine with a professional stager." 

I'm sure glad that we're not looking to sell anytime soon.   

Nov 23, 2008 04:56 AM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Ginger - With foreclosures taking up the bulk of the homes on the market - they are becoming the competition. what many do not consider is the thousands of dollars it will take to get them to be comparable with those selling not under duress. Some of them are very good buys, but people have to buy (anything) wisely.

I certainly would like to stage(& then some) some foreclosures but the lenders are not going for that here yet. We do trash out services - I should blog on that.

Nov 23, 2008 11:27 AM
Susan Peters
Dove Realty Inc. - Seattle, WA
The Better it Looks the Better it Sells

Hi Kathleen,

The proof is in the MLS photo. I don't know why sellers don't insist on seeing the most recent examples when they are selecting an agent.

Nov 23, 2008 01:56 PM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Susan -I will be proudly displaying my staged examples as part of my listing presentation. Hopefully, I will have the competitive edge.

Nov 23, 2008 02:58 PM
Debbie Wheeler
Real Estate Staging/Rooms Rearranged, LLC - Chandler, AZ
Chandler, AZ Rooms Rearranged RESA, IRIS

Kathleen - So true.  I think a seller and their Realtor need to come out with their guns loaded.  Price it right and make it look great at the beginning, not after it's too late.

Nov 24, 2008 01:23 PM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Debbie - there you go - guns blazing!!!! Start out right - you know what you are there for- git er done.

Nov 25, 2008 01:26 PM
Margaret Oscilia
Creative Concepts-Home Staging and Contracting, Salem Oregon - Salem, OR
Home Stager, Salem Oregon
We find more realtors seeking us out in this market -- you are so right -- it's great to get it on the market looking fabulous and priced well!
Nov 26, 2008 02:43 PM
Frank D'Angelo
EXIT REALTY NEXUS Minneapolis & St. Paul MN - Coon Rapids, MN
Helping people is my business in Real Estate

Great post Kathleen.  Yes putting the best foot forward right out of the gate is the best option.  It's nice to see the inventory levels improving in the existing marketplace.  REO's will climb over the winter months with the numbers of mis-managed short sales going on right now.

Best wishes on the soon to be part :)

 

Nov 26, 2008 07:18 PM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Margaret - As with anything it is best to start out well prepared. WE don't need to test the market - we know where it is and now we deal with it.

Nov 28, 2008 03:24 AM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Frank - I have been studying Short sales and see a number of flaws in how things are being  handled. I am done with my RE classes and now need to test. I am determined to pass both on the first try.

Nov 28, 2008 03:35 AM
Leslie Olson
Leslie Olson Interiors - Austin, TX
Interior Design and Redesign - Moved to Austin!

You're so right -- with so many homes in inventory now that means great preparation, professional staging and quality MLS photographs are crucial to being competitive in this market. But a critical point is setting the price at the outset that's competitive today. Researching comparable selling prices (not just "asking" prices) in the area within recent weeks and months are relevant. Unfortunately it's tough news to break to a client that what they expected to get for their house a year ago isn't going to attract buyers now. But with all these elements working together, as well as the professional team representing the home (Realtor, Stager, Photographer...and Homeowner!), a successful sale is still achievable in this market.

By the way, Kathy, congratulations on your new transition!  You go, girl!  Leslie

Jan 19, 2009 03:20 PM
Kathleen Lordbock
Broker/Short Sale & Staging Specialist - Crosby, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Leslie - I now have to add everyone on my other profile and blog twice as much.

More competition means get competitive or get behind the pack. Homes sellers still are not for the most part getting this - 

DENIAL or lack of education?

Jan 20, 2009 10:40 AM
Chuck Willman
Chuck Willman - Alpine, UT
NewHouseUtah.com

There is absolutely no doubt about it... homes that look just a little bit better than the competition will go into contract sooner.

Jan 23, 2009 04:24 PM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Chuck, I of course, whole heartedly agree.

Jan 25, 2009 12:59 PM