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Prediction of what's in and what's out in 2009...your two cents?

By Susan Smith

Home Stager with Rooms That Work LLC

January 03, 2009 11:27 PM

I found this article online in the Everret Washington Harold Net: http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090104/BIZ/701049948/1005

First, I must premise that these findings are from an annual survey conducted by Mark Nash, a Coldwell Banker broker and real estate author who uses a network of 839 Realtors in all 50 states and eight Canadian provinces to acquire consumer responses to a variety of housing questions. He wrote "1,001 Tips for Buying & Selling a Home". The article was written by Tom Kelly of HeraldNet.

While some of you may agree or disagree with some of his points (and I won't list them all here...read it if you like), there were a couple excerpts I found interesting:

What's "in" for 2009: Real estate agents as a housing resource not a salesperson. Skilled agents who help consumers determine if they should buy or sell a home. Home ownership is not for everyone. Factors such as a job move in three years or fewer, marginal credit and lack of interest in home maintenance can be reasons for a resource-driven agent to advise their client not to buy.

What's "out" for 2009: Home staging. A recently over-used, low-cost marketing strategy for vacant or occupied homes with longer than normal market times. Buyers have said "enough" of the non-professional usage of assorted leftover props placed around a for-sale home to make it supposedly homey. Buyers are saying "market it as it is and clear out the tired silk flowers and stale potpourri."

Here are my two cents:

1) Agents as "Housing Resources" is another way of saying "those who are really good at their job will do well"

2) Staging isn't going away, but those who jumped in without a clue will fall by the wayside. Those who are good at what they are doing will be a very strategic tool for the "Housing Resource" agents referred to above.

Your thoughts?

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Janice Roosevelt

Keller Williams Brandywine Valley - West Chester, PA

OICP ABR, ePRO,Ecobroker

1) postivie attitude and actions will prevail

Jan 03, 2009 11:32 PM

Susan Smith

Rooms That Work LLC - Sandy Hook, CT

Hi Janice, I absolutely agree! Thanks!

Jan 03, 2009 11:42 PM

Anonymous

Julia @ Hookedonhouses.net

I found that article pretty interesting. Thanks, Susan. I agree with you that staging won't go away altogether. There are too many people who are desperate to sell their houses right now and will try anything, at least in my area of the Midwest.

Love the doors in your sidebars!

Jan 04, 2009 12:06 AM

Cindy Edwards

RE/MAX Checkmate - Johnson City, TN

CRS, GRI, PMN - Northeast Tennessee 423-677-6677

I like the whole staging process. I have used it on a couple houses- I'm not saying it "worked" but it was just one more thing I could do as a professional to trigger interest.

Jan 04, 2009 12:11 AM

Hi Julia, Hey, we sure hang out in the same places! Good to hear from you again! Yes, those who really want to sell will certainly continue to see its value. Where in the midwest are you? I'm from Columbus OH. (Go Bucks)

Hi Cindy, It's all about using all the resources you have...just like how a good marketing plan would include multiple channels. Just good business sense!

Jan 04, 2009 12:14 AM

Justin Ukaoma

Vizion KC - Kansas City, MO

Kansas City Real Estate Investments

I also have to say that the doors in the background are pretty awesome. I just wrote an article on my personal predictions for 2009 as well. In that article I also stated that some agents will have their best year ever in 2009. Naturally these agents will be the ones that are good at what they do.

Jan 04, 2009 12:18 AM

Thanks Justin - gotta love istockphoto.com! ;) Something tells me you're going to have a great year! Where can I read your article?

Jan 04, 2009 12:24 AM

Ellie McIntire

Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate - Ellicott City, MD

Luxury service in Central Maryland

I agree that staging is VERY important in certain markets. It sets a property apart from a vacant home. I think it's here to stay.

Jan 04, 2009 12:32 AM

Hi Ellie - you bring up a good point...there are so many different variables for each situation...some markets it will be more critical than in others. Yet in all markets it will be essential at one level or another. It's a useful way of getting homes sold.

Jan 04, 2009 03:23 AM

Debbie Wheeler

Real Estate Staging/Rooms Rearranged, LLC - Chandler, AZ

Chandler, AZ Rooms Rearranged RESA, IRIS

Susan - As a consumer, if a property doesn't show well, I'm not looking at it. I know I am not alone on this topic. I became a stager for this very reason. Give me two identical properties, priced the same, where one is staged and one is not and I'll bet I can pick which one sells faster. Buyers are demanding more for their dollars. Yes, you can still sell your fixer-upper house, people will buy it, but it will be for less money. I think staging is here to stay, whether it is done by the homeowner or a professional stager. It doesn't have to cost a fortune to stage, just de-clutter and make the property shine. Just my opinion.

Jan 04, 2009 04:24 AM

Well said Debbie! A property needs to show better than the competition in that price point!

Jan 04, 2009 05:00 AM

Mary DeBella

Northwest Staging & Redesign - West Linn, OR

Susan - I agree with Debbie. Staging is NOT going away in fact it's gaining steam. I wonder if Mark Nash has ever been a buyer before considering a Staged vs. non staged house? Look at it this way... If you take a brand new fresh one-dollar-bill and put it side by side next to a used up torn, laundered, ink-stained one-dollar-bill, which one would YOU choose? They both have the same value, you can still buy with both of them, but which would you rather have? My point is that those of us who are professional stagers and have the skills necessary to showcase properties the right way will always add value for a seller. Smart agents understand that staging works and add that service in their marketing tool box. You can see the staging difference on our website: www.nwstaging.com

Thanks Susan for pointing out this topic of Mark's 2009 review as not being worth two cents!

Jan 05, 2009 04:31 AM

Hi Mary...absolutely! And great analogy! Better is always better, regardless of the market!

Jan 12, 2009 08:33 AM

Prediction of what's in and what's out in 2009...your two cents?

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Susan Smith

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