Inspired by Mel Salazar's post about sellers using rooms in their home for storage, and Cathy Lee's post about returning rooms to their original purpose .... I recalled a staging project in an occupied home that we completed a few months ago.  The home (in Portland's Hawthorne district) was a charming old Victorian loaded with character, but the room sizes were relatively small and chock full of the sellers' furnishings.

We coach our clients that since they're selling square footage, it's important to show as much floor space as possible.  And that while the room may have served them well with another purpose while they lived there, it's best when selling to show potential buyers the room's original purpose.

This home had two living rooms (or "parlors" as they were called back in 1895 when it was built). One of them had become a "catch all" for music equipment and miscellaneous items that didn't fit somehwere else:

Room Solutions Home Staging in Portland OregonRoom Solutions Home Staging in Portland Oregon

After removal of all the equipment & miscellaneous clutter, buyers could now walk through this room and imagine using it as a cozy seating area.  The original wood floors, a main selling feature, were now exposed and visible, adding instant equity.  (We also recommended that the room be painted a neutral shade, but the sellers weren't willing to do this and luckily the house sold in spite of it!)

Upstairs there's a bedroom that had been used as an office space as well as storage for miscellaneous clutter:

Room Solutions Staging in Portland ORRoom Solutions Home Staging Portland oregon

After staging, buyers could see the added value of this guest bedroom! Gone were the desks & office equipment and the large area rug (exposing the berber carpeting underneath);  we then added a staging bed, two simple tables & lamps, and used a few of the sellers' items to warm up the space.

Result?  This home SOLD in a challenging market ~  The sellers were happy and so were we!

            ***                 ***                 ***                 ***                    

Room Solutions Staging in Portland Oregon offers expert home staging services to homeowners, real estate agents, builders, banks, and investors. Our proven home staging techniques will help reduce your property's market time and maximize your equity. We prepare your property or listing to look appealing to your target buyer, for the online photos as well as in person. Our owner and principal stager Maureen Bray is a nationally-recognized expert in home staging and enjoys sharing her passion for staging with others.  For a complimentary home staging proposal, please contact us @ 503-246-1800.

Room Solutions Staging

Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified

2013 Top Ten Professional Home Stager of the Year - United States

2012 Professional Home Stager of the Year - Western U.S.

President of the Real Estate Staging Association

Room Solutions Home Staging in Portland

Room Solutions Staging on Facebook  Room Solutions Staging on Google+  Room Solutions Staging on LinkedIn  Room Solutions Staging on Pinterest

Copyright © Room Solutions Staging LLC 2006-2013

"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"

Content may not be reproduced without permission.

 
This post has been included in Oregon Real Estate News Multnomah County, OR Real Estate News Portland, OR Real Estate News Hawthorne (Portland, OR) Real Estate News
Post is included in group: Staging "Before" & "After" Pictures
Post is included in group: Real World Home Staging for Newbies
Post is included in group: Staging Works!
Post is included in group: Stage It Forward...
Post is included in group: Home Staging

47 Comments on Sellers ~ For a Faster Sale, empty those "catch all" rooms and Show each room's Best Use

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

JAN
11
2009
212,237 Points 10 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

Maureen -- Wonderful work on showing off the home's valuable square footage and the sale!  Congrats too you as well for the feature post and passing the 100,000 point mark -- WOW!! Not only are you an extremely talented stager, but smart businessperson as well! 
5:20pm • #28
510,053 Points 2 Featured Posts

It is sometimes difficult to get people to swap rooms around for best use while they are still living it in even though you know it will make a big difference in ghow the home shows and sells...  Thanks for posting.  I will re-blog this
5:36pm • #29
741,233 Points 22 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Great idea for everbody concerned.  People like to see a room the way it should be.
5:54pm • #30
580,710 Points 37 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Rebecca ~ Thanks -- our goal is to make the home appealing to the target buyer.

Margaret ~ Many thanks for your kind comment. I've learned so much here on A/R and the points kind of snuck up on me -- you'll be there soon as well!

Caron ~ Yes it can be challenging to get sellers to buy into the idea -- but if they're really serious about selling, it's usually necessary to live in the home a bit differently while it's on the market.  In the end, it will help them reach their goal much sooner!

Russ ~ I agree, most people want to see a room and know it's being used for it's original purpose.
6:25pm • #31
1,157,726 Points 38 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Maureen, I just stopped back to Congratulate you on a Wonderful Feature!!
7:56pm • #32

Hello - the prospective buyers need to be able to see the room (ie square footage) that they are contemplating.  Store stuff somewhere else . and do not make buyers use their imagine they are busy people - show them the use of the room.
8:12pm • #33
580,710 Points 37 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Carole ~ How sweet of you to take the time ~ Thank you!

Kathleen ~ As stagers it's our mantra .... put the excess in storage please!!  Yes we must be sure the room shows as spacious so that buyers don't have to try to imagine it.
8:23pm • #34
147,251 Points 2 Featured Posts

Great thinking,  It sure does make it nice for the home inspections too.
8:31pm • #35
580,710 Points 37 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Jim ~ That's a great point, thanks for mentioning it!  Naturally a tidy house would make your job easier!
8:37pm • #36
289,569 Points 27 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

This is an awesome example to "sell what stays!"  Buyers can't remember if they saw a bedroom in a home that the room was used as storage - especially when they see several homes in a day. Make yours the one they want to remember!

Great job and post Maureen!
8:40pm • #37
556,373 Points 11 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Hi Maureen -- as a fellow stager, it's so encouraging to see other's work and the end results, which mirror our own work.  Great job.  Referring to the room's original purpose isn't pointed out enough by stagers in my experience, so that is very insightful of you to recognize that.  Excellent work!
9:09pm • #38
580,710 Points 37 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Karen ~ That's right Karen, I like your saying "Make your home the one they want to remember!"

Chris ~ Thanks for your encouragement and the positive feedback ... best wishes for a very successful 2009!
10:42pm • #39
650,291 Points Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Makes a huge difference -- but many sellers can't see giving up their way of living to get the home sold - sad.
10:43pm • #40
580,710 Points 37 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Bob & Carolin ~ that is indeed sad when sellers don't realize that the way they live in their home is very different than the way it needs to be prepared for selling.  Let's continue to work together to educate those sellers!
10:52pm • #41
278,454 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Maureen, those are some incredible before and after photos.  Agents and Sellers are wise to hire a professional stager when selling a home.
11:44pm • #42
JAN
12
2009
580,710 Points 37 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

David ~ I know that as an agent you are a firm believer in staging since you know that it really works!  Thanks for your positive support.
12:46am • #43
466,662 Points 2 Featured Posts

Wonderful,. powerful images!
7:09am • #44
807,571 Points Outside Blog

Hi Maureen;

Great improvement, super cleaning job, very nice pictures. Good Luck!
8:21am • #45

you are so right. look at that befor and after. Job well done!!!!

 
9:42am • #46
580,710 Points 37 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Janice ~ By showing sellers the difference we hope it encourages them to follow suit.

Anthony ~ Thanks for your encouragement.  This house sold!  :-)

Andrea ~ All it takes is time, while keeping the goal in mind.  Thanks for stopping by.
10:41am • #47

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

Login or register to leave a comment
 
Portland-home-staging Rainmaker_large

Maureen Bray ~ Home Stager Portland OR ~ Home Staging Portland Oregon

Portland, OR

More about me…

Room Solutions Home Staging Portland OR

Address: PO Box 19024, Portland, OR, 97280

Office Phone: (503) 246-1800

Cell Phone: (503) 246-1800

Email Me


Room Solutions Portland OR Home Staging Portfolio


Room Solutions Portland OR Home Staging Home Page



Listings

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog