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It's Show Time For The TEAM!

I recently staged an occupied home that belongs to a great Realtor, Rachel Hayes with Prudential Georgia Realty. She has a Realtor partner, Leigh Steele.

Together, Rachel and Leigh formed a TEAM prior to listing that they thought would give them the most powerful sales presentation possible for the home.

They had the home pre-inspected by Gary Sloan of Advantage Inspection
They contacted Dave Loeffler of Met Life for mortgage lending information
They had the home appraised by a local appraiser, Sam Williams
And I had the privilege of staging the home. I worked with a combination of Rachel's furnishing and accessories and my Peachtree Home Staging's accessories and furniture solutions.
Last, but not least, the home was video'd by Tom Knight of Knightyme Video Tours

So, ready for market, right? Well, yes, but, these two clever Realtors had one more thing they wanted to do! I know, you must be thinking, what possibly could be left undone?

Rachel and Leigh planned a wine a cheese party at the home, having all of the "TEAM" invite everyone we knew to come and see the PRESENTATION POWER OF A NEW LISTING THAT:

Has been inspected
Has complete lending information available
Has been appraised
Has presentation perfection through home staging services
Has complete on-line video room to room presentation

We had folks crawling through the home steadily for over two straight hours. There was "oh-ing" and "ah-ing" in every room. People were reviewing what an inspection report included, People were checking out the appraisal in detail. Rachel and Leigh were in constant conversation, as was I, on how home staging works. I noticed several people walk out with my brochure in hand!

It was such a great format for networking. Even though the people there were not necessarily there to buy this home, the one commonality among the guests was their mutual interest in our individual services.

Here's the invitation the TEAM sent out:

home staging atlanta peachtree home staging services

AND, NOW, FOR YOU PHOTO FANATICS, click on the address below to check out Tom Knights video and his Mr. McDeamy voice over! . . . AND, OF COURSE, MY HOME STAGING!

112 Warmstone Path, Peachtree City, Georgia

How folks live in a home is their business, how folks present the home for sale is my business!

For tips on how to prepare your home for sale and information on staging a home in Atlanta, visit the web site of PEACHTREE HOME STAGING or call us at 770 595-8809.

We do occupied and vacant home staging with professional perfection!

Peachtree Home Staging is a proud APPROVED AND ACCREDITED Business of the Geater Atlanta Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Georgia State President of the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)

Peachtree Home Staging The Experts in Atlanta Home Staging Diversity

How folks live in a home is their business, how folks present the home for sale is our business!

For tips on how to prepare your home for sale and information on staging a home in Atlanta, visit the web site of PEACHTREE HOME STAGING or call us at 770 595-8809.

We do occupied and vacant home staging with professional perfection!

Peachtree Home Staging is a proud APPROVED AND ACCREDITED Business of the Greater Atlanta Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Georgia State President of the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)

Posted by Karen Dembsky, Atlanta Home Staging on 02/10/2009 05:18 PM

Comments (42)

Home Staging in the Home Selling Channel

atlanta home staging, home stager, peachtree city, occupied home staging

This post has been included in Georgia Information Fayette County, GA Information Peachtree City, GA Information
Post is included in group: Stage It Forward...
Post is included in group: Realtors®
Post is included in group: Real Estate Staging Association
Post is included in group: Prudential Network
Post is included in group: Georgia Real Estate

42 Comments on It's Show Time For The TEAM!

FEB

Karen, what a great idea! Thanks for sharing.

It's an awesome idea and a great alternative to the traditional open house!

Kathy

Karen -- This sounds like so much fun and is an incredible idea . . . hope you don't mind if I pass it on to my favorite realtors as well. They certainly have prepared this home for a successful entry onto the real estate market -- so important in any market but especially now! I'm giving this post a well deserved flag!

Karen, powerful! Do they do the same "team" prep for their other listings? This type of approach is what I keep promoting to agents but they don't have the money and the seller's don't either OR they don't see the value. When all of the important work is already done it should move fast. LOVE IT!

Karen ~ This listing agent's marketing idea is so savvy and I'm sure it generated a lot of interest in not only this home, but all of the services that were showcased as well. How fun that you were part of it all ... the home looks wonderful after you performed your magic.

That is awesome. I love it! Do most Realtors have to buy the stuff for the staging of someones house, or is that an expense the home owner picks up?

Karen, nothing like great teamwork and it sounds like you all covered Everything! Great job! I hope it sells quickly now after all that work!.

Karen, Rachel, Leigh, & Team: You go girls! CLAP CLAP CLAP That's the sound of your standing ovation!!!

Join my new AR group and post your blog at http://activerain.com/groups/virtualoffice

Regina P. Brown

Hi Karen

I agree that staging works. Some people say that a vacant home allows people to imagine their furniture in a home. Most people can't do that. That spacial sense of the size of your furniture in a vacant room is just not there for most people. I applaud you for what you are doing. The wine and cheese and the whole concept is a great marketing strategy.

WoW.. make me want to stop in as well.. just a little to far away.. great job !

Hi Karen -- WOW...WOW...WOW...I'll say it again: WOW. Please give my kudos to the entire team, what a great concept!!!

You should do a follow-up post with details when it sells -- days on market, list price to sales price ratio, etc.

I have yet to find a videographer here in greater Cleveland who can perform this quality of video for that price!

that is a great idea but couldn't help but wonder how effective the appraisal and home inspection were considering a buyer would want (and have) to do their own anyway. Is it safe to assume this was a higher end listing?

Karen,

That video was pretty amazing. Having a video website for a listing is great marketing and rare, sure makes a lisiting stand out. The staging is beautiful and you did an awesome job. Congrats on the feature!

-Lisa

What a great marketing idea for all participants and what fun! Just wondering if doing the appraisal and inspection up front expedites the buying process. DO sellers accept the inspection done by you or do they do their own? Does having the appraisal done reduce negotiating down on the property?

Having airline ticket from Detroit to Atlanta for me would make it a perfect wine and cheese party.

Wow, these agents went above and beyond. Congratulations on such a success. Great blog.

Did the property sell? If so, was it at list price??

This is really good stuff Karen....

Karen (and team), I read a great article about Prudential Georgia and their online marketing. This just takes it to another level in terms of preparation, marketing and creativity. Thank you!

Karen, The home is beautiful and the staging is just gorgeous--you didn't over look a single thing! And the presentation is amazing--very creative and well put together. Congratulations on a beautiful job.

No THIS is marketing. Plenty of ideas to inspire all of us.

Holy COW! What a well put together listing. It shouldn't take long to sell - best of luck!

FEB

Great job, Karen and team! Now THAT is an awesome Open House!

Looks fabulous Karen. Awesome marketing and you prepared the home beautifully. The tour really gives you the feeling of being in the home. Best of luck for a quick sale!

This is a great idea and it is presented so well. The home looks awesome; great staging! I like the invitation as well. It may not directly sell the house, but it sells the TEAM. Thanks for sharing!

Sheridan! - Hope it's an idea that you can use!

I enjoyed this post quite a bit. Good job on the staging.

Yes, Kathy -- much more productive actually; an aquintance of mine who came actully to see my staging; took a flyer on the house because it reminded her of a friend she knew that may be interested in buying the home!

Hey there Margaret! Thx for the flag, girl! IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! All of us hosting were introducing each other to different people. Somebody I invited was surprised to see Rachel -- they ended up knowing each other from their kids middle school days; but she did not know Rachel was a Realtor. It was the most comfortable networking scenario. Everyone was exchanging cards; even the guests!

good morning Ginger! Yes Rachel and Leigh do this for every listing; but the wine and cheese party was a new experiment. It was a great time to try it out since this is Rachel's personal home. I am sure it will become part of the listing process going forward, inviting the home owners friends and acquintances as well.

hey Maureen! Thx for you kind words and all of your consistant support. You are a special friend!

Hi Cindy! Glad you asked the question. This home is what is considered occupied, meaning that I staged using as much as I could of the homeowners belonging. I had her then box up and store what was not needed to market the home and she could live without. In this particular home, I then added about 50 items of light furnishings and accessories. The owner then rents those items from me until the home goes under contract; usually 2 or 3 months.

I staged a similar home yesterday and I only had to add about 5 or 6 accessories to complete the presentation.

Thx for the kind words, Connie! So far in the past 12 months all the homes I've staged for these two have gone under contract in under 89 days! One in less than 10!

Thx Regina -- whoo hoo -- a standing ovation!

Margaret! Thx so much for the support of staging industry and my work! So nice to hear.

Thx Roland . . . not to mention the great Trader Joe's wine that was served!

Hi Chris -- I will definately do a follow up. I think it should sell quickly. Tom Knight is really good. We both love it when we get the opportunity to work together as we make each other look good!

What a great opportunity for all involved. To have supportive REA's is fantastic!

FEB

BRILLANT is an understatement! It's so good to hear businesses coming together and working as a team ~

Congrats and I wish you guys much success!

FEB

Karen the whole concept is not only brilliant, but brilliantly executed! I think you deserve additional kudos for your blog that continues the team concept, linking to each member and marketing everyone on the team! Way to go!

MAR

Love this TEAM approach and the fantastic listing invite! What a powerful combination and marketing strategy. Thanks for sharing this Karen!

MAR

What a fantastic idea!!

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