Thanks to Geoff Williams, who wrote a fun article about how buyers behave like petulant, irrational daters when looking for houses. Often, he writes, it really has nothing to do with what the seller has or has not done. It's just that the buyer doesn't feel it.
I encourage you to read all the way through the article... partly because I'm not quoted until page 2 <!! > and mainly because it gives one an interesting perspective on today's buyer.
They are irrational. They are pedantic. They are choosy and odd. And they're rarely interested in the property until there's been a dramatic "hair cut" taken!
A quote of mine Geoff didn't use was (based on my own experience in this market having just sold my own house in 31 DOM)
"Forget worrying about leaving money on the table! In today's market, there ain't no deal until there's blood on that table!"
You might be thinking, therefore that "in this market" it all comes down to price. For sure, price is the starting point. And what can we as stagers do about price? Price actually involves us more than we all traditionally think. In my view, it is up to us as stagers to make sure that our staged homes present obviously as the BEST VALUE in the price band. That we can do something about. And it's our mission in today's Buyers' Market to do each and every time!
Long time realtors around here are all talking about "going back to the basics" to survive 2009. It's the same for us. Back to the basics - condition, amenities and value!! It's not about the mirrors, the angled furniture, the dramatic faux food... it's about the home being conditioned right, styled so that no-one can miss every possible amenity and everything that can be spun as an amenity...
The day might come when we put together an amenity book for every home, talking about the home itself, the town, the area's recreational offerings, transportation... some of us already present a similarly full story on each listing with Squidoo lenses. Could that become more mainstream? It works. I recommend it.
Making a home irresistable -- by propping up the value -- that's our job. Then all that's left is mere chemistry. Just like dating.
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Juliet Johnson
the Home Marketing Maven
Juliet Johnson Staging
US
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Work: 973-477-7000
jj@julietjohnsonstaging.com
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Home Staging and Marketing, using online social media
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Its really not about that cool faux food? Darn it - i love that stuff... great blog Juliet.. good luck