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Extra! Extra! Read All About It! One of the Top 5 Financial Mistakes a Seller Can Make Is to Hire a Staging Company! What????

By
Home Stager with Best Estate Staging Techniques

Wait!  Don't get mad at me yet!!! 

I recently received an email from a fellow Stager, who said her daughter received a flyer in her monthly HOA newsletter.  The flyer was from a local, prominent Realtor, on behalf of him and his company.

The information contained on the flyer was alerting home owners to NOT hire Staging companies to Stage their homes.  Instead, his team will go over all the strong assets and weak points of a home with the seller.

He asks the reader if they know that "one of the top 5 financial mistakes a seller can make is to hire a Staging company", then adds that, according to a prominent (and unnamed in the flyer) real estate magazine, supported by the National Association of Realtors, it's unnecessary unless it's an extremely unusual floor plan or is priced at over $2 million. 

He states, "There's no need to pay someone $500 to $2,000 or more to have them tell you to take the trash cans in and open the blinds." 

 

So, now I'm wondering what other Realtors, Brokers, etc. thoughts are on this subject.  Do you agree with this or disagree?  Note that the writer is stating it's a mistake to hire a Staging company but isn't saying it's a mistake to Stage.     

Posted by

 


Beth

Beth Young, Staging the Texas Hill Country

President, Best Estate Staging Techniques

Beth Young is an Accredited Home Staging Professional and Design Specialist who transforms interiors and exteriors into beautiful Showpieces to sell your home faster.  

Remember:

        Stage It First

        List It Second

        Sell It Fast!!

 


 


Comments (8)

Brian Lee Burke
Kenna Real Estate - Lone Tree, CO
Broker & Advising Expert-Kenna Luxury Real Estate

So if I read this correctly he is saying don't hire a staging COMPANY because he/his team will do the job. Is he then doing it for free? Which is what it implies to me. ~Rita

Jul 04, 2009 11:20 AM
Victoria Murphy
Sotheby's International Realty - Santa Fe, NM
Santa Fe, NM

Beth - I don't know sounds a touch on the unethical side.  I agree with Rita is sounds like they will be doing the job for free. 

Jul 04, 2009 11:42 AM
Kim Curran
RE/MAX Unlimited of Northern Virginia - Bristow, VA

I don't think it would ever be a mistake to stage if you can afford it and the home will benefit from it. I don't know if this market is the right time to be staging but it can't hurt. I know agents can give some advice but personally I don't have that eye to make the place look fabulous like stagers do.

Jul 04, 2009 12:05 PM
Wendy Montoya, REALTOR® Broker Associate, 254-315-4906
Towne Adams REALTORS - Waco, TX

Very interesting. I would love to know what publication stated this. And a top 5 financial mistake? Really? Hmmmm. I don't think I agree with that. I think it really depends on the circumstances as each home sale is different.

Jul 04, 2009 01:04 PM
Guy E. Gimenez
The PowerHouse Group - Austin, TX
ABR, CRS, GRI - Broker & Investor (512-731-5613)

He is also likely the top listing agent and top buyer agent in his office in addition to being a multimillion dollar producer, expert in real estate, a neighborhood expert (in every neighborhood he happens to drive through), a pseudo attorney and endless other attributes that he genuinely believes are true.

I would say he's more likely a jack of all trades and master of none. But then again puffery has been in this industry almost as long as corruption has been in government.

 

Jul 04, 2009 02:42 PM
Beth Young
Best Estate Staging Techniques - Wimberley, TX
Professional Home Stager

Rita and Victoria-Looking back at the newsletter, toward the end, he said that his company will go through the property with you and advise you of the features and attributes you would find in a well-staged home.  I would have liked to copy and paste the newsletter but I wanted to make sure I didn't violate any copyright laws.  It doesn't appear to me that he is saying his company will Stage it for you.  By description, it sounds as though his company provides a verbal consultation.  I don't really think that's any different from what most of you provide for your clients, anyway, is it?  Of the Realtors I work with, they all provide their clients with information as to what they should do to prepare their homes for sale, prior to putting it on the market.  My Realtor clients tell me the problem is that many of their sellers just don't follow their suggestions, for different reasons, whether it's because they don't have the time or for other reasons.  Thank you for responding, by the way.  I appreciate the feedback. 

Kim-Thank you for responding!  There's no better way for me to be educated about this industry than from the real estate professionals, themselves.  What I feel I've learned, in this occupation, is that the Staged homes tend to stand out and be remembered, positively, from the others and if executed well, cause the features of the home, itself, to stand out, not the furniture.  Three weeks ago, one of the unoccupied houses I Staged went under contract (I'll keep my fingers crosssed, it closes this week) after it had been on the market for two years.  After it was Staged, it was under contract in three months.  I believe that many people are very capable, themselves, of Staging (yes, even you!) but don't have the time, energy or desire.  One of my goals, with each client, is to be able to provide them with this service, no matter what their budget is.  I probably won't get rich doing that but I'm blessed to be supported by a retirement income (Austin police sergeant-a far cry from Staging, I know!)  I think that, especially, during this time, it's great to have a home that stands out from the others and be able to do it without going broke at the same time! :)

Wendy-I'm with you on that.  I wish I knew the name of the publication, also.  I tried every which way to find out by Googling and such but didn't come up with anything.  I know I can contact the agent to find out and I may but I have to consider a tactful way to do it since it's not my goal to be offensive.  I realize he's entitled to his opinion, which is why it caused me to be curious enough to blog about it and see what y'all think.  Thank you for taking the time to respond.

Guy-Ha!!!!  That's a good one!  That made my day!  There's a hilarious person in every group!  I understand, though, what you're saying.  That's interesting.  It sounds as though you have experience with the type person you described so you may have hit the nail on the head.  I hadn't thought about that one.  I appreciate it.  It's good to hear from somebody in Austin.  I've lived there most of my life and conduct a large part of my business there, still but it sure is nice to be living in the country, now! 

Jul 05, 2009 05:09 AM
Bob & Carolin Benjamin
Benjamin Realty LLC - Gold Canyon, AZ
East Phoenix Arizona Homes

Gee, this seems like the HOA ad might have been a bit out of line.

Sep 02, 2009 06:36 PM
Cheryl Eskridge
Eskridge Real Estate - Eagle River, WI
ABR, CRS, GRI, PMN, Broker, Licensed in WI & TX

So sad that agents think they are good at everything. We help sell and buy homes for our clients. We need all the help we can get to get a seller to creat an environment that is pleasing to a prospective buyer. Sad that an agent would alienate himeself from people who could make his job easier.

Jul 28, 2012 10:21 PM