I Just Don't Get It...

Good point, and you have evidence to back it up.  I would educate agents to say the following to their sellers, "The market is still dropping so the sooner that you sell the better price you will likely get.  What can we do to sell the home faster other than drop the price - stage it.  Would you rather spend $XXX.00 staging and getting the house sold, or spending even more when you have to wait 6 months and sell at a lower price.  Let's get this house sold, let's stage it."

That's my 2 cents.  Good luck!

I would think a listing agent, especially, gives a new listing a brochure, or packet.  If so, why wouldn't it include either a brochure, or at the very least a card.  That way the agent doesn't really have to broach the subject, if they feel uncomfortable about it.

Hi Donna,

It's others who don't get it. When it comes to staging you're speaking to the choir as far as I'm concerned. I'm a true believe who has personally benefited from staging. 

We see selling who are doing $10,000+ price reductions all over the place, yet if they just considered staging for a fraction of that, it's a no brain-er.

When it comes to Realtors who've used you in the past, ask for testimonials. Also use, before and after photos in your marketing.  I hope you take them on each job, right? Then to follow up, I'd use your sales stats, after staging like how many days on the market? etc. etc.

If it's new to your neck-of-the-woods, go for it. Become the trail blazer, the trend setter and set your self apart as the go-to pro.

As an aside, I see your in Fayetteville, flown into there once myself years ago, I thought it was an absolutely beautiful area.

Yes, dito on Nameless #4

But keep in mind to keep your website going (you DO have a website, right!?)  Continue to update it with your before and after photos, links, etc....  You should be updating your website at LEAST every 3 months (I update mine every time I stage a new home - really!) "WHY?!" you ask - SEO & Google juice, baby. Right now 90% of my business is SELLERS calling me, not the Realtors.  Keep your website updated, fresh, not stale - send out your statistics in newsletters & on Localism.

Donna -- like Connie, most of my calls now come directly from Sellers -- whereas last year and the year before most came from Realtors.  Quite a shift!  Not only that, but sellers now contact me before they've selected a listing agent and often ask me for referrals to good agents who will aggressively market their property.  Keep blogging and keep your internet presence as a focus ... you'll get more calls from sellers that way.  Good luck!

I don't get it either and I am honestly tired of trying to convince the world that staging is an effective form of marketing. The realtors in my area have not been supportive no matter my stats or the beautiful work that I have done for them. I have started a new business that has nothing to do with design and I am transitioning out of staging. I realize that this is the right move for me and I have no regrets. Good luck to all of you, keep fighting that uphill battle.

I can definitely relate to what post # 3 is saying, so, I agree with Cindy. An agent can really set themselves apart by including a staging consultation with EVERY listing. At the initial presentation they should be given the stager's business card and be told that a consultation is included in  EVERY one of their listings. This way the potential seller does not feel they are being targeted as having a home that is not good enough.

Donna, I feel your frustration in my area as well.  Most of my staging business these days comes directly from savvy sellers.  While realtors are delighted with the results they get when they luck into a listing I've already staged, they still aren't proactively embracing the idea of including staging consultations with their listings.

I suspect Fayetteville may be similar to Pittsburgh, a little slow to embrace new ways of doing things.  Just keep up with your internet presence and working to spread the good news about staging to anyone in your area who will listen.  It may take a bit more patience than in other locations, but if you keep at it, the results will come.

Perhaps Realtors can tell their potential clients that they ALWAYS recommend staging so that it doesn't appear they've signled out that particular seller's home as "unsaleable as is".  Of course, then they'd have to actually do that - bonus for us!

I think most of us share your same frustration. The other thing to consider is how realtors have been affected by this buyer's market. Many are not taking on as many listings and are instead working with buyers. Unless you have a relationship with realtors that do a large volume of sales and lots of listings, it will affect your referrals. 

Been there, done that!  I feel your pain!  It is so frustrating.  I have to agree with the others...Nameless #4 has a great way with words!

Hey Donna...keep us posted on what you find out.  I'm curious to hear what they tell you!

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You have created a great conversation here.  thx for putting this topic out there.

I've been working on a brochure that realtors can give as part of their listing package, but I got distracted.  Thanks for the reminder to keep at it.

There are so many folks out there with no money when they are selling.  With no money it's hard to suggest they pay for a stager.  How much does staging cost anyhow?

I also thought of a question to ask you or other stagers.  What is the style of decorating today called?  We've been through Mediterranean, country, brass and glass, so what is the "in thing" today?

Great post and comments Donna! I feel your pain too! Just so you know, your staging is fantastic and it's clear to me that the Realtors hesitation is NOT because your work is sub-standard!

It's so interesting that many stagers are saying the homeowner is contacting them directly and then asking for a Realtor referral. I'm seeing the same thing here.

It's refreshing to see so many Realtors offering advice to you - thank you to those who are willing to help us out.