I know you guys get sick of hearing it, but I have to say it, because it bears repeating.
In an economy where no one is biting because there is no sense of urgency in the market, you have to create it inside the home. Price is dictated largely by the comps. Location isn't negotiable. Therefore, condition is the only thing within ones actual control. 
So, staging, by an experienced, professional, cracker-jack stager is a sure-fire way to get that property sold fast.
There are some extremely experienced and talented pros out there, who can really knock it out of the ballpark. Staging is changing the entire vibe of the house, and it's not just with a tchochtky here and a sofa there. There is much more to it now than "de-cluttering" and moving some things around, or bringing a few pieces in.
That's really kind of old school.
Today, stagers are making real, lasting equity enhancements for the house, and we can do it on really tight budgets. We have the connections. We absolutely know what buyers are truly desiring to see, and we know how to deliver.
Today's Staging...
- Gets the seller a quicker sale with minimal haggling.
- Allows the seller's agent to have less marketing expenses and get paid faster.
- Allows the buyer's agent to get buyers in a house more quickly, and get paid faster.
- Provides the buyer with a move-in ready, desirable home they love.
When more agents start recommending that sellers at the very least consult with a stager, amazing things will happen, and buyers respond much quicker to homes that have vibe that professionals stagers create.
Every seller deserves an agent who recommends a stager to advice on their property's presentation.
Every buyer deserves a home that has gone through the nit-picky, detail-oriented hands of a ethical, experienced stager.
Houses that are not getting this treatment are at a tremendous disadvantage, whether it is a $60,000 1bd//1ba or a $600,000 home, or a $1,600,000 estate. Most staging consultations cost around a couple of hundred bucks, and most sellers expect to have to make some changes and have some money set aside for that. And consultations do not always turn into full-blown stagings for us. Many times, we just show them EXACTLY where to concentrate their time and/or funds for maximum ROI. That is our expertise.
MANY agents have shunned the idea of using professional stagers, and MANY have done a complete 180 degree turn on their positions after seeing real results brought about by real pros. It is not uncommon now for stagers to be called in on every listing that goes through an office. Some agents refuse entirely to work with sellers who will not stage.
So, Agents, please - find the best stager in your town, and align yourself with that stager. Let him or her advise your clients. Encourage your sellers to listen.
Bust that slump and be prepared to reap the benefits.
~Michelle Molinari
Certified Staging Professional, Feature This... Real Estate Staging,www.FeatureThisDotDotDot.com
CSP Elite Instructor, Certified Staging Professionals,www.CSPElite.com
Lead Virtual Designer, www.CurbAppealForDummies.com
President of Acadiana Real Estate Staging Association, www.AcadianaRESA.com
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