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Cookie Cutter House--Staged for a quick sale!

By Lori Donegan

Home Stager with Ready 2 Stage

November 06, 2009 10:27 AM

Our most recent staging job was a bit of an experiment.

A Realtor had a new listing that needed a bit of help, but they couldn't afford a full-blown staging. The Realtor asked if we could do "Photo Staging"--bring in some accessories and stage JUST for the photos. She (The Realtor) also wanted to pay at closing. Having worked with her before and knowing that I could trust her, I thought that I would give it a try.

The week prior, I popped in to this little house for a quick 15 minute consultation to see what kind of accessories that I would need. These homesellers had made some great updates to their home and had fairly nice furnishings and accessories to work with.

The following week, after coming up with somewhat of a plan, I threw a few accessories into the READY 2 STAGE mobile and hit the road. We arrived at 11:00 a.m. and walked out at 1:00 p.m. They had completed MOST of the suggestions that I had left for them to have done before staging day, so it all went pretty smoothly. The results were beautiful and all of us were pleased. I wasn't entirely happy to remove the accessories that we had brought in, but we tried to leave it in the best showing shape possible.

The Realtor has now told me that within 3 days there were 6 showings and 1 offer on this place! And, by the way, the Realtor went ahead and penned me a check when the job was done. She was pretty confident that the closing would be soon.

What do you think of this idea?....I'm sure there will be some skeptics, but it was a fun and relatively easy job, and I truly believe that it will help educate home sellers and Realtors in this area and bring staging to the forefront a little bit more. Enjoy the pics! Before After Before After Before After Before After

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Tonia Mosteller

Interior Redesign-Design, Home Staging & Holiday Decorating - Charlotte, NC

Lori this is a wonderful post, you and your team did a beautiful job as usual! Thanks for sharing with us.

Nov 06, 2009 12:28 PM

Lori Kim Polk

Premiere Home Staging : Home Staging Services - Roseville, CA

Home Stager - Roseville, Sacramento

Nice job Lori. It definitely looks "camera ready" and much more ready for sale.

Nov 06, 2009 04:08 PM

melody salazar

Salazar Staging & Custom Interiors - New Braunfels, TX

Lori,

How did you come up with a fee? If you took the accessories out immediately, does this mean they were not in the house during these showings? It seems it would be a little strange to fix the house up for a handful of hours and then not have the house have the benefit of this staging when buyers came to look. For example, it looks like you brought bedding in (which looked a great deal better than before) so when you removed that, didn't it leave an unmade bed?

I'm open to creative staging techniques, but wondered a little about how this worked.

Thanks for sharing, your staging looks great.

Mel

Nov 07, 2009 12:15 AM

Lori Donegan

Ready 2 Stage - Cleveland, TN

Tonia--Thanks for your compliments! I have been enjoying your posts and photos as well. Keep 'em coming.

Lori Kim--It did look much better and evidently the "lookers" liked it as well, even after the camera.

Melody--The fee was a bit of an experiment as well. I just charged for my consultation and 2 hours of work. Wasn't a lot, but seemed to fit their needs. Most of the major pieces were theirs. Although, the brown ottomans were ours--when removed wasn't a huge deal. The 2 side tables/covers beside the bed were ours--I'm sure that did make a difference in the overall look. The bed covering did make the room look so much better, but if they just made it nice and neat, I'm sure that it was acceptable. I was a little skeptical about doing this, but I knew that the Realtor would be beneficial to my work in the future and thought that I would give it a try. So far, I haven't received any negatives from the experience and hopefully I've gained a little more trust with this Realtor and her colleagues. Thanks for your comments!

Nov 07, 2009 01:51 AM

Kathy Nielsen

http://atlantahomestaging.net - Marietta, GA

Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

First and foremost, I think you did a wonderful job staging.

As for the experiment; not sure it completely fits the bill. Sure, the photos will help draw the buyer in but... once the buyer is at the home, they miss out on the emotional connection that home staging brings. Just my opinion.

Kathy

Nov 07, 2009 10:33 AM

melody salazar

Salazar Staging & Custom Interiors - New Braunfels, TX

I tend to agree with Kathy. It seems almost bait and switchISH. Once those things that contribute to the warmth and feel of the home are removed, it potentially could let some buyers down.

Will be interested to see how this pans out,

Mel

Nov 07, 2009 11:03 AM

Lori Donegan

Ready 2 Stage - Cleveland, TN

Kathy & Mel--Good point and I had to address this several months ago as well. Here is my dilemma-- if a home is lived in and has been staged with the home sellers own belongings, and it is then necessary for them to move out before the house is sold--so all their things are gone and they don't restage--should they then remove the pictures of the home as it was before--in staged condition? It is still that same house--kind of like the "virtual staging" idea. Now you see it--now you don't. Not totally comfortable with the idea either, but have yet to suffer any negatives. Just trying to stay afloat in this "not-on-board-yet-with-staging" small town society. I will let you know how this all works out. Thanks for your comments!

P.S. It must have still looked pretty good, since there was an offer within 3 days!

Nov 07, 2009 01:10 PM

Linda D. Pufford

Stage with Divine Style - Home Staging - Novato, CA

ASPM, Marin/Sonoma Home Stager

Lori.

Your Staging made such a difference!!! I'm so glad the Realtor paid you up front...to bad she didn't pfffer to pay you furniture and accessory rental at closing. Since she originally offered to pay your consult and staging fee at the time of closing. All in all the Staging really transformed the house and I wish you great success on the sale!!!

Nov 07, 2009 09:25 PM

Janice Ankrett

Burlington, ON

Staging Professional

Lori - I don't think your staging for photos is any different than the virtual staging being offered. They both give the buyer a feel for the home. I'd be interested to hear what kind of reactions agents get when the buyer walks into the unstaged space.

Nov 08, 2009 01:29 PM

Lori Donegan

Ready 2 Stage - Cleveland, TN

Linda--Thank you! We were pretty efficient with our plan--in and out in 2 hours--and the changes we made were basics. I thought it turned out pretty well, for such a small investment.

Janice--I think that we left enough of the "good stuff" to get a real feel for the space, just removed the extra accessories. And, yes I would like to be a fly on the wall to hear some of the comments. Thanks for your comments, too!

Nov 09, 2009 09:53 AM

Shelley Roufs

Simply Staged Homes - New Ulm, MN

Lori - Your consultation was also worth something! Hopefully, the home owners got a feel for it when the house looked great and will be more motivated to keep it in top shape. I also do small town staging and I think we have to do what we can to promote our business and build relationships with the realtors.

Nov 10, 2009 06:05 AM

Lori Donegan

Ready 2 Stage - Cleveland, TN

Shelley--thanks for your comments. Sometimes I feel like I just have to step out of the box and do what feels productive and I thought that this would be a good move. So far, so good.

Nov 10, 2009 09:59 AM

Kate Talarico

Kates Home Staging and Interior Design - Goshen, NY

RESA, Top Orange County Home Decorator & Stager

Your staging made a huge difference and if the Realtor hears any comments as she is walking buyers through the home, maybe she will pay to keep your accessories there next time. I think it was a win-win situation for you. Your pictures will make a positive impact.

Nov 11, 2009 10:13 AM

Lori Donegan

Ready 2 Stage - Cleveland, TN

Kate--I appreciate your comments and I tend to agree that it has worked out to be a win-win situation for us both. The pictures will help draw potential buyers to the house and then it can sell itself, because it is priced right!

Nov 11, 2009 10:52 AM

Heather Fitzgerald

REALTY WORLD-Harbert Company, Inc. - Greenwood, IN

REALTOR Greenwood Indiana Real Estate

Lori, those were great after photos. How would you recommend that I find a stager here in Indy?

Nov 16, 2009 12:23 PM

Lori Donegan

Ready 2 Stage - Cleveland, TN

Heather--I recommend you Google Home Staging Resource--that's where I did my training--and think click on your state. You should see a list of home stagers in your area. Thanks for the comment!

Nov 16, 2009 01:16 PM

Deena Cottingham

GreenApple Staging & Images, Calgary Staging & Photography - Calgary, AB

Home Stager & Photographer

Lori, I also provide a Style & Shoot type of package (I do Staging as well as professional Photography), but this service has mostly been used by home builders or renovators where all they really want are the photos for their websites.

I think when applied to real estate, it is kind of between a virtual staging and actual staging. Obviously, the home owners still benefit from your consultation--and that is worth something, too!

One thing I have found in doing this kind of service is that you have to factor in the time to load up, move in, move out and re-inventory the items! I think it is worth more than just a 2 hour on-site fee. My 2 cents, because I have felt that I underpriced this service in the past.

Nov 21, 2009 04:38 AM

Lori Donegan

Ready 2 Stage - Cleveland, TN

Deena--You are right about the loading and packing time, but so far I still feel like it is worth it. I may creep up with my prices as time goes on, just to keep up with inflation! ha The same Realtor has called me to do this for a 2nd time. The first one was such a success and will already be closing on it this week. She is adamant that the "good pics" are what drew so many lookers and made the sale! Thanks for your comments.

Nov 21, 2009 04:56 AM

Valerie Sagheddu

Apostle Art Home Staging & Design - Stroudsburg, PA

~Home Staging Professional, Poconos, PA

I struggle sometimes with trying to be accomodating to the needs of sellers. I like to help everyone I can but I think I might feel a bit "used". I suppose if you are getting paid enough for your time it is ok but it is important not to "cheapen" what we do as stagers...make sure you charge what it is worth!

Nice job staging! Glad they got a good result...I suppose that is the point!

Dec 04, 2009 08:04 AM

Lori Donegan

Ready 2 Stage - Cleveland, TN

Valerie--Thanks for your comment. I also struggle with trying to accomodate, and be pleasing, but sometimes you just can't do it. Right now, this concept seems to be working for both of us!

Dec 04, 2009 08:40 AM

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