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Does Your House Suck?

By
Home Stager with Lionheart Home Staging, LLC

In Real Estate, a residential listing should possess a suck factor in three key areas that will draw buyers off the MLS and into your house.

-THREE KEY AREAS WHERE YOUR HOUSE SHOULD SUCK-

1) ONLINE: Contrary to popular belief, the buyers' first impression of your property does NOT begin at the curb but on the screen. Studies indicate that over 90% of buyers will look online first before personally viewing a property. I believe that percentage is closer to 100% (with exceptions in Amish communities and federal prisons, of course). A house may look like a model in person, but if it does not show like one through online representation (a.k.a. photos), it may be difficult to suck in any buyer interest. Therefore, it is imperative that not only are houses staged for sale, but that they are photographed in such a way that it shows well on the internet.

2) EXTERIOR: Curb appeal. People love to use that phrase to describe how good the property looks from the moment the car pulls into the driveway. The outside of your home gives buyers an idea of how well you took care of the inside of the house. Loose shingles, broken fences, and neglected yards will deflate buyers hopes of finding their dream home, unless they are looking for an investment property. Keep the exterior looking fresh and clean to suck buyers out of their cars and into the front door.

3) ENTRANCE: OK, now you've got the buyers out of the comforts of their own house with their internet connections and playoff games; they drove through rush-hour traffic to find your listing in the middle of a busy work week; and they are now turning the key in your front door. When that door opens, what will be their immediate reaction? Will they want to turn away? Or, will they be sucked into the house, anxious to see more? The entrance of your home dictates the atmosphere of the house. Stir up buyer excitement as they are stepping into the house by creating a "Wow-Factor" through decor and furniture. Set up the life-style they want to own.

Preparing your house for sale is a necessary step in the selling process. Today's buyer's market introduces new inventory everyday. Staging your house for sale will help create a suck factor that buyers cannot resist!

TESTIMONIAL: The first and third photo in this blog is from a KFM vacant staging project in Minneapolis that sold in five days (January 2010). This middle photo was a KFM vacant staging project in St. Paul (August 2009). Prior to staging, this house was on the market for over a year. After staging by KFM, it sold within weeks!

>KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that creates "First Impressions that Sell" in the Twin Cites and Western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in vacant staging and staging consultations. Visit our website for staging tips or to schedule your in-home or online consultation. 

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Comments(13)

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Kathy Burke
Sensational Home Staging~~Danville, CA - Danville, CA
S.F. East Bay Home Staging

3 GREAT points and your headline got my attention....GOOD!  All 3 reasons to go with a stager to set this in motion!!  GREAT post!

Jan 17, 2010 04:43 PM
Valerie Sagheddu
Apostle Art Home Staging & Design - Stroudsburg, PA
~Home Staging Professional, Poconos, PA

I like your creative approach. Good point about the fact that "curb" appeal is NOT the first impression, it is the photos...SO TRUE!!

Jan 17, 2010 10:54 PM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

houses should suck buyers in! Great title and post Kristina!

Jan 18, 2010 01:08 AM
Connie Tebyani
Platinum Home Staging, Inc. : RESA-Pro - Calabasas, CA
Platinum Home Staging, Los Angeles and Ventura County

OK, I admit, you SUCKED me in ;)  Great post & great points!

Jan 18, 2010 01:55 AM
Ginger Foust
Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA
Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

I got SUCKED in too.  Clever you and great staging examples Kristina!

Jan 18, 2010 03:43 AM
Birgit Anich
Birgit Anich Staging & Interiors, 203.807.4040 - Norwalk, CT
CT Home Stager Fairfield & New Haven County

Same here. You are definitly a creative person coming up with such a title. Great post!!!

Jan 18, 2010 12:13 PM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

Love the way you didn't sugar coat it. It's a reality.

Jan 18, 2010 03:52 PM
Peggy Givens
Staging Tulsa - Tulsa, OK
Professional Home Stager, Home Staging in the Tulsa Oklahoma Area

Touche' Kristina. On your very first key, I stand corrected and love it. "First impressions start at the screen, not the curb"... thanks for the great post.

Jan 19, 2010 02:36 AM
Kristina Leone
Lionheart Home Staging, LLC - Minneapolis, MN

Thank you for the comments!  This topic has been brewing for quite some time.  It's nice to be back on AR!  kfm

Jan 19, 2010 08:01 AM
Pangaea Interior Design Kitchen & Bath Design, Remodeling
Portland Oregon - Portland, OR

I guess we need to start selling the idea of "screen appeal" instead of curb appeal. You are absolutely right!

Jan 19, 2010 05:32 PM
Kristina Leone
Lionheart Home Staging, LLC - Minneapolis, MN

Thank you, Pangaea!  It's the result of our virtual world!  kfm

Jan 21, 2010 02:58 PM
Anonymous
Karen Kelly

Kristina - excellent article & what a creative approach!  Well done and thanks for educating sellers and their agents on the imortance of "screen appeal." 

Karen Kelly, Staging Designs, Staging & New-Stager Training, San Jose, CA

Jan 26, 2010 01:01 PM
#12
Steve Vennemann-Hennepin-Dakota-Anoka contract for deed property-Ramsey-MN
BoardWalk Premier Realty INC - White Bear Lake, MN

I like the staging in the home it looks nice. 

Apr 09, 2010 01:37 PM