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What a little paint can do...

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team

I've never understood why some homesellers are so put off by the idea of painting.  Today we finished a tremendous makeover on a home in an older part of town.  The homeowner was GREAT!  They had started the makeover themselves and decided they were overwhelmed and needed an expert. 

This particular home was listed for $324,900 in January 2007.  After 4 price reductions it was listed at $274,900 when they called me. 

Here's what their best MLS photos looked like....

   

Here's what it looked like when I got there...

   

Here's what it looks like now...

   

   

So many times homeowners & agents believe that they understand staging.  Professional staging is a full time job!  Sometimes it is best to pay the professionals for what they do best....

Oh.. the home goes back on the market tomorrow.... $299,900.  I have no doubt they will get it.  For the record, the price of the staging.... less than $4000.  Do you think it was worth it?

 

 

Posted by

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 Author Bio: Melissa Marro, Home Staging Industry leader, Realtor, and entrepreneur offers a unique perspective on New Home Construction, Resale Residential Real Estate, and Home Staging

For more information on buying or selling in the Fleming Island, Orange Park, or Jacksonville, area, visit StageListSellNEFL.com or call Melissa Marro (marro.melissa at gmail.com), Keller Williams First Coast Realty, for more information (904-466-2093).

 

Comments (18)

Brian Myers
Signature Properties in Scottsdale, AZ - Paradise Valley, AZ
Scottsdale & Paradise Valley, AZ Real Estate Agent

I'm a firm beleiver that people are just lazy and do not care.  I think in another 5 or 10 years 99% of homeowners will be living in the dark, because they will not know how to change a light bulb.  I agree with you that paint makes a great change and it takes very little effort.  Please keep posting items like this to help other people realize what they can accomplish with a little elbow grease.

Jul 13, 2007 04:01 PM
Michelle Ewing
Trademark Realtors - Riverside, CA
Riverside, CA

This is a great transformation.  It looks modern, pulled together and very warm and inviting.

Jul 13, 2007 04:08 PM
Nattalie de la Mothe
Maximum One Greater Atlanta Realtors - Atlanta, GA
Selling Atlanta Homes like a Boss
Again Melissa....Great job... and thats more than a little paint..thats some great work as well!
Jul 13, 2007 04:35 PM
Kathy Nielsen
http://atlantahomestaging.net - Marietta, GA
Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

Wow!  I'm always so impressed with your work, Melissa.  This is an awesome representation of the benefits of staging.  You've defined the "living spaces" and have provided the prospective buyers with a great vision.

Congratulations, your post is being featured within the group.

Kathy

Jul 13, 2007 10:23 PM
Paul Moye
Benchmark Realty - Franklin, TN
Broker, GRI, SRES

Your work looks great, I am a bit conused though. It seems that Staging is becoming more like renovating???? Not just your BLOG but several others I have seen have had extensive work to improve the property. Is this the way Staging is Growing??? What do the Industry Leaders think?

Great work.

Paul Moye

Jul 14, 2007 01:12 AM
Melissa Marro
Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team - Orange Park, FL
Jacksonville Real Estate and Home Staging

Thanks Kathy!

Paul - There really wasn't any renovating here.  We painted the walls and the cabinets, scraped the popcorn ceilings, and added furniture.  The job of a stager is to make the home more marketable on a minimal budget (doing just the things that will add value that will actually come back in the final sale price).  This is why most agents & homeowners THINK they can stage themselves, when in reality they are only doing the bare minimum - decluttering, cleaning & rearranging furniture.  Those are part of staging, but not the whole picture.  I will say that most of the time I don't find homes need this much help - but sometimes they do. 

Jul 14, 2007 01:24 AM
Julia Fedak
Royal LePage State Realty - Ancaster, ON

Great staging...and excellent response to Paul's inquiry. You are absolutely right, Melissa. I think that there is a general misconception out there on the capacity of a stager's responsibility and expertise.

thanks for clarifying this.

Julia

Jul 14, 2007 02:14 PM
Deborah Boyette
Roxie's Designs - Plant City, FL
Wow!!  What a difference staging makes!!  The $4000 investment will be well worth it when the house sell!
Jul 14, 2007 02:29 PM
Lori Hakeem Oxley
Charles Rutenberg Realty, Inc. - Tampa, FL
Melissa, I really like your style.  Clean and simple lines and the update look!!!
Jul 15, 2007 12:17 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"
Melissa ~ I love the "less is more" look and find it so appealing!  Great transformation and definitely worth the investment.
Jul 15, 2007 01:12 PM
Shane Sarae
Honolulu, HI
Thank you very much for sharing, this really made a big difference
Jul 15, 2007 05:03 PM
Kim Dillon
Creative Eye Home Staging - West Chester, PA

I don't understand the resistance to paint either.  It is the most dramatic difference you can make for the least amount of money.  And what a return on investment!  Good job!

Kim Dillon

Jul 15, 2007 10:57 PM
Susan Smith
Rooms That Work LLC - Sandy Hook, CT
Not only does the paint color add warmth, but it also makes the home appear sparkley clean!  I've painted ooodles of rooms (for myself) and I'm surprised that more homeowners (if budget shy) don't opt to do the painting themselves.  Anyway, great job and thanks for sharing!  (Love your photos too...what kind of camera do you use?).
Jul 15, 2007 11:08 PM
Melissa Marro
Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team - Orange Park, FL
Jacksonville Real Estate and Home Staging
Susan - I couldn't agree more about the home feeling & looking more clean as a result of paint.  It just makes everything better!  My camera is a Kodak z740 with an added wide angle lense.  I just recently purchased the wide angle lense and I lOVE it!  Even without it though, the photos come out amazingly clear.  It has a 10x zoom, which is great for personal photos as well - particularly for catching activities with the family where you don't want to interrupt or let them know you are taking the photo.
Jul 16, 2007 02:24 AM
Charlene Storozuk
Dezigner Digz - Burlington, ON
Home Stager - Burlington Ontario

Melissa, great job!  You spent less than $4,000 on staging and the asking price has gone up $25,000.  I'd say staging is worth it!  Keep us posted on how it goes.

Jul 16, 2007 02:46 AM
Paula Springer
Key Elements Inc. Home Staging & Interiors - Portland, OR
A.S.P.

Melissa,

Nice staging, great furniture. Worth it? Percieved value increased with your work though I cannot see so much in the photos...the condition of the house or the exterior or the neighborhood, but I have to say it is HIGHLY doubtful the final selling price will not cover the costs in the end.

Just curious, would kindly you talk about how the staging price of $4000.00 breaks out? How much for the rental furnishings and for how long? Is the paint and labor included in the $4000.00? If so, did your company subcontract the paint work? If not, do you know the amount for the paint project? I would also be curious about the cost to do the kitchen cabinets alone. 

Jul 16, 2007 03:34 PM
Julianna Hind
eXp Realty - Tacoma, WA
REALTOR, 206-679-4768, Tacoma Federal Way, Auburn, Kent, WA
oooohhhh Ahhhhhhhh! Love these beautiful transformations Melissa! You've got the magic touch with a neutral palette as well I see!
Jul 16, 2007 04:42 PM
Jackson West
Reveal Estate Home Staging - Vancouver - Vancouver, BC
Melissa, you have made the living room look twice as large and certainly more inviting. You are a huge credit to this industry and your work is always a pleasure to view.
Jul 16, 2007 11:05 PM