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Put on your buyer's hat!

By
Home Stager with CASA VERO Staging & Redesign

I am a stager. That means that a big part of my job is visual. I need to see a home the way a buyer sees it. I am paid to create warm attractive environments that will create a positive emotional connection with the property.

That said, here comes the brutal truth. Most of what I see when I am checking out property on various Realtor's websites, is just plain awful. The pictures that are meant to attract a buyer's interest unfortunately may do just the opposite. Things like electrical cords draped over the front of a dresser. Baby toys scattered on the floor. Trash containers front and center in the kitchen! Even beds that appear unmade. The list could go on and on. These visuals send the message that the whole property is probably a mess and not well maintained. Bad idea.

So, put on your "buyer's hat" and look at the way your listings are presented to the world on the internet. This is afterall, where a vast majority of home buyer's begin their search. Look carfully at what you will be photographing. Pick up and even clean up if necessary! Once those photos are published, that first impression has been made. Done. over, never to happen again! On click and the buyer simply moves on to the next listing.

If you take you own picutres for use on the MLS, take many more than you think are enough. It's a digital camera right? Just click away from every angle! You won't waste any film! Turn on ALL the lights. Open all the drapes and blinds. Buyer's love light bright rooms. Get down low,, get up high!,, And be critical of your results! ANd please don't show me the used shampoo bottles on the tub rim!

Of course you can always call me !  : ))))

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Richard Strahm
American Foursquare Realty - Lansdale, PA
Lansdale and North Penn Real Estate

Amen!  I think home staging is a great asset to add to one's portfolio of services. 

And I agree, at the very least, make the MLS pictures inviting!  I let my clients know what they need to do before picture day -- and make them work during the photo shoot remaking beds, taking clutter out of camera range, etc.

Feb 23, 2010 07:49 AM
Anne Vigneri
CASA VERO Staging & Redesign - Albuquerque, CA
Serving the Mariposa California

Hi Richard, How on earth did you happen upon this blog from New Mexico! Makes me ever more aware of the power of the internet!

There is so much info out there these days about "staging",, "de-cluttereing".. etc.. A home seller and his agent really MUST pay attention to these aspects of home prep and keep in mind that there is tremendous competition in almost every market.  It's not that hard to make YOUR listings step up a notch !

Feb 24, 2010 04:54 AM
Anne Vigneri
CASA VERO Staging & Redesign - Albuquerque, CA
Serving the Mariposa California

Deborah !.. How I wish there were more REA's in my neck of the woods ( well, OK , desert) who felt like you do! It does seem to hold true that anything "new" akes time to spread from the two coasts to the middle. Looks like the concept of staging is just beginning to make it's value known here in New Mexico. ( Hope, hope!). Emotion plays a big part in many of our decisions to buy. And part of that process involves merchandising and packaging. Why choose one brand of shampoo over another? After all, they will all get your hair clean! It's all about the package! Staging is simply packaging the product for greater appeal.

Just yesterday the AR Daily Drop featured a blog from a Realty company about the multitude of poor photgraphy on MLS listings. It's not just a pet peeve of mine apparently!

 

Feb 25, 2010 05:22 AM