Just got off the line with a realtor re his listing re: an open house I saw on the weekend. It really did need cleaning and STAGING. The homeowners needed to sell as they were in financial difficulties. Age 9 years, time on the market 30 days no offers.
The homeowners had already dropped in $10,000 and the Realtor suggested another $10,000 drop. The Realtor said it was perhaps a little overpriced in the first place,BUT THAT IS WHAT THE CLIENT WANTED. I suggested that did he not think that The $500.00 a STAGER would charge , plus the painters fee, would be much better for the client and his relationship then a total $20,000 drop.
Then he said, " I sell 162 houses a year and I have NEVER used a stager and why should I? If I did I would choose the Vancouver Interior Designers that dressed the vacants at my show complex.!!"
He said it would sell if he lowered the price another $10,000 dollars. There went the homeowners'equity.
After leaving the open house I met a prospective buyer. She said she two small children 1 and 3 and lived in town house that was now too small for her family. She said they could just afford to get into this house but ---- she would have bid on this house in a heartbeat ----- but and this is a big but-----
IT HAD TO BE MOVE IN READY. . She could not afford to fix the beautiful hard wood floors as they were scratched and worn-- owners had dogs. The home had not been painted for 9 years and had many nicks and woodwork needed painting. One bedroom was purple and green and another was dark blue and the carpets needed shampooing. And the yard was weedy. and needed edging and mowing. The kitchen and baths needed a through professional cleaning yet the Realtor said it was " immaculate""
The finish baseboard and mouldings in the basement were not professionally done and it showed .I could go on and on and on and There were personal pictures every where and the bedrooms/ baths were not 'dressed 'not proper bedspreads etc.
THIS BUYER COULD JUST AFFORD THE MORTGAGE --- AND THE HOUSE WOULD GIVE THAT FAMILY A HOME THEY COULD LIVE IN FOR MANY YEARS ------ IF IT HAD BEEN MOVE IN READY. As it was she moved on to something else.
And the Realtor said, Why should I use a STAGER-- I guess his sale strategy is to lower the price and lower the price --- When a buyer is plunking down almost a half a million dollars for a house --- the buyer is demanding a much higher standard of presentation and the seller better give it to him.
This REALTOR need to get with the twenty -first century.!!
Take a big breath and breathe!!!
There are great Realtors out there 3 I work for --- who build STAGING into their listing package. I have a showcase and a consult tomorrow and two consults next week from REALTORS I really respect. They are 'up" with the times. And all my houses I STAGED have all sold at asking price or with mulitple offers from $6,000 to $35, 000 over the asking price. Needless to say, Clients and Realtors may have been a bit skeptical at first--- they were won over with the value returned for their small investment.
Marilynn Currie from the west coast
http://wwww.stagingfortopdollar.ca/
07/20/2007 | by Marilynn Currie | Edit | Delete |
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