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I need to vent and rant and rave--

By
Home Stager with Staging for Top Dollar Stager 9

 

 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

Comments (16)

Darrel Quebedeaux
Evergreen Realty & Associates Inc. - Newport Coast, CA

I agree with you, some agents are short sighted and only look at a transaction from one perspective (theirs).  I think it is more important to help the clients get what they need out of the deal but then again I do business by referral so that requires I give my clients service.

Jul 20, 2007 07:33 PM
Amber Langston
HOME BRANDERS / DIXIELAND HOME DESIGN - Little Rock, AR
You know- I think alot of it has to do with control. I deal with this sometimes. I too have some great agents, but there are some that I would love to just punch in the face- ok a little over dramatic. :) We all know that feeling. If an agent comes up with the idea of staging- perfect. But if they don't, hold onto your boots - possibly gonna be a tough ride. AS an agent (and I get this) you want to offer your client great things. You want to take care of your client. If someone comes along with different ideas - I think some get on the defensive about it. Does that make any sense? My biggest obstacle is once I get a contract with a home-owner or builder, the agent can be a bit cranky with me....I am having to figure out a nice way to say - hey, bonehead - let's work together and get this house sold.(Can you tell I have dealt with this situation lately as well?) 
Jul 20, 2007 07:46 PM
Kate Bourland
Marketing with Kate - Redding, CA
Onlilne Marketing Mobile Marketing

I'm no longer an agent and staging wasn't around when I was in Real Estate - all I know is that my last house sold on the first day, to the first person that walked through it for $25,000 above asking price.....

this was 100% attributed to staging - professionally staged homes sell  faster!!!

Jul 20, 2007 08:41 PM
Joe Manausa - Tallahassee, FL
Joe Manausa Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Tallahassee Real Estate
Even without the stagine, how can a Seller expect to get top dollar leaving the place in poor condition?
Jul 20, 2007 09:31 PM
Marilynn Currie
Staging for Top Dollar Stager 9 - Abbotsford, BC

Hi all,

 Amber: I never thought of it as a control issue. I never clicked in. When he said , "I SELL 162 houses a year---- it really meant  "How dare you question me----- I , the big poobah!!"

Joe ,  Kate and Darell :Thank  you  that is so true Why do agents take a listing wihen they do not give due dilliigence. Set the price at the request of the owner-- that's crazy-- set the prices at true market value.

I just finished a consult on a house with a swimming pool tht had hunter green mouldingsin some rooms and maroon in others a hot pink bedroom and a red bedroom filthy carpets( iI really can't figure why folk would put their most important investment on the market this way. . The husband said he would not spend the money . So I gave the agent the painters, landscaper and handyman quotes to give to a buyer(if they could get someone through the door)  The upgrades would cost $5,000 but they choose a $20,000 drop in price ($467,000) rather than staging. I even suggested financial ways of affording it .

Maybe the husband was into control , Amber ? I will certainly have my antenna up for control behaviour.

Marilynn Currie from the west coast

http:www.stagingfortopdollar.ca

 

Jul 21, 2007 02:29 AM
Kimberly Wester
Valparaiso, IN

Here is your argument for the Realtor - 'Because you are losing money if you don't.'  Every time he lowers the price, he lowers the commission.  And he does that 162 times a year.

Jul 21, 2007 03:02 AM
Michelle Ewing
Trademark Realtors - Riverside, CA
Riverside, CA

Marilynn,

I feel your frustration.  Unfortunately, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.  Some people are just never going to "get it". 

Oh, and the agent doesn't set the listing price; the seller does.  The best thing an agent can do if the seller goes against the agent's recommendation for listing price, is to not take the listing.

Jul 21, 2007 03:41 AM
Terry Haugen STAGE it RIGHT! 321-956-2495
Stage it Right! - Melbourne, FL

Marilyn, what the heck is that mindset anyway?  I just don't get some realtors.  Its like they think they know it ALL.  Our market is dead here, anything and everything should be done to get the listings ready for sale.  Do they do that?  Nope!  They just keep reducing the price till eventually the seller pulls it off the market.  There has to be a way to get to them, but I sure haven't found it yet.

 

Jul 21, 2007 08:51 AM
Julia Fedak
Royal LePage State Realty - Ancaster, ON

I totally can understand this. I had an agent call me and state, in a rather "dry" way, "My husband (who is an agent) said I should use you"..."but, I don't even know what staging is about".

You are a 'top selling Real Estate agent' ...and "you don't know what it is"????

I then explained what I do, and why. She went on to say that she decided she wanted to drop the price anyhow and see what happens. I guess that is her answer. Drop.Drop. Drop. She would rather have the client's drop the price, so she wouldn't have to put out the initial money for a consult.

That's what I call "Not looking at the big picture".

In every profession...you have them. Those whom proclaim they're good at what they do, and those who ARE really good.

Julia

ps.--have faith---it takes time...but they'll eventually get it.

 

Jul 21, 2007 10:50 AM
Home Staging
Reston, VA

Marilynn - you know what?  Just let it go...not every Realtor will buy into staging and that is ok! I have learned that there ARE plenty that will. Better yet, the clients are reaching out for us independent of the realtor.  In fact, more and more of them are are coming to me BEFORE they have a realtor so we now become a referral source for realtors.

While some Realtors may think they are in the power position right now....sit back and wait my dear.  There is a demand shift occurring and we are right at the early phase of it. Staging is here to stay, I guarantee you that. It is just a matter of time before your phone starts to ring more and more. 

Take it all in your stride....

Jul 21, 2007 11:57 AM
Marilynn Currie
Staging for Top Dollar Stager 9 - Abbotsford, BC

Hi All,

Thank you for your comments. Denise-- there is a demand shift happening. i checked a few videos and a few stills on the net for some of the really high sellers in my area-- leaving out the show homes designed by interior designers all of them needed the hand of a stager. The home may be immaculate and shows well but I keep saying this over and over again. If the buyer can afford to plunk down ($450,000, the price of a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home on a stand alone lot) the seller better have it clean and move in ready, And the seller wants to  keep a large enough equity to get into his new home.. Prices here are still going up Real Estate statistics are saying at least another 7 %.

Maybe in your area Real Estated prices have tanked but not here. Interest rates are still low.etc etc.

I love that -------------a demand shift is happening.

Marilynn Currie from the west coast

www.stagingfortopdollar.ca

Jul 22, 2007 05:06 AM
Home Staging
Reston, VA

Nope Marilynn - our prices haven't tanked in my market.  I am in the Northern VA metro area.  Our homes remain over-priced and the market is still moving.  It has slowed a little in the last month, but they are still selling.  Check us out. 

When I say a shift is happening, please don't expect that to mean over night, but it does mean it IS happening.  5 months ago my phone barely rang.  Now it rings every day with new customers inquiring about staging. Be patient...change takes time. Hang on in there.... 

Jul 22, 2007 05:26 AM
Marilynn Currie
Staging for Top Dollar Stager 9 - Abbotsford, BC

Hi Denise,

 Oops I do need to check my facts. I know that the shift will not happen overnight.We need to get into the Real Estate course books or talk to the educators who train the Realtors or ongoing education or ???

Do you know how we would do that. I know that Christine Rae of Canadianstagingprofessionals.com has a Realtor training programme that gives one credit --- a our Realtors need to keep upgrading their education Do you have a similar requirement for your agents? as I think that each state has seperate licensing requirements as do our provinces.

There are Realtors out there who believe in staging-- and are willing to step out .I addmit somedays I am discouraged --- maybe I need to get a thicker skin and realize that one Realtor may call you " a pushy dame" while another will cheer you on and include staging in their listing  package.

 

Thank you for your encouraging words I am cheered up.

Marilynn Currie from the west coast of B.C.

http://www.stagingfortopdollar.ca

Jul 22, 2007 06:18 AM
Al Maxwell
Keller Williams - Marietta, GA
Real Estate Agent

 

Good point...sometimes staging is something I overlook..    

Jul 22, 2007 06:30 AM
Betty Haney
Haney Consulting - Calgary, AB
Marilynn, well you came to the right place to vent.  I love the encouragement and helpful tips we get from others on Active Rain.  I loved Kimberly Wester's comment - everytime he lowers the price, he lowers his commision and he does that 162 times a year.  That pretty much says it all.  Betty
Jul 22, 2007 07:13 AM
Marilynn Currie
Staging for Top Dollar Stager 9 - Abbotsford, BC

Hi all,

When my husband can't stand my ranting anymore I can turn to to active rainers who will listen and give good advice and encouragement.

marilynn Currie from the west coast of B.C.

http://www.stagingfortopdollar.ca

Jul 22, 2007 05:35 PM