Admin

The Competition is Turning Up the Heat: Get in the Game!

By
Home Stager with Stage Right! Home Staging, LLC

By: Theresa Minichiello, ASP, ASPM

      Stage Right! Home Staging, LLC, Wilmington, DE

It seems as though more and more I am getting an abundance of builders and investors interested in professional Home Staging. They are using Staging to aggressively market new construction/rehabs and up their ante in the game.

In the past month, I have done three projects for builders and investors -- with 3 more on the burner. Not only have I Staged the actual models for sale, I have also been hired to Stage the homes of buyers who must sell their contingent homes. Some builders are even offering to refund their buyers up to 75% of the Staging fee.

Not long ago, the Hartford (CT) Courant reported that Toll Brothers, a luxury home builder with developments in 21 states, is offering Home Staging services to aid its clients in selling their current home thus enabling the client to buy a new Toll Brothers home.

Did it work? In the case cited, the home, which had been lingering on the market, sold in just TWO DAYS after it had been Staged! And the sellers are now preparing to move into their new Toll Brothers home!

For the average home seller, this means the heat has just been turned up. Not only do they have to compete with the abundance of amenities that buying new construction offers, attractive financial incentives builders are able to give their buyers, but they now also must contend with the builder's assistance being given potential buyers to get contingency houses sold.

There is good news! A professionally Staged home DOES sell faster, and faster means more money. So, it's time to get in the game and play like the big boys! Use the selling secret builders and investors use --Sellers can get their house sold fast too.

If you have any Home Staging questions you would like to see answered in a future column, please email them to StageRightHomeStaging@hotmail.com.

 

Betty Knowles
Southwest Missouri Realty - Springfield, MO
Ready to sell? Call Betty!

The nice thing about competition is it forces you to raise the bar and do better yourself!

Jun 09, 2010 06:29 AM
Theresa Minichiello
Stage Right! Home Staging, LLC - Wilmington, DE
Accredited Staging Professional Master

Hey Betty! You got that right!

Builders are in a position to adjust their pricing where the average home seller is not. I've even heard of builders making expensive changes to an already completed house to get the sale (i.e. installing new hardwood flooring or carpeting over hardwoods) And since I've posted this blog, I've received a call from yet another builder who is also offering to Stage the buyer's contingent house.

It's a tough time for the average home seller right now...

Thanks for your comment

Jun 14, 2010 06:59 AM
Leanne Allen
Center Stage, LLC - Burlington, IA

This is really interesting, Theresa.  It's good to hear there are builders that have so much faith in the staging process!  Thanks for sharing.

 

Jul 27, 2010 11:57 AM