Home Staging around marijuana plants

Kerry, you do have a hard one here. It would be one thing if you could sorta pass them off and stage them as regular plants as many folks probably wouldn't know, but the plants hanging in the garage hard to hide. Perhaps putting something in the agent private remarks mentioning them so they can watch a bit closer when working with a new buyer that they haven't been out with before.

I thought this was some kind of joke until I read the CA Proposition 19, the Maryuana Legalization Initiatives which is on the November 2, 2010 CA Statewide ballot! OMG!

Do you put customer's needs before your own?

Do you market them to attract a buyer?

Do you treat it like any other house you are listing as Conrad Eberhard suggested?

This just opens up a BIG PANDORA'S BOX that I don't know how you can handle.

What does NAR have to say about it?

I checked with someone I know from an NAR committee. The response was as follows:

"I doubt that the NAR has a position on it becaue it has nothing to do with Private Property Rights."

Let me know what happens!

Kerry - sorry, when I wrote this I forgot you were the stager! Talk to the listing agent about the showing instruction that I offered below. As far as staging goes, I would just treat them like any other plant ... except I wouldn't move them if I were you!

Kerry - I would put a notation in the confidential showing instructions for selling agents to call you before showing. If your clients refuse to harvest before Oct 23rd, then explain to the agent what is going on. This may deter a few showings, but I feel it would be a better solution than shocking potential buyers ... and having them tell everyone about it after the showing. Right about now there is NOTHING you can do inside OR outside regarding the smell. It's a shame your buyers aren't willing to either postpone the "on market" date or harvest a couple of weeks sooner. Good luck to you!

Kerry - what a dilemma - I had to do a double take  when I read your blog.  Wild...

Think of it as a challenge - it will be an eyesore and shock to some and it may be a selling feature to others...you just don't know. Thanks for cracking me up!

If I were the listing agent, I may suggest waiting until they harvest.  I would think this could turn off a few buyers?  I'm still laughing even thinking about this!  Hey...maybe they could whip up a few "brownies" for open house!  ROTFL.

Kerry:

I agree with you. I think Prop 19 will pass. It is certainly overdue. We have already done this in Massachusetts.

I don't think the people of San Mateo will be concerned about a few Marijuana plants in a home and I am sure you will be able to stage around them. I will be interested in a follow-up to this to see how it all turns out.  Please include photos of your staging.

Very interesting.

Pretty funny dilemma! Make sure to tell buyers the POT does not convey!! 

I would think the smell might be an issue for some - don't we always go for neutral scents (if not, promoting the apple cider or homemade cookie scent over pot, cat litter, perfume?) 

You are terrific to have blogged about this and certainly won't be the only agent to take such a listing.... PEACE!!

Wow, I can't believe you guys are worrying about the 'harvest' and the moon cycles here!  Ahh, living in CA I guess.  Sounds like a party around Stonehenge.

I like Andrea's (#20) suggestion to go for a theme.  Instead of Halloween, how about 1960's Haight-Ashbury retro theme.  A few tie-dyes, Gratefull Dead playing, lots of brownies (#15), paraphernalia, flowers (flower power era), Jane Fonda posters...

Good Luck.

Mel

Hi Kerry,  Well, this post subject just goes to show what a changing and dynamic market we are in !  In your case I think you just have to roll ( pun intended ! ) it !

Guys, you're all wrong here.  there's no problem here. The property is now considered a "MIXED USE" listing. Raise the price another 100 grand and stick to your story.....    ;)

Kerry,

I really thought this was a joke, ya know, a catchy blog. But then I saw you are from CA. WOW! 

Good luck with that staging. Just wondering, what happens if you are there & DEA shows up?

This is pretty funny Kerry. I can see the dilema! Maybe you should just decorate them with Halloween lights, spiderwebs and spiders! Maybe it will detract from what they actually are.....