When are Sellers most anxious in the sale of their home? I find it's in the beginning when they don't know where to start or what to do to prepare their home for sale. Sometimes getting going is the hardest part. And getting it to look its best is sometimes beyond what they think they can afford. There are a lot of things that can be done on a shoestring. Especially these days, with high inventory, and with so many foreclosures and Short Sales currently on the market, it's more important than ever to stage and prepare your home for sale in order to have an advantage over the competition.
One of My Success Stories
My El Cerrito, Ca Sellers were overwhelmed by just the thought of the daunting task of preparing their home for sale, after 20 plus years of accumulating clutter, precious clutter though it seemed. It is especially confusing because they have to live in the house while it is being sold
•· What to keep and not to keep while their home is on the market?
•· What to repair?
•· To paint or not to paint?
And cost was a major obstacle.
So why not give them a gift BEFORE the sale? Rather than a vase, or the home warranty, why not help them stage it?
With that in mind, I decided to give them a special treat. Enter, Cordelia DeVere; Design consultant/project co-coordinator extraordinaire. I have worked with Cordelia for many years and my clients just love her. I "donated" three hours of Cordelia's services to my Sellers. She will guide them through the de-cluttering process, pick colors, shop for items like linens, or lighting. Or she can manage a whole remodel project. With 27 years under my belt as a Realtor, as well as a design and marketing background, I know what appeals to the current Buyer and work closely with the stager to optimize a home's features to get the best return on the home sellers' investment.
Based upon a survey conducted by The International Association of Home Staging Professionals® and StagedHomes.com® of over 1,000 homes (62% Vacant, 38% occupied) across the Continental US and Canada prepared for sale by Accredited Staging Professionals (ASP®) accumulative from January 2010 through May 2010, Staged homes spent 83% less time on the market than non-staged homes.
The three hours I donated of her time, if that's all the sellers choose to use, is sooo well worth it. They love it. They feel supported and are eagerly moving ahead with marketing the property.
And best of all, It's a win-win for all involved. The Sellers get more for their home. With minimum but necessary preparation, the Buyers have a more welcoming, livable home to move into, Agents are always much more eager to show their Buyer a home that is properly prepared and staged. The listing agent has an easier time selling the property, more quickly and for a better price.
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