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Selling Your Connecticut Home? Check Out Your Competition!

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Home Stager with Nestings: Connecticut Home Staging and Model Homes

Selling Your Connecticut Home?  Check Out Your Competition!

When you are preparing your house for the market, you and your real estate agent will be sure to check out the competition.  This is important for setting the asking price, but you also want to be sure your house looks as good as - if not better than - similar houses in the area. 

This is easy to do on the MLS.  Are the competing homes' kitchens cluttered or updated?  Is yours?  Do the family rooms appear spacious and appealing to the target buyer?  Does yours?  Are the master bedrooms restful and luxurious?  Is yours?

In this case study, both houses are the same age, on the same street - just across the way from each other in an upscale Connecticut golf community.  At the time of the Subject house's listing, the competition had already been on the market for three months.  Online, it appeared neat and spacious.  The Subject house had a lot of work to do. 

Subject House:  1 DOM; $594.5 - 5 BR/3 Ba; 3400 sf (w/finished lower level not included)

Competition:  91 DOM; $579.9 - 4 BR/2.5Ba  3400 sf

Nestings Home Staging performed four hours of hands-on Staging, and the sellers completed the rest of the work following the instructions we gave them.  Here are the results.

Note:  The Before photos of the Subject house are mine.  The After and Competition photos are as seen on the MLS.

Nestings Home Staging Connecticut

 

Nestings Home Staging Connecticut

Nestings Home Staging Connecticut

The listing agent informed me the Subject house sold in 50 days.  (The competition was pulled off the market; I don't know when or why - but it had been on the market for 90 days at the time of our listing.) 

How does your house compare to the competition?  Call a professional Home Stager to be sure your house truly stands out from the competition!

Selling Your Connecticut Home?  Check Out Your Competition!

Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Great comparison...you can't always find good comparables so closely matched.  That's a huge difference in DOM!! 

Dec 17, 2011 09:49 AM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Hi Julia-what a great post.  I ALWAYS INSIST, that my clients check out the competition-homes on the market along with theirs that buyers are bound to look at - thank you for reminding us that it's about being "Best In Class".

Dec 17, 2011 09:53 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Julia, I am always telling my clients to check out the competition. They really have to understand they are competing. In one area, there could be the exact same model for sale a few streets over.

Dec 17, 2011 12:12 PM
Anna Dovger
Add Value Home Staging LLC, 281-704-6607 - The Woodlands, TX
Home Staging -The Woodlands, TX

Julie, good to see you back. Great demonstration and very good point. Make sure your competition helps sell your house ~ not you help them.

Dec 17, 2011 02:19 PM
Janet Jones
Just Your Style Interiors, LLC - Kihei, HI
Home Staging, Interior Redesign Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Hi Julia--nice to have you back in the Rain. You have been missed.  This is a great post and really makes the point about great home staging.  When you are in subdivision of homes it really pays to be heads about the competition. 

Dec 17, 2011 06:13 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Excellent idea Julie to compare staged vs unstaged statistics and photos. Nothing explains it better to homeowners!

Dec 17, 2011 09:45 PM
Julia Maher
Nestings: Connecticut Home Staging and Model Homes - Fairfield, CT
Connecticut Home Stager

Hi Barb - The Subject house did sell quickly, but the Comp really looked pretty good...I guess I hypnotized the Buyers - LOL!

Sharon & Janice:  It's also important to check Comps in condos.

"Best in Class" - that's it, Joanna!

Nice twist, Anna!

Thanks, Janet & Maureen. 

Dec 18, 2011 02:18 AM
Ginger Foust
Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA
Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Julie, love how you showed the different photos in this blog post.  I find it almost incredible that seller's don't automatically do this but I guess I (we) think differently than many.  Bookmarking and keeping this in mind for a future newsletter, thanks!

Dec 19, 2011 04:18 AM
Wendy Tomm
Beyond the Walls - East St Paul, MB
CCSP, RESA-PRO, BBB - Wpg Realtors

Julie nice to hear from you once again.  Love the post and wishing you great success in 2012!

Dec 19, 2011 09:37 AM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Julie - This is a great case study!  The fact that the homes were so close in location, and comparable in size really makes one sit up and take note.  Staging works, and here's the proof!  Great job.

Dec 19, 2011 01:16 PM
Julia Maher
Nestings: Connecticut Home Staging and Model Homes - Fairfield, CT
Connecticut Home Stager

Feel free to borrow, Ginger!

And to you, too, Wendy!

Same builder, similar finishes, etc., Sally

Happy Hollies to All!

Dec 20, 2011 01:02 AM
Barbara Altieri
Better Homes and Gardens RE Shore and Country Properties - Shelton, CT
REALTOR-Fairfield County CT Homes/Condos For Sale

Julia -- Just stopping by to wish you a Merry Christmas.  May peace, joy, hope and love be the gifts you receive and may they be the gifts you bestow to others this Christmas.

Dec 24, 2011 04:14 AM
Anna Dovger
Add Value Home Staging LLC, 281-704-6607 - The Woodlands, TX
Home Staging -The Woodlands, TX

Julie, wishing you and your family a very happy Holiday Season!

Dec 24, 2011 03:44 PM