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Is Home Staging A Good Investment for Low End Homes? Home Staging Minneapolis, MN

By
Home Stager with Rooms With Style

Is Home Staging A Good Investment for Low End Homes? Home Staging Minneapolis, MN

That is a question I get a lot. "This isn't a high end home, will home staging provide a good return on the investment?"

The investment in home staging can vary of course with the smallest investment being a Home Staging Consultation. The next level for cost is what I call 'Hands on Staging' or 'Owner Occupied Staging' and the third and usually the most costly is 'Vacant Home Staging'.

I was called by an investor to give her a bid to stage a vacant low-end home in shall I politely say 'not the best area' of Minneapolis.

The list price was going to be approximately $80,000 and that was to include a brand new garage yet to be built. So you can see.....the home was well below the median home price.

This home was TINY! Apartment tiny. Two bedrooms, one bath, a super tiny living room, almost a non-existent dining room. No upstairs, no basement (unusual for MN) and a very strange layout.

The front door opened smack dab into the center of the kitchen. YUP right into the middle of the kitchen, see the front door there on the right?

Kitchen Before

(Watch for my next post for suggestions on how to update a kitchen in a VERY low end home).

YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE THE DIFFERENCE MADE TO THIS KITCHEN!!

 

LR

You can see almost the entire house from one spot. I am standing in the kitchen taking the picture above, you can see one bedroom straight ahead and there is another to the right of it and the bathroom/laundry together.

That's it. Tiny. Bad part of town as you can see by the side door. Worth Staging???

DR

 

The investor was very worried. "This home has such a strange layout and it is so small".

"Don't worry", I said. "It is going to be really cute."

I helped her pick out flooring and gave her some other inexpensive improvement ideas...mostly in the kitchen....just wait till you see it in my next post!

The investor stopped by as I was finishing up the staging and her comment was: "Oh my gosh, it is so cute! It looks like a doll house!! I want to live here. Of all the home stagers listed on the Internet I sure am glad I picked you".

 

LR After

 

DR after

It was listed on a Thursday, had showings Saturday and Sunday, and an accepted offer on Monday.

Sold in Four Days!

So....does Home Staging Pay for Low End Homes? This investor thinks so.

For investors it is all about selling quickly.

Time is money and they want to get on to their next project. The cost of staging was rewarded with a quick sale which is money in an investors pocket.

 Need assistance getting your investment property sold? A professional home stager understands your goals.

 Watch for my next post to see the "After" pictures of that Entryway...I mean Kitchen. I know I have teased you enough but it is really cute. LOL

 

Originally Posted at: Rooms With Style Blog

Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Wow, that is awesome. Love the laminate floor...that's exactly what I would have done.  Amazing results and what  a nice compliment.

Nov 18, 2011 12:06 AM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Love this story Shar!  So happy to hear the house sold in 4 days.  I'm sure it had everything to do with your staging!

Nov 18, 2011 12:21 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Shar - now that's showing them how it's done, especially when a professional gets her hands on it!  Looking forward to seeing the kitchen!

Nov 18, 2011 12:35 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

It did sell quickly Josh....4 days. Thanks!

I agree Hella....forelorn is not a good look. :) Inexpensive things can make such a difference.

So true Valerie. This is my second low end investment property this fall and one sold in 10 days and this one in 4.

Oh I am so glad you approve of the flooring Debbie! whew.....I picked it out for the investor. LOL. It was inexpensive and made a huge impact.

Well of course Roger. LOL. The inexpensive improvements were a huge plus too and the staging the icing on the cake.

Not much was done to the kitchen Kathy but it made such a difference!

Nov 18, 2011 01:30 AM
Peg Barcelo
Fluff My House! Home Staging Inc. 250.486.6369 - Summerland, BC
The FlufftasticStager from Summerland, BC

Oh Shar, what a transformation! 4 days! You are Wonder Woman Stager! I can't wait to see what you did with the kitchen!

Nov 18, 2011 02:20 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Great transformation, Shar!  The magic you created did the job .... congrats on the fast sale.  And kudos to the investor for finding YOU!!

Nov 18, 2011 04:54 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Congrats on the fast sale Shar! Your posts will show sellers what we already know. All homes deserve to be staged! I'll be looking for the next set of afters!

Nov 18, 2011 07:48 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Peg, my husband's favorite super hero is Wonder Woman, well, Linda Carter actually. LOL

Thank you so much Maureen!

"All homes deserve to me staged".....I love that Janice!

Nov 18, 2011 09:44 AM
Ginger Foust
Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA
Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Doll house OK, but I would call it a WOW house.  Great job Shar.  Personally I love the challenges of small spaces.  Andrew Mooers needs to get over here and see what can be done with a non-highend house. 

Nov 18, 2011 01:57 PM
Ellen Caruso
Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty - Glen Head, NY

Shar, And SOLD, that is amazing, what I've seen so far...I can't imagine how much better it gets! Looking forward to your next blog.

Nov 18, 2011 03:32 PM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

I like the small ones too Ginger. Always a fun challenge!

Thanks Ellen....just did the kitchen post.

Nov 19, 2011 06:48 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

No surprise at all that this cutey sold as fast as it did.  You did a wonderful job presenting it in it's most adorable self!

Nov 19, 2011 08:00 AM
Janet Jones
Just Your Style Interiors, LLC - Kihei, HI
Home Staging, Interior Redesign Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Hi Shar--totally adorable.  The investor is right one two counts--the first is that it looks like a doll house; the second is that she was so smart to pick you.  I also love the fact that people with "inexpensive" homes can see how much can be done with great creativity and limited dollars. 

Nov 19, 2011 05:03 PM
Craig Cooper
Chase International Real Estate - Tahoe City, CA
Creating-Preserving-Growing Wealth in Real Estate

Wow Shar! Super inpressive job on that one. You must have an IKEA in your area? I have helped a client completely redo a kitchen with everything for a couple of thousand dollars and totally change their 30 year old condo. I am a staging REALTOR but I think you did an amazing job and it would have to translate into dollars in their pocket, because the white home you had before wouldn't have sold for the same $$.

Nov 19, 2011 07:22 PM
Jo Potvin
Design To Market LLC - Cincinnati, OH
Home Staging Cincinnati - Design To Market

Wow!  Great job with the staging.  The home really comes to life.

I fully believe in staging lower priced homes.  We work with an increaing number of investors that are rehabbing homes in lower price points.  We staged a condo that was beautifully rehabbed but not generating a lot of showing activity.  After staging, the condo immediately had 2 showings and received offers from both.  The condo was listed for only $68,000!  At that price point, the home had the typical small rooms and it was hard for people to understand the space.  I trully believe that staging is important no matter the list price.

Nov 20, 2011 04:03 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Thank you Sharon....love the name cutey on this one!

Thank you, thank you, thank you Janet.

I do have an Ikea by me Craig....did you notice that white chair? LOL I only own a couple things from them as I get most of my furniture at a furniture store but those chairs where too cute to pass up.

Amen Jo. Low end and small is sometimes even more important to stage.

Nov 20, 2011 08:34 AM
Tammy Pearce
Haute Realty 214-994-6474 - Dallas, TX
Tammy Pearce

Wow, Shar!  I am working with a young couple to buy their first home and all of the homes we have seen in the last few days sure could have used your help!  You did a fabulous job and I hope the investor continues to hire you for quick sales!

Nov 22, 2011 12:45 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

I hope she does too Tammy! LOL. I wish all people could realize the benefits of staging even low end homes.

Nov 22, 2011 09:13 AM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Shar - You turned this home into such a cutie patootie!  It's an uphill battle at times, convincing clients to stage a lower end home, and yet it's so worth it.  You proved that here. 

Nov 23, 2011 03:21 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

It is so worth it Sally and sometimes tough to make others see that. Love the cutie patootie label!

Nov 23, 2011 07:33 AM