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Home Buyers HAVE To Understand I'm Living Here! Don't They?

By Margaret Oscilia

Home Stager with Creative Concepts-Home Staging and Contracting, Salem Oregon CCB #180695

December 16, 2011 01:32 AM

occupied home staged by Creative Concepts During a recent home staging consultation a home seller (who had children) said "We can't live in a staged home! Home buyers will just have to understandthat we live here".

These home sellers did most of what we recommended to prepare their home for sale, but there were two huge issues not resolved which would have cost them less than $500 -- many months later, their home is still on the market.

On the other hand, we have many sellers who take the "I'll do what ever it takes"approach. When selling a home the "packaging" is so important! Each of four these homes photographed here were owner occupied.

They rented some items from our inventory of furniture and decor. Our staging company provided them lots of tips and tricks on how to best live in a home that was for sale, making it less stressful for their families. Better yet -- each of them sold in under 30 days!

Sold in under 30 days?!!

These homes were NOT super bargain priced. They did have a step up on the competition however because they:

priced where the agent recommended (and didn't have to do a price reduction because of the quick sale)
prepared their homes well for sale (maintenance and staging)
marketed the listings well (professional photography and marketing by agent)

They also were inconvenienced a very short time because the home sold quickly!!

These are just a few of the success stories we have been a part of in 2011. If you want a higher price for your home or don't really need to sell, now is not the time to make a half hearted approach to selling. (And it could be many years before those prices rise.)

These rooms aren't perfect. All have used items the home seller's had on hand to help keep the staging costs down.

The amount these sellers paid for staging was minor compared to having the keep their home on the market for months (and possibly lower the price), not to mention the stress related to living in a staged home for month after month! They transformed their homes from ordinary to extraordinary and the results speak for themselves!

They all portrayed a beautiful home as well as a desirable lifestyle that was awaiting new home buyers. The secret is -- buyers will take into consideration that you are living in a home for sale. BUT -- they won't feel as much "WOW" or as welcomed .... and your home probably won't be the one they fall in love with (and those are the ones that get the offers).

When marketing your Oregon home for sale, make sure it is properly prepared for the best possible sale. Even if you are living in the home, it can look like the dream home buyers are looking for!

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Susanna Haynie

CO-RE Group, LLC -Real estate sales and services - Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado Springs Realtor GRI CNE MCNE ePro MRP

I completely agree with you,it's still a buyers market out there and buyers just don't want fix anything unless the price is discounted accordingly. If sellers want to sell and sell quickly, they'll have to take this into consideration. Staging is a huge part in that.

Dec 16, 2011 01:44 AM

Margaret Oscilia

Creative Concepts-Home Staging and Contracting, Salem Oregon - Salem, OR

Home Stager, Salem Oregon

Thanks Susana -- you're so right! Many agents still hesitate telling their sellers how to best prepare their homes for sale for fear of offending. Buyers are picky!

Dec 16, 2011 02:09 AM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

"they won't feel as much "WOW" or as welcomed .... and your home probably won't be the one they fall in love with"

So true! It's that extra effort and inconvenience that makes the difference!

Dec 16, 2011 02:29 AM

Diana Young

Staging Seattle, King & Snohomish Counties - Edmonds, WA

Super post, Margaret! You told and showed why it is so important to get a home "show ready", including following staging advice from a professional. Great photos, too :)

Dec 16, 2011 07:14 AM

Kathy Burke

Sensational Home Staging~~Danville, CA - Danville, CA

S.F. East Bay Home Staging

Margaret.....when a client says "I'll do whatever it takes and be inconvienced for the short term to SELL"...I know they are on-board to get it SOLD!

Dec 16, 2011 10:29 AM

Heather Cook

Beyond the Stage Homes - Kitchener, ON

Delivering beautifully staged spaces

Margaret - this post really touches on an important topic for owner occupied homes. We have found that the clients who are the most motivated to do what it takes to sell their homes are the ones who end up implementing all our recommendations and working well with their agents. Clients who opt to not do certain things (key things) are often the ones who want to price their homes so much higher than what the comps will allow for their area and still have their properties up for sale months later. As you say, the homes aren't perfect but all the vital things are taken care of so there aren't any buyer impediments to falling in love with the house. Great post!

Dec 16, 2011 10:48 AM

Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging

Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR

"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Hi Margaret ~ Good post! Sellers who work with a great listing agent, agree to the right price, and who listen to advice from a professional stager are the ones whose homes are selling quickly! And your photos prove that it is indeed possible to "live" in a staged home .... a little inconvenience now pays off BIG later (and sooner too!)

Dec 16, 2011 01:32 PM

Kim Gaston

RE/MAX Advantage Realty - Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado Springs REALTOR®, CNE (719)661-6987

Margaret, this does seem like common sense, but I suppose Sellers are just too close and have too much vested either emotionally or financially to be logical. Walking them through a comparable property that has been maintained, staged and priced according to market value is probably the best approach to counteracting this attitude.

Dec 16, 2011 01:54 PM

Janet Jones

Just Your Style Interiors, LLC - Kihei, HI

Home Staging, Interior Redesign Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Hi Margaret--what a great post. I hear these types of comments all the time and more often than not sellers implement 50% of my recommendations. I never understood the "short-term inconvenience" versus months on the market and multiple price reductions. You have great photo to demonstrate your points, too.

Dec 16, 2011 06:04 PM

Margaret Oscilia

Creative Concepts-Home Staging and Contracting, Salem Oregon - Salem, OR

Home Stager, Salem Oregon

Sharon - That little inconvenience will make a house stand out on line and in person for sure! Thanks for commenting!

Diana - Thanks - I can't imagine going on the market without a full out effort to shorten the selling time!

Kathy - Those are our dream clients, aren't they! Also they are the ones I see selling in our market! Thanks for stopping by :)

Heather - You're so right! The key areas have to be addressed or they will be addressed later by reducing the price -- we see this over and over!

Maureen - Those are such key components and I know you are seeing wonderful success too with your clients. Happy Holidays!

Dec 17, 2011 01:02 AM

Margaret Oscilia

Creative Concepts-Home Staging and Contracting, Salem Oregon - Salem, OR

Home Stager, Salem Oregon

Kim - You're right -- often I point out problems that the home sellers never considered or noticed! I've found that pictures help them disassociate themselves and really "see" the house.

Thanks for commenting Janet. I'm sure you find as well that those who implement your suggestions have much better success too!

Dec 17, 2011 01:04 AM

Julia Maher

Nestings: Connecticut Home Staging and Model Homes - Fairfield, CT

Connecticut Home Stager

Hi Margaret! There is definitely a correlation between seller committment/doing everything possible to perpare the home AND a short DOM!!! Many of my clients who follow 90 - 100% of my recommendations sell in 30 days or less.

Dec 17, 2011 09:40 AM

Leslie Godbold

WZGM AM1350 Independent Asheville Radio - Asheville, NC

Motivation Speaker, Radio host "Positively Living"

Hi Margaret, Great Post! Prepared sellers ,who follow their stager's advice, benefit with less stress, higher profit and a quicker return to their normal life.

Dec 17, 2011 11:40 PM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Margaret- Beautifully staged post and looking at your "after" photos it's easy to see why the home sold so quickly. They don't have to do 100% of what you suggest. However, doing the majority of it can make a huge difference. The inconvenience is there, that's for sure, but it's only for a short time compared to the amount of time they'd have to endure if they did not make their home "show" ready.

Dec 18, 2011 01:01 PM

Wendy Tomm

Beyond the Walls - East St Paul, MB

CCSP, RESA-PRO, BBB - Wpg Realtors

Margaret really great post. I tell those clients that are residing in their 'staged' homes it is for a short period of time and most of them either move out or really work hard to keep the place looking fabulous. They have ALL thanked me in the end and many even have found when they move into their new places that they can live a bit cleaner, fresher and with less stuff.

Dec 19, 2011 09:31 AM

Roy Kelley

Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Best wishes from your friends in Maryland, Roy and Dolores Kelley.

Happy New Year!