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It is what it is ... Stager style.

By
Home Stager

Joy Daniels created a post entitled It is what it is. The post discusses how this phrase applies to her Realty business.

 

It struck me that as a Stager, I deal with this attitude on a regular basis. In fact, it is my job to take 'what is' and feature 'it'.

 

I identify the special 'it's on buyers 'I want' lists found in each home. Then, I tell them how to show off this feature to best advantage.

 

When the seller is open to the changes necessary to prepare their house for sale, my job is much easier.

 

When the seller feels 'It is what it is' and refuses to prepare their house for sale, my job is much harder. I know that this attitude will hinder the sale. Homes must compete for the buyer's dollar. They will choose the home that offers the most for their dollar.

 

Sometimes, the attitude of 'It is what it is' springs from a lack of funds. The seller simply does not have the budget to prepare their home for sale. In this case, it is my job to find economical ways to prepare the home. I rely on 'sweat equity' to accomplish this. No matter what the budget, sweat equity costs only time and energy. The more skills the seller has the more that can be done.

 

'It is what it is' is the most frustrating when the seller is neither physically nor financially capable of making changes. This means that the home will go on the market unprepared. The appeal of the home will be limited to those buyers willing to buy a 'fixer upper'.

 

The more buyers the home appeals to, the better its chances of selling quickly and for a good price.

 

'It is what it is' works best when 'It' is prepared for sale.

 

 

Posted by

Retired Home Stager

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments(22)

Kristine Ginsberg
Elite Staging and Redesign, LLC - Short Hills, NJ
NJ Home Stager

Janice - some people just don't want to change their thinking about how and why they need to market their home. Gone are the days when you just slap up a for sale sign. Stagers are trained to lay out jobs that will give buyers the best ROI and a big part of that doesn't cost a thing - just a little sweat equity!

Jan 22, 2012 03:20 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Thanks Bruce. It is a past client's kitchen. Most sellers have one issue or another and it's my job to work within their limits for the best result.

Jan 22, 2012 05:24 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Kristine, sweat equity can make a big difference in how the buyer perceives a home. Today's seller has to be ready to compete or they will lose.

Jan 22, 2012 05:26 AM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Hi Janice, it's tough being a seller out there I guess-with no real guarantees-but they really do need to step up to the plate give the house its best shot!  I hear "it is what it is" all to frequently!

Jan 22, 2012 11:52 AM
Malcolm Johnston
Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate LTD., Trenton, Ontario - Trenton, ON
Trenton Real Estate

Janice, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. Some sellers are just unprepared to change anything.

Jan 22, 2012 11:57 AM
Janet Jones
Just Your Style Interiors, LLC - Kihei, HI
Home Staging, Interior Redesign Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Hi Janice--your last line says it all.  If "it" is not prepared to be sold, "it" will sit on the market for a long time with multiple price reductions.  Then indeed, it "is what it is"! 

Jan 22, 2012 06:33 PM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Joanna, I think 'it' is a common attitude these days.

Jan 23, 2012 01:02 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Very true Malcolm. Very true.

Jan 23, 2012 01:03 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Well said Janet!

Jan 23, 2012 01:04 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Valerie, One can only hope that the seller will either do some work or lower their expectations ;). They have to be realistic don't they? ;)

Jan 23, 2012 01:06 AM
Gail Fabiani
Right at Home Realty Inc., Brokerage - Burlington, ON

Janice, very hard to deal with.  Also the home owner that thinks their home is wonderful when it really needs changing.  They won't listen and feel insulted that you don't love it "as it is".  They find the hard way that the home takes a long time to sell at a much lower price than they expect.

Jan 23, 2012 03:21 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

That's right Gail. I have a client on the market now that didn't listen. They've been there for a while. Their house is competing with a lot of new and recently built homes in their area. Painting of the key areas would have really helped but ....

Jan 23, 2012 04:47 AM
Jark Krysinski *PREC (Personal Real Estate Corporation)
REMAX CREST REALTY WESTSIDE - Vancouver, BC
TeamYVR Team Leader, BA,ABR,IRES,IMSD,LLB

Hi Janice, I like your last sentence a lot! I can not agree more! "It is what it is  works best when it is prepared for sale. 

Thanks for sharing with us!

Have a great day!

Jan 23, 2012 07:11 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Glad you agree Jark. Thanks for your comment.

Jan 23, 2012 12:07 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Janice- I too like your last sentence.  Sellers need to be educated to today's market where "It Is What It Is" just doesn't work anymore. 

Jan 23, 2012 02:20 PM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Thanks Kathy! Sellers have to realize their home is a product and act accordingly.

Jan 24, 2012 01:56 AM
Brian Madigan
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage (Toronto) - Toronto, ON
LL.B., Broker

You need to have the property as the best available on the market for it to sell.

Jan 25, 2012 12:05 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

I agree 100% Brian! Sellers have to see their home as a product that is competing for a buyer.

Jan 25, 2012 03:02 AM
Wendy Tomm
Beyond the Walls - East St Paul, MB
CCSP, RESA-PRO, BBB - Wpg Realtors

Great post and again educating buyers and doing the best everyone can to showcase the home is what it is about.

Jan 27, 2012 04:57 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Thanks Wendy! Educating the public is so important.

Jan 27, 2012 06:11 AM