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Proof is in the Staging - Home Star Staging

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Real Estate Agent with Referral Patners LLC 0583719

Proof is in the Staging - Home Star Staging


Front view of PropertyThe listing had been on the market for about two months with one of those months being December. Come January though the activity really picked up and we had more than our fair share of showings. Feedback was positive yet there always seemed to be some something that we could not get an offer.

After more than a dozen showings the seller was getting a little anxious about no offers. We settled in at the dining table for a full discussion about a new approach. Our goal was how to go about attracting an offer.

It was apparent that we were missing something. The home was presentable - clean and well-maintained. But it wasn’t enticing an offer. I suggested to the seller that perhaps we were missing the “Wow” factor. You know, wow I really can see me living here.

First on the agenda was to tackle how to  improve the curb appeal. Looking at some pictures I had on-hand showed that the it was past time to trim and shape up the hedges in the front of the house. They had become a bit wooly looking.  What a difference that made!View of Front Prior to Trim of bushes

Items cluttering up the small front porch entry were removed to another area. Silk flowers were bought and placed in the basket on the wall along with a pot of flowers placed beside the front door. Since the front of the house is almost always cast in a shadow a wreath adorned with white flowers was added to the front door. It was the final touch that drew an observer’s focus to the front entry making it more inviting.

But when we began to tackle the interior I realized quickly that we really needed the help of an expert inside the home. That is when I sent a plea for “help” to Karen Otto, Home Star Staging.  Even though Karen was preparing to leave on a trip to Las Vegas for the RESA conference she quickly agreed to come to my rescue. We talked briefly on the phone and the next day Karen showed up at the house armed with her props and the wonders that she is so capable of achieving.

You can see by just the two photos that Karen did an awesome job in the home. In fact, it was so well-done that the very next showing we received an offer. WOW! It took a few days to work out the details but as of this writing we are under contract!

View of Front living area following stagingView of front living area prior to staging

Thank you, Karen for your willingness to help and for being the awesome professional that you are. I had asked my seller before we listed about staging and they were reluctant. I can honestly say now that “the proof is in the staging!” And on my next listing appointment I will include this testimonial to the wonders of staging especially when done by Home Star Staging - Karen Otto, one of Activerain’s finest contributors. Karen, I and the client are most grateful.


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Comments (12)

Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®
:))) This is exciting! So glad you were able to refer to Karen!! Great job! Both of you!!
Feb 09, 2012 04:20 PM
Tim Lorenz
TIM LORENZ - Elite Home Sales Team - Mission Viejo, CA
949 874-2247

Good staging is always the way to quick and certain sales.

Feb 09, 2012 04:23 PM
Christine McDaniel
Christine McDaniel Realty, LLC - Avon, IN
Broker Associate

That's great Teral!  We had an agent with a 2 year old listing.  As soon as it was staged it sold!

Feb 09, 2012 04:46 PM
Janet Jones
Just Your Style Interiors, LLC - Kihei, HI
Home Staging, Interior Redesign Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Hi Teral--so glad that Karen could come to the rescue of these sellers.  Wouldn't it be nice if we could convince all sellers to do that work upfront and avoid the frustration of being on the market for so long.  Thanks for your support of staging. 

Feb 09, 2012 04:54 PM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

Teral I am so humbled by reading this post and I am so grateful to you for writing this  It was such a pleasure to work with you and your client and truly I was able to help under such a small time window frame because of the relationship that you and I have developed here on Active Rain first, then meeting each other and connecting.  I realize it takes a level of trust to allow a home stager to provide any services to a client especially a reluctant one and with the quick turn around time needed to get it done the day before a trip, the ease of our conversation and the understanding that you already knew I'd be able to help them gave me the license to do a job and the peace of mind knowing there was already a level of trust established for both of us.  And under "not the unusual circumstances" we were able to a complete job fast and to the satisfaction of the client, yourself and of course me (I have to be able to stand by my work and word!).

I am THRILLED they received an offer and are working on the contract.  It takes a great recipe to bake the perfect home sale and I appreciate the opportunity to add my key ingredient, staging to the mix!

With appreciation,

 

Karen

 

Feb 10, 2012 12:32 AM
Tracy Lee Parker
RE/MAX DFW Associates - Royse City, TX
Buy*Sell*Rent

Great job Teral and Karen! I liked the white flowers to bring attention to a dark area!

Feb 10, 2012 05:08 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Hooray for Karen Otto and Home Star Staging!!  It's no surprise to her staging colleagues here on AR that Karen's savvy staging talent came to the rescue of this lingering listing.  Congrats to all on the pending sale!!

Feb 10, 2012 05:20 AM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Teral - So glad to hear you had such a great staging experience.  Karen Otto is one of the best in the field, so you were in expert hands!

Feb 10, 2012 06:50 AM
Melissa Marro
Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team - Orange Park, FL
Jacksonville Real Estate and Home Staging

It never ceases to amaze me how staging can make the difference between buyers "liking" a house and them buying it... great job to both of you.

Feb 10, 2012 06:54 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Teral- thanks for writing this great testimonial to staging and in particular to the talents of Karen Otto and Home Star Staging!  

Feb 11, 2012 10:01 AM
Anna Dovger
Add Value Home Staging LLC, 281-704-6607 - The Woodlands, TX
Home Staging -The Woodlands, TX

Teral, I love the new approach you suggested to the seller. Karen is awesome. Congrats on your team work success.

Feb 11, 2012 03:08 PM
Karen Dembsky
Peachtree Home Staging LLC, Home Staging in Atlanta, GA - Peachtree City, GA
Atlanta Home Staging

Karen O is so outstanding on sooooooo many levels at soooooo many things.  One of my personal heros.

Feb 13, 2012 12:14 PM