Home > Blogs > Tanya Venable > Tanya Venable's (tkven) Blog

Are Accessories Only Enough?

By Tanya Venable

Services for Real Estate Pros

December 20, 2007 03:32 AM

We recently staged a vacant home for a client. The client did not want any furniture, no artwork, and no greenery on the cabinets. They wanted it keep very basic. So we agreed to do an Accessories Only Package. The home had been on the market for about a year, and the new realtor called us just after having the listing for a few weeks. He took beautiful pictures, I think 29 in total were on the MLS Listing. He took the pictures before we staged it. This home was listed for $875,000. Anyway, I am happy to annouce that 90 days from the day we staged it, the home has went to settlement. As I look at the other homes listed in that subdivision, out of the 10 that are currently on the market only 2 others are vacant. I think that the realtor did an excellent job of showcasing the home on the MLS to get people there and once they saw the home in person they loved the home's features and the accent decor. When everyone does their best it really works out for the client!

Master Bath Before

Master Bath After

Kitchen Before

Kitchen After

Servicing the Anderson, Greenville, and Spartanburg areas of South Carolina. Fresh Eye Designs specializes in styling properties with warmth and sophistication. Give us a call today, at 864.275.2112, to see how we can assist you with your staging needs. Or visit us at www.fresheyedesigns.com.

Comments(20)

Comment

Show All Comments Sort:

Joeann Fossland

Advantage Solutions Group - Tucson, AZ

Master Certified Coach to Motivated Agents

The little touches sure make a big difference!!!

Dec 20, 2007 03:35 AM

Lola Audu

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI

Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!

Congratulations! In this case, the "little" things made a huge difference!

Dec 20, 2007 03:37 AM

Fernando Rosado

West Palm Beach, FL

561-906-0050 or 561-840-8950

Tanya I have had clients like that! I dont get it, but I do as much or as little as the client wants. Keep checking on them eventually if the place is not selling you might convince them to add furniture because a lot of people dont know what to do with the spaces!! Good Luck ! You did great whith what they ask you to do !

Dec 20, 2007 03:38 AM

Elaine Manes Gage

Home Staging Online Services - Denver, CO

Staging done ONLINE!

Tanya-You did a beautiful job! I'm not surprised it sold, because even with just accessories, I'm sure it stood out from the competition. I did accessories only on a listing that sat on the market for six months. The weekend after I did it, the agent held an open house and got two offers. All I did was add a welcome mat, dressed the mantel, accessorized the kitchen and baths, and took down some ruffle-y valances from the bedrooms. The cost to the seller? Less than $250!

Dec 20, 2007 03:53 AM

Bevin Googer

First Impressions Home Staging and Interior Redesign - Mount Pleasant, SC

www.StagingAndRedesign.com

Good job! I agree - it takes a team effort when selling a house - a good agent that prices the home right and works hard at marketing, and of course - gets a stager in there!

Dec 20, 2007 04:53 AM

Marci Toliver

438-4642 - Mauldin, SC

Anderson SC, Spartanburg,Greenville SC, Home Staging

Tanya this looks great! I love it when you blog

Dec 20, 2007 08:14 AM

Mary Lou Teague

HOME STYLE AND STAGING LLC - Knoxville, TN

Home Style and Staging Knoxville. TN

Tanya, Sometimes a little goes a long long way, and in this case it sure did. What a difference. Your "little touches" did the trick...great job.

Dec 20, 2007 09:35 AM

Toronto's 2 Hounds Design: Decorating + Staging

2 Hounds Design + Home Staging - Toronto, ON

The work you did accomplishes the feeling we strive for. Welcoming, a space that makes us want to stay. Good job and congratulations on your sale!

Dec 20, 2007 10:41 AM

Phyllis Pafumi

ReStyled to Sell Home Staging New Jersey - Old Bridge, NJ

ReStyled to Sell Staging Homes NJ

Well you accomplished what stagers are suppose to, that warm, welcoming feeling and the master bath certainly has that

Phyllis Pafumi

Dec 20, 2007 11:01 AM

Gary Barnett

Home Matters - Indianapolis, IN

Home Matters Property Stylist Group, Indianapolis

Tanya, as my Home Staging wife Linda would say, "Will the work I'm asked to do, move the property into a more marketable position?" The answer always has to be yes or the client is simply wasting their money. In Indianapolis a $875,000 home is quite large, 6,500+ sq ft. Typically buyers here in Indy, in that price range expect quality as well as the right quantity of furnishings. Accessory only in our market would for the most part be of little value in a home of this stature. It can be difficult at times but on occasion we just have to say No. Check out this Blog that Linda wrote on this very subject. http://activerain.com/blogsview/291084/Folding-Up-My-Umbrella .

Dec 20, 2007 11:02 AM

Susan Peters

Dove Realty Inc. - Seattle, WA

The Better it Looks the Better it Sells

Tanya,

As they used to say in the old Brillcreme jingles 'a little dab will do it.' I know, I'm really dating myself, but your little touches seemed to work just fine.

Dec 20, 2007 12:05 PM

Tanya Venable

Orlando, FL

SEO, Mobile SEO, and Internet Marketing Consultant

Thanks everybody. We are really glad that it worked out for the client. 1 year of paying 2 mortgages can be stressful for anyone.

Kathy Riggle - Congrats to you. That is awesome. Did you take any pictures?

Gary - This home was about 5600 sq ft. I think that in our market home staging is still so new that people are surprised to see accessories when they walk into a vacant. Not to mention that the homeowner's first realtor told them to move all the furniture out, so they were really reluctant to move any furniture back in. We have turned down some jobs for one reason or another, but this one worked out so I'm glad.

Dec 21, 2007 03:28 AM

Kristina Leone

Lionheart Home Staging, LLC - Minneapolis, MN

Your accessories really warmed up the house! Some clients don't want the whole package (for whatever reasons). It is good that you are flexible to work with homeowners to suit their desires. A happy client may generate new business!

Dec 21, 2007 03:41 AM

Susan Smith

Rooms That Work LLC - Sandy Hook, CT

Hi Tanya - I do believe it makes a diff! I had almost the exact same experience...I did an accessories only staging on a vacant which had been on the mkt for just over 1 yr, and it sold in 2 months after staging! I still believe furniture is better, and will most likely bring in a higher offer, but it sure beats doing nothing! Thx for sharing!

Susan

Dec 21, 2007 03:49 AM

Tanya Venable

Orlando, FL

SEO, Mobile SEO, and Internet Marketing Consultant

Kristina - Thanks. I hope so new business is always good.

Susan - This house was beautiful and we would have loved to had brought in furniture but in the end it's the client's decision.

Dec 22, 2007 12:31 AM

Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging

Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR

"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Tanya ~ If the budget is tight, then adding accessories is an excellent way to warm up the space. A vacant home just isn't appealing! Your touches here were perfect and made a big difference.

Dec 23, 2007 08:17 AM

Kathleen Garvey

HomeSmart Cherry Creek - Denver - Denver, CO

Denver's Neighborhood Expert - Listings & Sales

Great work Tanya! You can have the furniture.....yet it all ties together with the addition of accessories!! Just enough! Lovely! Regards-Kathleen G

Dec 23, 2007 10:31 AM

Elaine Manes Gage

Home Staging Online Services - Denver, CO

Staging done ONLINE!

Gina- I held a drawing at a real estate office for $75 off a consultation. And who won? My ex!!! So, I offered to take $75 off a staging instead. It took me two hours to stage, and I charged $100 for rental of my inventory. My ex wanted me to pass the discount on to them, so it came to less than $250. I don't like to re-use welcome mats, so it stayed with the house when it was sold!

Dec 27, 2007 05:20 AM

Susan Peters

Dove Realty Inc. - Seattle, WA

The Better it Looks the Better it Sells

Tayna,

Every little bit helps and when it's well chosen and artfully placed like this it helps a lot!

Jan 14, 2008 04:50 PM

Holly Klaus

Room Revisions - Fredericksburg, VA

Room Revisions

Tanya, this is a beautiful home, and you created "emotional connection points" with your accessories. Also, having 29 pictures posted on the MLS is pretty impressive. Sounds like an aggressive agent! Congrats!

Jan 16, 2008 06:02 AM