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Throwback Thursday… A Memorable First Florida Staging Consultation

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Home Stager

Throwback Thursday… A Memorable First Florida Staging Consultation

 

My first staging consultation when we returned to Delray Beach was a memorable one and a lesson for sellers.

Mr. C was close to 90, a widower, and ready to sell his condo and move to an Assisted Living Facility. His condo had 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, and was in the heart of Boca Raton. 



It appeared that no updates had ever been made...same carpet, same paint, same kitchen. And per his agent, anything more than editing and rearranging what he had, was not in the picture.

I made some easy suggestions that he and his nephew (who was going to help) could do. 

At a time when the idea of “staging” was still new and many sellers still felt that buyers would want to pick out their own carpet and paint color, I found it refreshing that his gentleman was willing to do what he could. 


Unfortunately, a point that was reinforced was that no matter what your list price is, buyers still need to see the value in their purchase.

 

Many potential buyers would rather have paid for a condo that had already been updated than buy a condo that needed a lot of time and money to update and renovate it. 

 

I will always remember this client and how receptive he was to something he’d never done. 

*My client’s bed only had a sheet on it, so we hunted in his closet and found a silk duvet he’d never used. I folded it and pinned it for him and suggested he place it at the foot of the bed when his condo was being shown.



Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

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Comments(29)

Andrea Bedard
Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860 - Silver Spring, MD
Fluent in Real Estate & German, M.A. ABR ASP CIPS

I remember how sceptical people were (and some still are, especially in our hot market) when staging first became a thing Kathy! I've seen it pay off time and time again. Editing - at a minimum - is a must before listing any property. Your pictures show what a difference it makes to just clear a table or add a blanket towards the foot of the bed!

Oct 14, 2021 07:57 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Kathy and always remember the first time of doing soething and you did a great job.  Make it a great day!

 

Oct 14, 2021 08:06 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

You were fortunate that he and his nephew were welcome to the suggestions and may well have enabled the agent to get a contract as well.

Oct 14, 2021 08:40 AM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

lighting and a few small homey changes can make a difference. You are right, it will not make up for kitchen remodels or needed bath updates.

Oct 14, 2021 09:45 AM
Wendy Rulnick
Rulnick Realty, Inc. - Destin, FL
"It's Wendy... It's Sold!"

Kathy Streib It's honestly hard to find a stager aruond here who will just do re-arranging and using the seller's stuff! Bravo to you, working with what you had, including "him".

Oct 14, 2021 10:22 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Kathy Streib - What a nice memory you shared with us.  I have been an advocate of dejunking and staging since 2011.  I am also very fortunate to have some really great stagers to work with.  It is an art and requires a very creative person or team to make things happen.  

Oct 14, 2021 11:30 AM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

With the market selling at  such a breakneck speed it is hard to sell the idea of staging to my clients for the last year. I still think it is a worthwhile endeavor Kathy...

Oct 14, 2021 11:49 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Kat Palmiotti it was so refreshing because back in 2007 and 2008 so many people had no idea what staging was. 

Nina Hollander, Broker it's so true. Doesn't matter what the market is!

Oct 14, 2021 12:15 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Exactly Brian England You don't have to do a major remodel!

Wayne Martin I think we'll all remember that one!!!

Oct 14, 2021 12:17 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Michael Jacobs it seems like a long time ago. 

 

Bill Salvatore - YVP Blog it was amazing meeting someone who at 90, was open to something new. 

Oct 14, 2021 12:18 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Bob "RealMan" Timm you and me both!!!!!  90 and beyond!

Roy Kelley I will and hope that you and Chef Dolores are well. 

Oct 14, 2021 12:19 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Ron and Alexandra Seigel that is so sweet of you!!!  He was a treasure to work with. 

Thank you Andrea Bedard  And yes, just some little touches like editing can help the buyer see the space. 

Oct 14, 2021 12:22 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Will Hamm it's fun looking back. And thinking of backs...how's yours?

Ed Silva When I began, some agents wanted to pay for the consultation but I asked them not to. I felt the seller would buy into the idea if they had to pay for it. 

Oct 14, 2021 12:24 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty it's hard to pass up some condos that had already been updated even if at a higher price. 

Hi Wendy Rulnick I actually preferred that kind of staging rather than vacant home staging. For me, it was more creative. 

Oct 14, 2021 12:25 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Sheri Sperry - MCNE® when I took the Staging course, the class had to stage a condo in one afternoon using only what the sellers had. It was so much fun. 

Oct 14, 2021 12:27 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS a lot of people feel that way! So many think that if it's a seller's market they don't have to do anything about how their house looks. 

Oct 14, 2021 12:44 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Kathy so this proves you can teach an old dog new tricks.  😜

Oct 14, 2021 02:03 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Kathy what a wonderful memory of a dear client!  He trusted you and was willing to do what he could because you kept it simple for him and loved him along in the process.

Oct 14, 2021 09:02 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Sometimes, the simplest of things can make a difference.  I love your story about the gentleman, and your helping him locate the duvet in the closet to assist with a little staging!

Oct 15, 2021 06:10 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

CONGRATULATIONS Kathy, on having this blog FEATURED in the Old Farts Club group!  

Oct 15, 2021 06:12 AM