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Should you stage a fixer?

By Pacita Dimacali

Real Estate Agent with Alain Pinel BRE 01367196

September 15, 2008 07:12 AM

Here are before and after....

I held my first open house yesterday, and I must say I'm exhausted. I had 70-80 GROUPS (definitely over 100 people who came with family, neighbors, etc). It was hectic. Wish I had more time to chat with the folks but they just kept right on coming.

The question is, does it pay to stage a fixer?

ATTAGIRL!

Although the house needs a lot of work, it was important to showcase its good bones and hint at its tremendous potential. Too many cracks in the walls, tons of peeling wallpaper, outdated kitchen and baths. So I had the carpets ripped out --- and voila! Hardwood floors! I brought in some light furnishings (all my chairs and tables fold). It was all I could to do make it look a little nicer than what it used to be. At least I had place to sit down to catch my breath.

If anything, I got an "attagirl" from my sellers who told me that they definitely hired the right agent. The sister of the seller said that when she gets ready to sell her house, she will use me.

For more views of this fixer, check out the visual tour

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Deanna Casalino

Realty World J. Pavich R.E. - Estero, FL

Fort Myers Florida Homes,

Why not? you want to sell it just the same don't you. I can tell from the photos your staging was well worth it. Very nice job.

Sep 15, 2008 07:19 AM

Mike Klijanowicz

Cummings & Co. Realtors - Perry Hall, MD

Associate Broker @ Cummings & Co. Realtors

I would if it makes it sell, especially if all you have to do is rip out the carpet.

Sep 15, 2008 07:20 AM

Anna Little

Greater Atlantic Shores Properties at Atlantic Shores Cooperative - Virginia Beach, VA

I want to know what you did to get 100 people to come to your open house? Nice job on the staging too, every home needs to highlight it's good points.

Sep 15, 2008 07:36 AM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Anna

I try to use as many free internet postings as I can, especially Craigslist. You may have seen my blog on the 10 Things to do when posting on Craigslist

I also put up several open house signs in busy intersections. And I put up 8 colorful flags in front of the house to make it stand out among the three homes for sale on that street.

Of course, it helped that there was supposed to be another open house a block away --- but the agent cancelled at the last minute. So I was the beneficiary of the traffic of folks who intended to see that house, too.

By the way, I polled the people who came through --- the vast majority said they found it on the internet, most of whom said Craigslist.

Sep 15, 2008 07:41 AM

Dawn Wiser

Century 21 Exclusively - Wenatchee, WA

Just a few items placed around the home can help buyers see how the home would look. Sometimes I just put a cookbook, handtowels and a decorative item in the kitchen and it does seem to help.

Sep 15, 2008 07:56 AM

Kathy Fey

Fey & Associates - Dacula, GA

Yes, I think stagers play an important role in the real estate industry. They have a trained eye to make an adjustment in minutes that would otherwise take much longer, and they do it better.

Sep 15, 2008 08:00 AM

Kathy Fey

Fey & Associates - Dacula, GA

Yes, I think stagers play an important role in the real estate industry. They have a trained eye to make an adjustment in minutes that would otherwise take much longer, and they do it better.

Sep 15, 2008 08:00 AM

Jen Bowman

Keller Williams on the Water - Holmes Beach, FL

Realtor - Anna Maria Island & Bradenton FL

Yes, stage whatever you can. So many people don't have ability to visualize their things in a vacant house.

Sep 15, 2008 08:03 AM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

As big a fixer as this house is, I am facing an even bigger challenge --- another fixer, half the size of this one, with holes in the walls, floors, ceilings. So much junk in and out of the house, and the yard. If they can remove everything, I might be able to do something about it....but it's a real dump.

This is one of those properties that if advertise it on craigslist I may headline it

"Yes, it's a dump...and it can be yours for $350K!"

Sep 15, 2008 08:37 AM

Sheridan Corrie

Upstage, LLC - West Linn, OR

Perhaps the real question is does the seller really want to sell and make money on the property. Staging works for anyone trying to sell their home, regardless of it's condition. I personally think the more "flaws" in the house, the more it needs staging. Buyers have a hard time visualizing. A good stager won't cover up problems, but will help the buyer see the potential. Staging helps them to see the possibilities not the headaches.

Sep 15, 2008 04:10 PM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

These sellers wanted to sell, and agreed without hesitation to let me hire someone to remove the carpets. They know the condition of the house is a turn-off....so they were delighted to see what little I did made a big difference in the pictures.

For sure, if the house has wood floors, and if it's vacant --- that's the first thing one should do since wood floors top the wish list of buyers today. Then clean it top to bottom. For this house, I also asked to remolve the heavy drapes and use sheers to make sure the light comes through. Regardless of the many problems with the house, the folks who came through instantly liked the living room. So yes, staging helps to accent the positive and minimize/eliminate the negative.

Sep 15, 2008 07:38 PM

Team Honeycutt

Allen Tate - Concord, NC

You did a great job and it was worth the time and effort. It will not only help with sales it shows what kind of an agent you are.

Sep 18, 2008 01:59 AM

Sarah Rummage

Benchmark Realty LLC, Nashville TN 615.516.5233 - Nashville, TN

Love Being Realtor® in the Nashville TN Area!

Great idea! I have adversized 'renovator's dream OR renovator's nightmare' (with the seller's permission of course).

Oct 06, 2008 10:50 PM

Heather Goodwin

Licensed by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission - Shreveport, LA

Results That Move You

Great job, Pacita. It's amazing how uncovering the wood floors helps people see the potential. This truly was a fixer. You helped people see that it was fixable.

Oct 25, 2008 11:09 AM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Allen, Sarah & John, Heather

This fixer had an accepted offer in 10 days. I was fortunate that the seller agreed to let me have the carpets removed. The hardwood floors cushioned the shock at the peeling wallpaper and cracked plaster. For my first open house, I had 70-80 groups of people come through this fixer.

Oct 25, 2008 05:58 PM