I had the pleasure of Staging an Owner Occupied home this last weekend with the quintessential "perfect Staging client". It has been awhile since I worked with one and I was pleasantly reminded of what phrases are typically used by a "perfect Staging client".
The "perfect Staging client" experience began with the appointment setting phone call. The referring agent and I have a great set up - he texts my cell phone with the latest client's contact info, I call the client to schedule the appointment, I text the agent back with the appointment time, then I conduct the Staging appointment and email him a follow up report. It works like clockwork.
So I called the "perfect Staging client" and we scheduled our appointment for a couple of days later. He said (perfect Staging client phrase #1), "The sooner you can get here the better. I will be ready to do whatever you say when you get here."
Awesome! I love it when people are excited for their Staging appointment. I especially love it when it sounds like they have no opinions. I REALLY love it when the client is a single guy; not because I am looking for a date (not anymore, happily married!) but because the single guy usually graciously accepts décor tips from a female. Not to sound stereotypical, but often the bachelor KNOWS that his house looks like a bachelor pad and is happy to make changes, especially with a female in the know to hold his hand through the process.
Staging Saturday arrives and I get there and see that the bachelor has some nice décor items and a few that are probably best stashed away for selling. He says again (perfect Staging Client phrase #2), "Come on in and do your thing. I will do whatever you want me to do." After a quick tour of the joint I ask how he would feel about moving some furniture from the crowded dining room and re-purposing some in the empty bedrooms. (Perfect Staging client phrase #3), "You're the boss." Yes! I really love that title :-)
For a brief time I let him do some of the heavy lifting and went about my business re-arranging and clearing accessories in the living room/dining room/kitchen areas. He came back to the space where I had been working and said (perfect Staging client phrase #4), "Wow, you sure work fast. You're like hell on wheels!" I realize that wouldn't always be a compliment, but from this gentleman I believe it was.
After some work on the main level, I ask how he would feel about re-arranging the family room in the lower level. (Perfect Staging client phrase #5), "If you think it will help, sure. I'll do it!."
Awesome again! In less than two hours we had re-arranged just about every room in the house and there were only a few items that the client would have to address on his own time (switch out a weathered light fixture, repaint a wall). I can safely say that house went from bachelor pad mish-mash to pulled-together family home in a very short amount of time. The success was due in large part to the "perfect Staging client's" positive attitude toward change and wanting to do whatever he could (within reason) to help make his home more marketable. That agent will have a great seller to work with and as a result will probably have a great selling success!
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