How a Home Stager Can Help You in a Slow Market Year

     The Multiple Listing Service of the Greater Lakes Association of Realtors just released their latest tabulations for our county.  Numbers don't lie or do they?  Last year  in the first quarter of 2006, 177 homes were sold in Crow Wing County at a median price of $156,200 and their time on the market averaged 131 days . This year for the same quarter  period the homes  are at $159,200 and are taking an average of 142 days to sell.

     According to Kevin Goedker, president of the MLS and an agent with Century 21 Brainerd Realty, new construction and existing homes in the Brainerd/Baxter area and the rest of the county are selling for less compared to last year. The  lakeshore homes are actually selling for more  which means the rest of the selection is actually bringing much less as these are averaged out prices. For example the non-lakeshore homes in Baxter in the first quarter of 2006 had a median price of $195,00 , while this year the median price is only hitting $176,675.  

     Homes are selling but they are not selling for as high a price nor are they selling as quickly.  Does that sound familiar to your area? 

     As a home stager with Re$ale Design, I know at least a partial solution to the problem. In order for your listings to sell better and faster than those of the competitions' they need to be properly presented and they need to be priced comparative to the times.  A home that shows well both outside and inside is going to get offers.  When prospective buyers make an emotional connection with the home - they want it! I keep hearing from Realtors "home staging - we do that".   Then I look at the MLS photos. Home staging is more than cleaning and decluttering (although a lot of the photos were also missing that element). Color, traffic flow, highlighting focal elements, curb appeal, up grades that pay back - that is what we know.

     Let us work with you as a team player to change the statistics and make 2007 a more productive year. You do

                                                                   Kathleen Lordbock

                                                         Specializing in Property Presentatiions

                                                          We want to join your team - call us