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HGTV phoned me...would you like to provide Staged properties for our show?

By
Home Stager with Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket 416.928.2999

The call came out of the blue. I was driving in heavy traffic, gearing up and down, cursing the downtown core traffic and my phone rang. Someone saying they were from HGTV, The Unsellables.

They were looking at my website, liked my style and wondered if I would like to provide the benchmark property in the neighbourhood for their show. I figured that this had to be a Staging friend of mine that was pulling a  prank on me so I calmly said... "I'll have to think about it, could I call them back?"

Turns out it's for real. The properties were filmed last June and July and are just appearing now on HGTV. Last weeks episode entitled "Carmelina" and the episode coming up entitled "Steve".

The premise of the show is that they have a property that has been on the market for months, lots of viewings but no offers. What could be wrong? They visit another property in the neighbourhood with the property owner in tow and then they visit a second one which has been Staged and has sold very recently or is for sale to show them what their competition looks like. It doesn't take long for the homeowner to see why their home is not getting offers. There is truth in the saying... seeing is believing.

The hosts then do what is necessary to get their property up to the neighbourhood expectation. This all comes back to why Professional Staging is not decorating or designing. Professional Home Staging is the marketing of your property for sale. There is only one reason to Stage it. To get the most equity possible out of the property to move on with your life and to have fewer days on market.

It doesn't matter what the market is, slow or fast- Staging is the one investment that you can make that will speed up the whole process. Investing in Home Staging is always less than the first price reduction.

Here are a couple of photos from the first property. It was a simple war time, red brick bungalow about 1,200 square feet backing onto a ravine. This property sold for the highest price the neighbourhood had seen, $20,000 over list.

I Staged it with unique features that no other comparable listing in the neighbourhood had. It's own tee off box out to the ravine in the rear - who could resist that? Even the videographer from HGTV put down his camera to take a few practice shots over the rear fence. A Pilates area in a wide basement hallway that was only being used as a pass through to the family room. The Realtor said 4 or 5 buyers actually sat down and tried out the exercise area. Even the laundry room which had the same 1960's dark, wood panelling as the basement hallway was given a face lift with up to date baskets to hold the soap supplies.

So if you are you still wondering, if Advantage Staging is worth the investment to save time on the market and get the most equity out of your property. The answer is plain to see... YES, EVERY TIME!

 

staged dining room staged dining room staged family room staged rec room staged backyard

 

Comments (39)

Charlene Storozuk
Dezigner Digz - Burlington, ON
Home Stager - Burlington Ontario

Congratulations Michelle, that's awesome!  I can certainly understand how you might think it was a prank when you got the call, I know I would.  I've watched the show, I think it's really good.  Your photos are beautiful.  You go girl!

Jan 16, 2009 12:08 AM
Michelle Finnamore
Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON
Preparing your property for sale

Hi Debbie, the idea for the exercise spot popped into my head immediately when I first saw this dark hallway. I knew my artwork would reflect light from the overhead fixture into the room making it feel more open. The mirror acted in the same way. The mat has come in handy on numerous occasisons. It sends just the right zen message being made of bamboo.

Hi Melissa, the photos are taken by my trusty sidekick Natalie Caron, product photographer extraordinaire!Natalie takes photos of my work for my portfolio and some of the before and afters. I wish all my Realtors would work with Natalie and she knows how to capture the selling points in a room and get people to put a listing on their must see list.

Hi Cynthia, so true. In Staging you live and die by your photographs. Everyone should take a close look at their portfolio and web presence to see where they are in their timeline to hire a professional photographer for at least two houses that they are staging.

Hi Pangaea, That's a great personal story and one that you can relay with heart felt passion to your clients whether they be the  homeowner or the Realtor. That's your unique selling point. That and the fact that you do outstanding work! :)

Hi Marianne, That's why I like the show too and felt it would be a good fit for me. The consultation is conducted in a similar way to the way I do mine. Cut to the chase and very clearly define why something has to change and give the homeowner motivating reasons to carry out the work.

Hi Kym, let me know your thoughts after you see the show. The episode coming up entitled "Steve" is my next one. They were mostly interested in how I staged the back yard and the view. Here is a photo of it so you know it when you see it. I took these photos of Wes the videographer while he was working. The homeowner is the man in the pink shirt. He was "tickled pink" with excitement that HGTV was at his home.

 

 

Hi Monica, glad you stopped in to see my latest adventure. It was soooo much fun. I will be contacting you soon to see if you want to be part of my next adventure.

Hi Charlene, Thanks for the encourgement and the good wishes. It was so surreal when that call came. That's a lesson to all of us. Be prepared. You just never know who might come knocking. I was taught a long time ago that when you don't know what to say when you are caught off gaurd, always ask for time to think.

Jan 16, 2009 01:11 AM
Ginger Foust
Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA
Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Michelle, I'm so glad that you posted this with more of the details of your experience!  My goodness it would be fun to be able to say that you did work with HGTV and you could refer people to specific episodes.  Is there anyplace on the HGTV website where potential clients could find you? 

Jan 16, 2009 03:01 AM
Michelle Finnamore
Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON
Preparing your property for sale

HI Ginger, It was super easy during the process of filming. Wes made everyone feel like this was just another day at the office (oh yeah!) set up in a few minutes and started filming.

The website for the Unsellables usually posts the information in regards to sources for items bought and which companies worked on the episode. It doesn't seem to be working at present. I will be watching for it as I would like to post that as well.

Jan 16, 2009 06:31 AM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

Congratulations...how fun!  I wish they'd come to Houston!

Jan 16, 2009 03:13 PM
Ana Hitzel
AccentPositives Home Staging - Corona, CA
Professional Home Stager Inland Empire

Congrats, what a beautiful shot of the deck.  Here's to many more!

Jan 16, 2009 03:46 PM
Michele Hess
Simply Staged Inc. - Rockford, IL
Home Stager Rockford - Simply Staged Inc

Congratulations Michelle!  What exciting news.  I am so happy for you and your work looks awesome as usual.

Jan 16, 2009 10:58 PM
Michelle Finnamore
Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON
Preparing your property for sale

HI Cindy, they are filming the show in Brittain now. Maybe you should think about writing to the show and offering to arrange something there in your home town of Houston. You never know! You  have to put it out there to get it back. :)

Hi Ana, the view off the deck was awesome. I don't think I mention this before but it is in the downtown core of Toronto. There is a a very deep ravine called the Don Valley and it runs from the north of the city right down town to Lake Ontario. Their parents owned this property since the 60's and they were staging the house to get it ready for market. When you look out the back their is a pool down below about 100 feet away and the view goes on forever. The day we were there rabbits and deer were at the edge of the property. They have seen fox there on numerous occasions.

I did a post about this property way back in the summer when I Staged the exterior. Here are some photos.

Jan 17, 2009 12:31 AM
Michelle Finnamore
Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON
Preparing your property for sale

Hi Michele, thanks for stopping in to see this amazing property. As you can see by the photos above it was a real adventure staging the outside. I swapped their white patio table set to be placed down by the pool. The white was set off nicely by the blue of the pool. I rented the black patio set to them for the upper deck as they did not want to refinish the deck. I rearrranged their pots of plants, purchased huge cascading pots of pink petunias for the poolside, removed bird feeders etc from the deck rail so the view was exposed.

Going up and down those steps to the pool on a day that was over 30 degrees ( I think that is 92 in your part of the world) and heavy with humidity it was a real test of the condition of my asthma. I started very early in the morning to beat the heat and humidity but I swear I lost 5 lbs. just slugging those tables, chairs and heavy ceramic plant pots down to that pool.

Jan 17, 2009 12:36 AM
Monica Stanciu
Staged 2 Sell Solutions Inc. - Markham, ON
Staged 2 Sell Solutions, Markham, ON

Hi Michelle:

Can't wait for your call:)

Monica

Jan 17, 2009 12:55 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Your success and experience with HGTV is so exciting.  I'll look for the show and watch with enthusiasm.

Jan 17, 2009 10:45 AM
Johnathan Mullaney
Village Land Shoppe - Flagstaff, AZ
Broker, Flagstaff Real Estate

congradulations, they called me for a different show, looking for a real specific property that sold within the last month. I didn't have it and couldn't take advantage.

Jan 17, 2009 11:09 AM
Michelle Finnamore
Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON
Preparing your property for sale

Hi Monica, thanks for your support! :)

Hi Sharon, thanks for stopping in and your good wishes. It should happen to all of us!

Hi Johnathan, I know what you mean. Their parameters for the job are so tight and the time frame is so condensed it really is a miracle when you get a match. Hope they call you again in the near future. It does wonders for your business.

Jan 17, 2009 11:21 AM
Lori Donegan
Ready 2 Stage - Cleveland, TN

I have never seen outdated dark paneling look so fabulous.  The professional photos really make the difference, don't they.  Congrats on your success!

Jan 17, 2009 11:28 AM
Michelle Finnamore
Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON
Preparing your property for sale

Hi Lori, Absolutely! Professional photographers will get your listing noticed every time. How do we convince the Realtors of this?  It is a case of one by one for now.

The one other  thing the homeowner did to enhance the dark wood panelling was to use a shining oil product on it. Plus he refinished all the  wood trim and door thresholds with urethan to make them shine. It was positively glowing in there. It looked like a brand new home. Well worth the effort on his part as the listing sold for over list.

 

Jan 17, 2009 11:02 PM
Annie Pinsker-Brown
Stage to Sell - LA Home Staging - Los Angeles, CA
Stage to Sell, Los Angeles Home Stager

Michelle, this is absolutely wonderful work! Creative touches such as the Pilates area and the tee off box are exactly what can create that emotional connection with a potential buyer. Also I love your artwork - where did you get it (esp the piece in the pilates area)?

Jan 18, 2009 12:03 PM
Chris Olsen
Olsen Ziegler Realty - Cleveland, OH
Broker Owner Cleveland Ohio Real Estate

Hi Michelle -- Your photography skills match your staging skills as well, both which are beyond exceptional!  How did you learn to take such incredible photographs?

Jan 18, 2009 04:26 PM
Michelle Finnamore
Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON
Preparing your property for sale

Hi Annie, the Pilates area was one of my favourites too. The artwork is from Ikea of all places. The golf tee off box was inspried by the stories the seller was recalling about his youth at the family home. As soon as he told the story I knew what I had to do.

Hi Chris, The photography for this post was done by my professional photographer for my portfolio. I knew that HGTV was filming this for The Unsellables so I drove my photographer to take the winning shots. She is actually a product photographer so she understands how to get the money shots of what you are trying to sell. In this case, a simple war time house in Toronto. I use this series of photos to show that Staging is for every price point. This house set the benchmark price in the neighbourhood.

Feb 02, 2009 11:37 PM
c m
Colorado Springs, CO

Very cool idea for the wide hallway.  My associate and I had a "wide hallway" where the homeowner had put a very oversized table.  It actually covered a portion of the doorway.  We removed that, and replaced it with a dropleaf secretary, with a few books and plant on top.  With a chair angled beside it, the wide hallway became a "mini-study" to sit and pay bills, or write a letter.  SOLD! 

Feb 05, 2009 06:15 PM
Michelle Finnamore
Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON
Preparing your property for sale

HI Cheryl,

That's what Stagers are good at...seeing possibilities where others only see brick walls to reaching to goals.

Feb 11, 2009 03:07 AM