The Staged House That Never Sold

Judy:

What were the original MLS photos like?  How many were there? If the agent took bad ones, or not enough, that may have been a problem as well.

Some things, like price and "fatal flaws" like the backyard, may be hard to overcome except by a ridculously low price.  I photographed a beautifully staged home in Oak Ridge in a very affluent neighborhood.  Problem is, the "outer loop" of Greensboro will be going in right behind the house, so the price will have to be low enough to warrant someone living with a highway as their bacyard backdrop.

I also am no math wiz, but $200 into a $70,000 price drop seems like a drop in the bucket.  Of course, if they are close to foreclosure, they may have needed every penny (you'll be amazed on how little some "wealthy" people actually own once they miss a paycheck or two).

Honestly, I think you did all that you could to help this property sell.  You said it yourself...there is a "troubling" backyard, and most of all is was over-priced.  I think that was the "real" problem.

I staged a condo a couple of years ago that didn't sell either.  It had been on the market for nearly one year when I got the call. Here is a brief scenario.

After buying a second home, the seller tried to sell her, now vacant, condo FSBO.  That didn't work.  She listed it with a Realtor at a price the SELLER thought it should be.  The Realtor, whom I met, was a nice lady, but not very assertive.  She even told me that the condo was "way over priced."  After the unit was on the market for nearly a year, we were called in to stage.  It had a lot of showings, but no offers.  Why? Because it was over priced and there were several units for sale in this development that weren't! 

After only two months, the seller wanted us to destage.  The listing expired shortly after.  The condo was listed with another Realtor for about eight thousand dollars less than the  FSBO price, and four thousand less than the last listing.  After THREE price reductions, the listing expired, the condo wasn't re-listed, and to my knowledge sits vacant today.

What a shame.  I believe the price killed the sale the first two times, the interest was already gone, and buyers now had reason to believe that there was something seriously wrong with this condo.  It's just my opinion, but in your case, it was a lost cause before you ever got there.

Judy ~ As stagers we're powerless when it comes to important selling factors like location, market conditions, pricing, and awkward spaces or site problems.  Your staging definitely improved the look of this home, and for a very reasonable cost to the seller.  I staged a gorgeous home last year and like you, consulted with the seller prior to staging about needed cosmetic improvements, which he took care of.  After only 6 weeks on the market, however, he (IMO) panicked and decided to take the house off the market and lease it.  Sometimes we do our job just right but other factors influence the outcome.  We've all been there and can find comfort in knowing that we accomplished our goal of making the home appealing to the target buyer.

I have a real problem with that bathroom and I'm sure it wasn't helping matters.  It is so frustrating when they won't make a change as simple as painting a small bathroom.  We have all been there.  I had a client who wanted to destage after only thirty days because he said "the staging wasn't working" when the truth of the matter was that they didn't do 2/3 of what I told them needed to be done and the "staging" couldn't make up the difference. 

I've had the same problem with a couple of homes that were overpriced.  They got tons of showings, but buyers just laugh at the seller when the price is too high - there's so much to choose from now.

Yes, it's too bad.  I have only had three homes that I have staged that didn't sell within the first three months - yet alone, not at all.  and all three were due to price.  All three were tens, if not hundreds of thousands over what comp sales were in their areas.  They all "NEED" to sell, and their Realtors told them their asking price would be WAY too high - but they all beleived their house is worth more for whatever reason....  oh well, chalk it up!

ugh...ugh...Don't you just hate it when the decision is out of your hands and you know they are making a mistake.  But it's their mistake.  You did a wonderful job. 

Staging (presentation) is one leg on a three legged stool. Promotion and pricing are the other two. If one is missing you are not going to get it sold in a reasonable time span. Unfortunately you only control one leg.

You may want to tell your clients this story when you do your consultation. Sometinmes they get so excited about how good their house looks, they get unrealistic when it comes to pricing.

                                                  You did your best. That's all you can do!