Fab Real Estate Blog

Hi Don,

Greetings from KW here in Sunny Claremont California.  Great article, I think this is a very two-edged sword.  Sure, buyer's have indeed learned what to look at, but they are still not totally up on what to look for.

Staging is important, but it is also super important for buyer's to remember that they are buying the floors, walls and windows and not the carpet, paint and shades.

The blessing is that perhaps it will make things easier for us as representatives when we need to explain to a seller why the photos of their 37 grandkids and all their hunting and bowling trophy's need to be stored. 

The curse is that I think buyer's have now gotten so attuned to the wrapping that they may not be appreciating the gift.  If a buyer is looking at whether or not the home has been appropriately staged, I think they are probably looking at the wrong things. 

Take care, help lots of people and have a wonderful day!

Tisza

 

Take care, help lots of people and have a wonderful day!

Tisza

Hi Don, apparently the sellers are not watching HGTV or maybe they are just tight with a buck.  In a seriously DOWN market one would think sellers would be begging for stagers.  Apparently they are not.  My business is steady, but nothing to brag about.  Still can't figure out if its the realtors who hesitate to recommend a stager or the sellers dragging their feet.

Terry Haugen - STAGE it RIGHT!

Good point!

Everyone I know mentions "Designed to Sell" and other similar type programs.  The buyers are watching; maybe we should make a "Best Of" dvd and leave it with sellers at listing appointments...

SK

Tisza - I get your point, but buyers are most definitely using their emotions when buying a home, and there is nothing wrong with that.  It's part of the process.  A staged, depersonalized, neutralized home allows them to make the leap of looking at someone else's house as if it were their own home.

If a home is cluttered, full of knick-knacks or items that may "turn-off" a buyer, then that buyer will not even look past the decorations to see the floors and the walls and the construction...  True, this may mean a buyer passes on an otherwise good home that just needs a good cleaning and some paint...but buyers are now wondering if the seller won't even stage the home for showings, then how could they have taken care of the home while they lived there?

And, the buyers ARE buying the carpets and paint and window shades.  It's all part of the package:
"This home has beautiful carpets and fresh paint and those wood blinds are gorgeous.  I don't have to do a thing to this house once I move in!"

Staging won't remove a garbage dump located next door, but it will help a buyer see all that the home can be.

Terry - In all honesty, sellers who also watch HGTV know they must stage their home.  How to stage their home is one of the first questions those sellers will ask me.  However, there are too many sellers who aren't watching these shows.  And, they believe that their home is "good enough as it is."  Sadly, good enough just isn't good enough any more.

Living in a home is hugely different than selling a home.  My own house is only 2 years old.  I could never put it on the market without painting most of the interior again - the marks on the walls from my kids are fine for me...but that's not what a buyer will want to see.  The kids' toys in the corner of my family room are fine for day-to-day living, but buyers don't want to see that mess.

How we live in our homes on a day-to-day basis is one thing.  Setting the stage for a sale is a whole different game.  Sellers who get that, succeed.  (as long as they're realistic with the price, too!)

But, you know this already.  Need to get the word out the your local agents and the community at large!

Sharon - Our customers are watching these shows, or at least the buyers are.  They now want picture-perfect homes when they're house hunting.

Sellers need to realize this and prepare their home for marketing. 

A "best-of" DVD.  Hmmm...there's one for the stagers.  I think even us agents can create our own "best-of" images of the simpler stagings we do ourselves.  That's a great idea!

Don, I agree with your last comment...the BUYERS are definitely watching these shows and expect ALOT when they walk in a home.  If it's not model perfect, they may not like it.  So many people cannot or will not look past paint color, outdated wallpaper, and clutter.  They want to be able to move in without doing alot of "fix up" to a place...and I don't blame them.  With several of my clients (I am a Realtor), money is tight and they can't afford to do some of the big things, like update their kitchen, etc....it's a tough balancing act on how to handle it. 

Lori - You're right.  Buyers expect model-condition homes, and they often cannot afford major fix-up projects.  With higher inventories of homes for sale than we've had in the past, the buyers are able to just move on to the next one.

I'm not suggesting sellers remodel their dated kitchens, but paint, cleaning and de-cluttering goes a long way.  Buyers may accept a dated kitchen if it's "livable" if everything else in the home works for them.  It is a balancing act, and sellers need to tip that balance in their favor.

Don, You found the perfect word - BALANCE.  That is what a seller needs to get the most out of their house and a good stager can help them reach that goal.  And it's not as pricey as most sellers assume.

Times have changed.  30 yrs ago people had time to do projects, do it your self was cheap, weekends you washed your own cars, and you had alot more down time at work.  Today it's go go go, bosses want more productivity in the same 40hrs,  you pay to have everything done for you, there are even professional errand runners now!  So a house that needs work, is just that alot of WORK!  If you watch House Hunters on HGTV you'd be amazed at how many people don't even paint when they move it - too much WORK. 

LETS FACE IT WE NOW LIVE IN A FAST FOOD WORLD AND PEOPLE WANT IT ALL DONE FOR THEM!! 

Staging is just the next wave of having things done for you!!  Only this one pays you back!!

 

Kimberly - you're right in that oftentimes, it doesn't take a whole lot of money or time to stage a home properly.  Little things can add up to a lot.  Do those little things up front, then spend a whole lot less time marketing the home and cleaning it on a daily basis in case buyers show up...

Becky - You only work 40 hours a week?  I'm jealous.  I like your quote, if I may paraphrase, "Staging pays you back!"  That says it all.  Especially in this market where some homes are sitting on the market for extended periods of time.  Clean up and stage the darn home, get it sold, and then you can move on with your life!  Plus, once it sells, you no longer have to worry about cleaning up every morning...

"Staging pays you back."  I may have to use that one.

Don, as a Home Stager in the Hartford area, we are a little behind Fairfield County. I have noticed a noticeable increase in agents calling me in to stage their properties ahead of listing them! I am very encouraged about the overall awareness and willingness to include me in their planning. Rhonda Rawlins, Glastonbury Home Staging

Hi Don,

What a great question! I think sellers are still to emotionally attached to their property. I don't think they truly tack a step back and say, "Is my house at it's best and ready for the extensive competition in today's market?" Sad but true!  

Rhonda - even here in Fairfield County, most homes are not staged.  Many homes don't even have the minor issues taken care of that we could do without a stager (no offense...I love stagers, but even without one there are some things we as agents can do with the homeowners to make the home show better - it's at least a starting point).

Penny - You are correct, and let's also add that when you live in a house, you begin to overlook things.  "That big purple stain on the carpet?  That's been there so long I don't even see it anymore.  Buyers won't notice that."  Yes, they will.