I had a call tonight from an agent who was having a little frustration. One of his listings actually received an offer and a ratified contract from a client who he also has a listing for.... (wild, huh?) The seller (who is also the buyer on another of his listings) isn't sure that staging really works and why he should do it. The agent, who worked with me his first time on the property that the selling/buying client purchased was thrilled with the results and started working with us on all of his new listings - including recommending for this one. In order to help convince his new client, he broke out what he felt was his most powerful ammunition... stats.... He copied me on the email and here is an excerpt of it...
"We first dropped the price to 200K and showings picked up (7 in one month). Then a month later we staged it and showings really began to take off (39 in two months). Staging cost, but it pays in the long run."
For all of those who doubt.... yes, you can reduce the price to sell the property, but that's not always enough. Staging, for this client, increased the number of showings significantly - something the price reducation did not.
So, if you want more showings for your listings - STAGE YOUR LISTINGS!!! remember, more showings increase the liklihood that the property will sell..... btw, as a refresher, the listing client he is talking to is the one who bought the staged property - ironic, huh?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like to be taught by CSP's Executive Director, Melissa Marro, see her class dates below and call 1-888-STAGING to reserve your seat. To learn more about becoming a Certified Staging Professional, visit www.csptraining.com.
- June 23 CSP Elite Agent Class - Charleston, SC
- July 8 -9 CSP Elite Instructor Training - St. Catharines, ON
- July 28-30 CSP Certification Course - Charleston, SC
- August 4-6 CSP Certification Course - Jacksonville, FL
- August 11 CSP Elite Agent Training - Charleston, SC
- August 13 CSP Elite Agent Training - Columbia, SC
- August 25 - 27 CSP Certification Course - Nashville, TN
- September 10-12 CSP Certification Course - Atlanta, GA
- September 22-24 CSP Certification Course - Denver, CO
- October 6-8 CSP Certification Course - Charlotte, NC
- October 20-22 CSP Certification Course - Baton Rouge, LA
- November 10-12 CSP Certification Course - Tampa, FL
- December 1-3 CSP Certification Course - Jackson, MS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Impressions Home Staging & Interior ReDesign is a nationally award winning company owned and operated in Summerville, SC a suburb of Charleston, SC. We provide high quality staging for both occupied and vacant homes in the greater surrounding areas and beyond! For more information please visit, www.WeStageSC.com. If you are interested in learning about making Home Staging your profession, please visit, www.StagingAndRedesign.com for more information.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Melissa Marro, a published artist, now turned staging advocate and national speaker speaks her mind about real estate and the home staging industry. In her 'no holds barred' approach, audience members find real answers to the industries pitfalls and learn how to overcome them with tried and true information and guidance. With marketing as her passion, she turned a small home based business into one of the nation's largest home staging and training facilities. Selling her successful home staging company in January 2012, Marro is now a full time speaker and instructor for Staging And Resign and Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)'s trade events.
For more information on having Marro speak at one of your real estate functions, please contact her at 843.619.1593 or email at marro.melissa@gmail.com
You make a very strong point.
My concern is that this agent was showing houses to a buyer before his own house was on the market or under contract. I hope that person doesn't have to sell in order to buy or it might take 6 months to sell and the agent has wasted time.
Donna - the buyer has strong financials and the sale is not contingent upon the sale of the other property... that was one of my first questions too....
That is so strange! Does the buyer/lister think the staging had no part in his interest in the home he's buying? It seems obvious to me that the staging worked! I hope he listens to those impressive stats.
Melissa,
Thanks for sharing this information. It is always so great when a Realtor believes in Home Staging. It really makes our jobs a little easier. It was really great that the Realtor included proven stats in the information that he presented to his client. I think stats always help!
Melissa,
Staging gets them everytime....and they don't know why. Now if the seller would only have you stage his property then he would be able to buy the one you already staged. Hmmm....go figure!
I just did a quote for this other property today.... Let's see if he gets it. Here was our supporting documentation....
MLS# 2904781 $262,500 staged 2/17/09, under contract 2/22/09 under contract in 5 days!
MLS# 2905414 $249,000 staged 2/23/09, under contract 3/17/09 under contract in 23 days!
MLS# 2906646 $334,900 staged 3/25/09, under contract 4/13/09 under contract in 19 days!
MLS# 2910652 $200,000 staged 04/25/09, under contract 6/06/09 under contract in 42 days!
MLS # 2901714 $192,500 staged 04/03/02, under contract 5/02/09 under contract in 30 days!
These are all in the ballpark of his price range.
Always interesting when some people struggle to see what is right in front of their noses. Thanks for sharing the email and your own terrific stats, Melissa. Let us know how this seller responds.
Great stats, you should be actively promoted these.
I recently completed a full staging job on a vacant property for an agent who actually owns the property. We had done work for him in the past but on this occasion we went the extra mile to make sure the installation was spot on as he was skeptical of how staging could add value to the property. Two days had gone past since the install and not a word from him on his thoughts...until today (Saturday) when he rang to say what a great investment it was and how it transformed his brand new home.
Another win to Home Staging!!