If the home doesn't sell in the first month or two, then I'll stage. This philosophy, designed to save money, actually has a tendency to cost the seller more than they could possibly stand to gain - in both time and money.
MLS PHOTO BEFORE MLS PHOTO AFTER
Think back to one of the first things you learned after real estate school. New listings are HOT! This is when the most interest is generated. Agents who are WOWed by the listing will show it over and over again - if it lasts that long. The best possible offers are typically obtained during this initial period as well. When you postpone staging, you have missed the opportunity of putting your best foot forward, so to speak. These are excited potential buyers and possibly agents that you will never win back!
So, what to do? At the listing table, explain the importance of staging to compete in today's market. Have your professional home stager provide a consultation immediately - before the listing hits the market! (It may be necessary to postpone the listing contract.) Your stager will provide a list of projects and possible improvements necessary to compete and shine in your market.
These changes are vital to securing the maximum equity for your clients as possible in today's current market conditions. Hesitating or waiting WILL cost your client equity.
Learn more & download brochures and literature for your clients.
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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. She now operates as the CEO of First Impressions Home Staging & Interior ReDesign as well as an instructor for Staging And Resign and regularly speaks at the StagerList Expos 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 843.822.2622 or email at marro.melissa@gmail.com
If you would like Marro's team to provide information on staging a property in the state of South Carolina, or the Greater Charleston Area, please visit www.WeStageSC.com, email marro.melissa@gmail.com or call 843.822.2622.
Hey Melissa, I agree that waiting until a month or two after a listing hits the market to stage could mean missing out on the best offers...it's the same reason why I wait until I have my pictures and virtual tour ready before I submit my listing agreement and get my listings submitted in the MLS...I want pictures to go up the same day as it hits the market.
Have a great day,
Anne Rains
You are literally "right on the money," Melissa. Staging before listing is crucial if a homeowner wants to maximize their equity. Those first two weeks are so crucial and there really are no mulligans on this one. Even though pulling a listing off the market, staging, and re-listing is better than leaving a stale, un-staged house linger on the market--it will never be as successful as staging and then listing with a bang right off the bat.
Great points Melissa - let's hope people are listening. It doesn't make sense to me to wait - why waste time and money?
Aloha Melissa,
Your right on the money. If your going to do it right, do it right the first time around, the longer the property sits on the market the harder it is to sell. If your not committed to doing everything you can to sell the property to begin with why bother. Thanks for the post!
Peace,
Great advice Melissa! You are right! Why not stage right off? No point in wasting money