Speaking Up about Home Staging

We just took a listing that has previous been on the market in Goose Creek for over 10 months.  When we reviewed the past listings prior to our listing appointment, we instantly knew the problem(s) and how we could improve the odds of selling.  The problem was presentation! It's the first rule in marketing IMHO.  The product must be appealing and packaged properly. This is a lovely home with a fabulous floorplan in a wonderful community but the previous listings didn't convey this. If buyers don't like what they see in the photos, they aren't going to step in the door.

During the first listing, the house was occupied and wasn't showcase properly to entice a buyer.  This home is in a neighborhood competing with new construction and a model home making it irrestible to buyers. In second listing, the house was vacant. The rooms looked small, lonely and forgotten.  This home needed the dining room needed to be painted and the house needed to be staged.  The transformation made by Melissa Marro of First Impressions is amazing as showcased in the photos below.  We are expecting amazing results and can wait to report back.  What do you think? Which house photos are going to make a buyer schedule a showing?  They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  I believe they can be worth several thousand dollars in saving carrying costs and helping a seller retain more of their equity. I wish I would have met this seller sooner because I believe if we had taken this listing sooner and made these changes, they would have sold sooner and at a higher price since the market has changed in the last 10 months when they went on the market.

UPDATE 11/16/09: We've been on the market 10 days and we just got our first showing and an offer!!  While it was a low offer and I'm not sure if we'll work it out, it goes to show staging works! This property was on the market with another agent for 10 MONTHS with NO action.  Just 10 days with staging has produced an offer!

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are Relocation Specialists with Carolina One Real Estate in Charleston, SC. Contact Top Real Estate Agents, North Charleston, SC Relocation Experts, CRS, GRI, ABR. Licensed Realtors® in South Carolina at 843-849-5217 to list your home for sale or to purchase a home in Charleston, Goose Creek, Summerville, North Charleston, Hanahan, Mount Pleasant and the surrounding areas in Charleston County, Berkeley County or Dorchester County, South Carolina. The Charleston Relocation Experts Team specializes in relocations, first time homebuyers and creating marketing exposure to sell your home in the Charleston SC Real Estate market. We can also be contacted at info@CharlestonRelocationExperts.com. To view all North Charleston SC and surrounding homes for Sale Click Here and then click on Search for Homes.