Speaking Up about Home Staging

I love it when everything goes right.  This time they almost did, but fortunately wtih a savvy agent and a client who really listened, we acheived amazing results in very little time.  Just before the holidays we received a call from Lori Claussen, a Keller Williams agent who works with us on a regular basis.  Lori has seen the benefits of staging first hand and knew that this vacant beach house needed us.  The home had been on the market for 7 months with another local agent and with no interest and no offers, the sellers decided they needed a new approach.  Lori came to the rescue, differentiating herself by recommending staging and showing how it works. 

With a call from Lori, we arrived to this charmer in the cool winter Charleston weather.  We were given the information that this home was likely to be a short sale.  Typically, we know, that this means that the seller is unwilling to invest any additional money in the property.  We hoped it wouldn't be the case.  Lori simply wasn't sure.  With much in the way of statistics and personal experience, Lori fought to have the home staged - for the seller's best interest. 

The day before Christmas we received a call that the sellers had agreed - when could it be staged?  On the cold morning (35 degrees) of December 29th we arrived at the home to the understanding that there was no electricity and no water.  My team agreed to battle the cold and get this done as quickly and beautifully as possible. 

Before the staging it was clear that the home had some stumbling blocks for buyers... what is typically a favorable sought after element - an open floorplan - had become a big square room with no interest.  The bedroom, while clearly huge, seemed awkward and unappealing.  Rather than looking charming and welcoming, the home simply looked old and worn.  Still we knew that proper staging could fix that!

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While it was clear to us that we had made a huge impact on the salability of this home by showing the potential of the space and providing a clear lifestyle, we still hoped that with the possibility of a short sale that staging would do it's job.  The property was listed at $749,000 and that market has still been very heavily hit by the economic environment.  Still, just after New Years, we received an email from the listing agent....

"Just wanted to thank you for such a wonderful job!  My clients love it and we have already received an offer!  Not sure if it will work yet, but they have not had an offer in over 7 months and this came literally 2 days after your staging was complete! We have several showings scheduled and hopefully we will have a sale soon!" Lori Claussen, Keller Williams.

I know there are still Active Rainers out there who think that staging is tricking the buyer, or that homes sell better empty.  With 78% of expired listings being vacant and professionally staged properties selling in less than half the time as comperable unstaged ones, isn't it time that you become a believer and do what's best for your clients?  If you think you are saving them money by not staging, think again!  This poor seller wasted 7 months of time on market with no interest and 2 days after staging received an offer.  There is little doubt that the offer was lower than it should have been precisely because the home sat for 7 months.  Do what's best for your clients, avoid the wasted time, energy and frustration and stage before the home is ever listed!