Realtors are beginning to understand that staged homes sell faster & for more money than unstaged. What they may not realize is that most professional stagers can be of further service to their business than just closing the deal! Many GOOD realtors look for memorable ways of giving something back to their clients. They want something that will make the new homeowner feel really satisfied with the transaction so they will offer up their name every time someone they know even thinks about buying or selling a home. Why not offer a gift certificate for move-in services? Staging to live, if you will...
Many new homeowners are busy either starting new jobs, or looking for them. Others are not able to actually do much of the moving themselves. Moving furniture around, hanging art, choosing paint colors & hiring the painters can be real work. Instead of this taking months, we can do it in days!
Agents - consider this - what homeowner would not rave about the agent that not only helped find the perfect home, but helped to make that home ... well, HOME!
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Melissa Marro, a published artist, now turned staging advocet 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 the Executive Director of Certified Staging Professionals International Training Academy (CSPI) - the world's largest Staging Training Organization, 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.
For more information on Marro's CSP Staging Training, please visit www.StagingAndRedesign.com, visit the CSP Calendar for dates or email marro.melissa@gmail.com. Below is a list of Marro's current CSP Certification class dates:
February 6-8 Charleston, SC
February 16-18 Austin, TX
March 6-8 Atlanta, GA
March 13-15 Raleigh, NC
March 20-22 St. Petersburg, FL
April 10-12 Knoxville, TN
May 4-6 Covington, KY
May 18-20 Charlotte, NC
July 5-7 Memphis, TN
July 10-12 Charleston, SC
Hi Melissa
What a great , fun business to be in - I'm a realtor and do believe that placement of furniture really makes a comfortable home. And you are right - if you are not a professional it will take you months to get it together. What does it cost to hire a stager?
Cindy Roper - Sellstate Achievers Realty
Maureen - I'm actually standing on the staircase leading to the next floor. You always have awesome photos, so I don't think you need MY tips! I did get a new wide angle lens today that I'm very excited to use though. I am staging 3 vacant homes between now and Friday, so I guess I'll have my chance!
Cindy - I do LOVE my job! It is very hard to answer the question of how much a stager charges as it is different in every area. For agents I offer a full day for the price of a half day (limit 1 per homeowner) which is $375 ($750 value). If it takes more than one day then the homeowner will usually pick up the tab for the remaining.
As usual, great marketing ideas Melissa!
Who would provide the certificates?
I have a template that I created a while back for potential clients but to send them to realtors for a closing gift, is a great idea. Do you find that most Realtors give the gift of $375 or a deposit towards that? I know you are a realtor too, do you find this in any way a conflict of interest? And this includes furnishings or just your time? Your posts are always so informative! Thank you in advance for answering my questions.
Lisa - I am a licensed agent, but I do not buy or sell real estate. I use my license for access to a lock box card and MLS only. This means I don't have any conflict because YES I definately feel it would be a conflict of interest.
I haven't actually begun promoting it to agents yet. This will go out in my July newsletter on Tuesday. I am doing a 3 day move-in for a new client whose sister saw the advertising on my van. I am also doing a redesign for the sister who called when I'm done and then the staging for the sale of the home for the one who just moved in (3 day redesign)
That is terrific! Thanks for your tips and great chatting with you.