This week my team (3 of us) spent 3 days helping an elderly woman move into her newly purchased home. We were fortunate that we could look at her previous home to get an idea of how she enjoys her environment. Her style is clearly Victorian and she LOVES things, art on the walls and knick knacks everywhere. We did need to leave room for her to comfortably get around on her scooter.
This is her home. We needed to pay attention to what she liked, what she wanted and forget about our personal opinions.
The homeowner was clear that she wanted things a certain way - the way they have always been. She wanted certain pieces in each room & all the pieces were to be used.
There are still a few more pieces to come from another location and they'll be filling in any 'gaps' (she doesn't like blank spaces anywhere). We'll be there next week to help with that.
This homeowner was an absolute delight. She was fun to work with and she really appreciated what we were doing for her. Bound to a scooter she didn't know how she would get it all unpacked. Her son, who takes great care of her, doesn't have a solid week to do the work, and much of it takes more than one person to move.
This job leads to other jobs. She moved out of a condo in another part of town. We will stage that unit for her to put it on the market. (Believe it or not there is still plenty of furniture in it that we won't have to bring any in ourselves.) Her sister is also looking for a little design help. She just moved and wants a redesign.
For the agent who represented the buyer.... what kind of impression would this leave for your client if you had suggested it to them and perhaps offered a gift certificate towards some of it? Do you think you might get the listing as well? Would she talk about you to her friends and family and recommend you? ABSOLUTELY! Something to think about....
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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.
Amazing job, truely going the extra mile is going to pay you back ten fold.
You did a beautiful job.
George
Melissa,
I love what you said about putting your personal opinions aside. We certainly have to do that when we are doing redesigns
It is all good.
In redesign it is their stuff and you are pleasing them. I like helping people set up in new places and unwrap their treasures again.
I find all things to do with staging fun and yes, you do, stage homes to be lived in - think theater!!
Typing in the graphics nowdays is like writing a blog "cochin-goraka"??
Melissa,
I'm sure your efforts were much appreciated by the home owner and her family. It's so important for the elderly (or anyone) to have the things you love around you in such a big transition. Good job!!
Penny White
Beststagedesign Inc.
It's always a good reminder to think of the tie-in between staging and followup move-in/redesign. I think alot of baby boomers will be downsizing and this will be a niche market. Your respectful quality serves you well, Melissa.
What is so great about this is that YOU DID LISTEN to her and you were able to set up HER HOME as truly HER HOME. This at times can be so much more fun than staging and I am sure she greatly appreciated it
Phyllis Pafumi