When buyers look through MLS, is this what they are thinking? Agents, have you taken a look at your listings and really paid attention as to what you notice first, the property or the stuff? Here's an example of a home I staged last week.... When I first visited the home, the seller actually had already moved out but EVERYTHING WAS STILL IN THE HOME. I do mean EVERYTHING! (there was still stuff in the fridge, closets and garbage can... it was actually just a little creepy.) The sellers had relocated overseas and had not yet had movers pick up their belongings, which would go into long term storage.
Originally we were to stage the home using the homeowner's belongings - which we had in abundance. Then a few things changed and we found out that the entire home had been packed up and now we were called out to stage the property - this time vacant. Here are some photos of what the home looked like when we originally visited (these are the actual MLS photos). The after photos are after staging the property vacant. The budget was relatively modest, but we were told by the listing agent - LESS IS MORE. After the original photos, you'll understand why they were clear on stressing this....
In the original photo, what was the first thing you noticed? Was it the high ceiling? Windows? Architecture? what about the gorgeous inlay in the flooring?
Does the first photo make you feel like you WANT to cook a gourmet meal? Do you want to have coffee in the breakfast nook? (Did you know there was a breakfast nook?)
Can you find the fireplace? What about the beautiful windows? Can you tell how large the room is? What do you see first in both photos?
Could we have worked with the homeowner's belongings? ABSOLUTELY! In the end, this wasn't an option. What we created, when all was said and done, we created a calm and peaceful home with lots of open space. Our goal was for buyers to be able to see the scope of the home, the architecture and see what they are buying!!
Remember that when you put your listings on MLS that it is VITAL to have buyers be able to see the home first... if not, chances are they will never see the home in person....
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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. Selling her successful home staging company in January 2012, Marro is now a full time speaker and instructor for Staging And Resign 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 843.619.1593 or email at marro.melissa@gmail.com
Loved the transformation. I once wrote all the comments in MLS and then uploaded the photos and realized just what you did- that my descriptions did not mesh with the order of the pics nor with the items that showed up in the photos well... your tips are really valid, good ones.
Great job....these are wonderful points!!! I don't think I had thought about the impact that the pictures from different angles!!! WOW!
Great points! Another thing is that we need to use our staging as an accent for the photo. I see so many shots of the staging, which is fine for some shots, but you really do need to show the expanse/or assets of the home. For those of us who take bunches of pics... what are we selling... the staging or the house?
Great article Melissa! Love it-so perfectly stated...I want to shout this out...we are not selling staging, we are enhancing homes!!!!
Melissa,
Great stagers like yourself understand that it IS about selling the house and letting the beautiful architecture and selling features be complimented by the staging. This post was "spot on". The house looks sooooo much better in the after pix.
Marianne
Ellie - EEk! That's a problem! it is important for buyers to see what you are selling from the photos...
Debra - Yes, angles make a HUGE difference!
Lori - I see the same thing all the time. It is important as stagers that we have some that are for our portfolio, but they need to be balanced and used accordingly.
Cathy - We need them to see what they are buying... our stuff is just to help highlight that!
Marianne - Thank you! It's great to have beautiful homes to work with, but it's our job to always remember that it isn't about our stuff - it's about making that great architecture stand out with what we add!
As always very informative post...will bookmark for future reference..thanks for sharing...
I love the difference between the before and after of the dining room! It's two completely different rooms. All those beautiful features were hidden - that costs the seller money!
I would say that the owner had an interior decorator do their home. The agent thought it looked great.
Many agents do not take photos that show the room the way it should be shown.
Very well said Melissa! This really was a transformation - I had to look twice to make sure I was looking at the same rooms!
Mary Lou - you are welcome
Sharon - crazy huh?
Virginia - actually the agent wanted us to come in and stage the house... they felt less is more & we agree! The photos were still a problem though...
Debra - lol... how funny! That's what happens for buyers as well.... it's important that the home's photos fit the description...
Melissa-When you see the "before" photos, you see the furnishings. Your "After" photos allow the architecture and design to be showcased. So many times sellers and realtors think that lots of expensive furniture equal a staged home. Not necessarily true.
Excellent read. Remembering that a house needs to be sold and not the owner's home and furnishings is the objective of staging.
Great post! Redirecting the focus is so very important. You did a very nice job. How long after was the home sold?
PS: I wish your course was offered in Canada.
Kathy - very good point... staging is NOT about expensive furnishings or belongings - it's about showing off the home...what they are buying.
Liz - glad you got the point of my post... very excellent summary!
Susan - Thank you. We just finished staging on Saturday and it went on the market Monday. It has not gone under contract yet (to my knowledge). Funny that you say that about the course I teach as it actually started in Canada. Visit www.stagingtraining.com for more information or to view the calendar of classes. Christine Rae, Duncan Scott and Jackson West are the Canadian Instructors.
Melissa,
Another EXCELLENT post! I hate to say it, but where I live these kind of shots are the norm. So are the furnishing. And the agents and sellers wonder why the homes are on the market for months or even years. When will people learn that too much stuff can kill a sale.
As I always say, one man's ( or woman') treasure is another man's trash.
Linda - Thanks so much.... that's a great saying for real estate!
I agree with Sharon...the dining room was like night and day...well done! I think it is so important for realtors to see the difference in the photos...huge!
Valerie - we need to keep putting it out there so we can get them to finally understand!
WOW, your pictures say a thousand words. The furniture was overwhelming before. In most occupied Staging jobs we have to advise sellers to thin out furniture as well as personal belongings.
What a huge difference! Before you can only see furniture - where is the house? Browsing through online listings there are unfortunately way too many houses in my area that show this kind of picture. Great post, Melissa!
Gina - It is probably the hardest part for most people on occupied properties... they just don't understand that clutter eats equity!
Birgit - It felt the exact same way in person... and unfortunately its that way here a lot too... all we can do it one house at a time!
Great post and great examples of how photos and staging together can make a huge difference in a home's market appeal.
Amazing transformation. I would also add that not only was there too much furniture before, hiding delightful architectural details, but also the style of the furniture would not be to everyone's taste. The original furniture was very heavy and traditional - young families are looking for a more relaxed, contemporary or transitional style that doesn't scream "look at me". This is a great post.