Do you ever play this game when you are looking in MLS for your clients? Worse yet do your clients feel like they are playing this game when looking at your MLS listings? Is this what they are seeing?
Do you know what room this is? I'm sure you can guess, but it is just that, right? I mean, do you KNOW? If your client were to see this photo in MLS would they be drawn in? Would they ask to see more? Would they call you to schedule a showing appointment?
Does this photo provide additional information for your client? Is it clear what room this is? Do you know how big it is now. Would your client be more inclined to want to view the rest of the home? This is the power of staging.
One of the main reasons staging sells a home faster is because we are able to help create more traffic. Additional traffic increases the odds of finding a qualified buyer who loves the home you are selling. If you are serious about selling contact your local area stager today.
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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
Ginger - Thank you! I certainly hope that agents can understand the value when we can show what a difference the photos show in MLS!
Deborah - EXACTLY the problem.... who can tell when the home is empty! Sure you can usually add captions at the bottom, but that doesn't tell potential buyers what they need to know.
Fernando - The room was certainly large enough that it could have a sitting room. A full size sofa would have worked nicely here as well - or a chaise.
Marci - Thank you so much. Can you believe we were given this bed? It's a $2000 Ralph Lauren - friends of Bevin's were just going to give it to goodwill.... thanks, we'll take it!
Again, I like the angle of your after photo, Melissa. Always something new...
Kathy
Oh. I would have gotten to master bedroom - eventually! I like the way you showed how that little alcove area could be used.
Melissa, The before pic says" this is a stark unwelcoming area and we don't know how to use this room"
The after photo says"Don't you want to relax in YOUR new master bedroom?"
Great Blog and Important Point!
Melissa--I can hear buyers looking on the internet saying "what is this a picture of?" I did not guess bedroom, and I spend my days in vacant houses! How is a buyer supposed to figure it out? Another great job and perfect example of the power of staging!!!
Whoa - where have I been all day? ......
Kathy P. - good illustration then, huh? apparently not the room you thought it was....
Abby - Thanks for playing... and proving my point!
Leslie - glad you 'got it'! Thanks for playing....
Marci - I KNOW! How excited were we! She also picked up a wrought iron bed this way... I like her friends.. lol!
John - ABSOLUTELY! The photos in MLS after a property has been staged is one of the things that helps gain additional traffic = better odds of finding a prospective buyer!
Sandra - The before photo didn't show anything about size & scale. This shows that the room is large enough to provide a sitting area. Thanks for playing!
Elaine - Thank you! Even if the caption was under the room buyers wouldn't know anything about the space.... this is why staging is so important - particularly in this market.
Judy - it would have been obvious if you were actually in the space, but would the before photo bring to look at the space? Would the buyers have known what to do with the space if they were there?
Patrice - thanks for playing! If you don't know what to do with it, what are buyers supposed to think, right? Staging just simply works!
Heather - Thanks for playing... who can tell from the blank walls and windows?
Just a funny side note - I just showed the photo to my assistant (who helped me stage this unit). SHE was trying to figure out where this room was - what the room was - until I scrolled.... we just finished the staging last night! How much does that speak to the power of the staged photograph?
Melissa... Excellent job! Perfect way to continue that staging discussion...and a fantastic example...
;o)
Terrylynn - of course! Please feel free to use this illustration.....
Lisa - Thanks! Staging is about more than just adding a few accessories and/or furniture. It is all part of the education process....
Liz - I am so excited that you are DOING NEWSLETTERS let alone that I have inspired a topic for them... yes, I am proud!
Melissa,
I guessed a dining room too. This makes it truly look like the master suite it is.
Susan - Thank you! The idea is that how can buyers know what they are looking at if this is what they see on MLS? With so many homes on the market it becomes.... NEXT!
Janis - Yep.... the majority definately would have chosen dining room. I think this speaks volumes. Like you said, it proves the power of staging. Potential buyers will know what they are looking for and will want to look at all the photos (and maybe virtual tour too)
Melissa,
Great approach. I also thought maybe it was a formal living room or study.
Bravo, Melissa! We all have to get the word out about how professional home stagers make all the difference in the world!
Neil Bindelglass, Let Me Organize You
Kristi - It is funny that NO ONE picked bedroom or sititng room.... at least you know you are in good company! Thanks for playing!
Thanks Neil! Now, if only you really could organize me... this week I seem to really need it!
Melissa
What a perfect post about the power of Staging! People need to see clearly the space and depth of each room and its function before committing their valuable time in commuting to a home for a walk through.
As you and many of us here now know over 80% of people look on the web for their future home, and if I were to look at the before picture I would have said it was the living room.
Great job as always!
BB
I guessed the room was the living room. I thought the front door was just off to the left.
Great post and staging!
BB - It is exactly because of the need for information PRIOR to visiting the homes that staging has become so important (and effective). It isn't just that they tend to like the home better in person, but that they tend to want to visit the home after viewing it staged in photos online!
Janice - Thanks for playing! Pretty much no one got this right.... hmmmm..... what should that tell agents and home sellers?
Melissa:
I saw you present this at the Charleston Realtors Trade Show..It made everyone take a second look! I was taking notes... What a great way to show Realtors, who represent vacant property the REASON they SHOULD have the home staged.
I hope you will allow me to grab the idea and present it to the C-21 North and South Carolina Realtors next Tuesday!!!
Thanks
Renee
Renee - of course! I think it is very effective in helping them see the reality staging represents & why vacant homes need it so badly!
Good luck with your presentation!