This is the tale of a little home we just finished staging. I was hired by the listing agent to evaluate this home and then hired by the owners to help prepare it for market. One of the biggest issues in this home was the lack of a master bedroom.... oh sure, there was one but I didn't know it when I walked into it!
In this particular floorplan the master bedroom is the only room directly up the flight of stairs. This was what I saw upon entering....
I thought, wow, what a weird place for a bed & it's directly on the floor, no rails... we'll make a note to change that. I turned the corner and saw the master bathroom & closet.... OH, wait. THIS IS THE MASTER SUITE? Uh oh..... This was the next thing I saw....
Uh oh. This guy is a tech guy.... will he let go of the computer? We can't keep it here. Maybe he'll let us move it into the guest room. This just can't be in the master suite!
Sitting and talking to the owner after my consultation we came to one conclusion - he wanted to sell his house! No, he really meant it.... seriously! He let me do anything I felt was necessary (within a given budget), including moving the computer completely out of the house. We didn't even have to give up the guest room for it! So, here is what we came up with....
Now, this is a master suite! The owner came home when we were finishing up today and couldn't stop saying, "WOW!" He told us that he felt like he was staying in a resort on Kiawah Island (an upscale resort community nearby).
He also commented that when he walked into his home (downstairs) that he thought he walked into the wrong house... lol... but that's another blog.
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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
Such a wonderful transformation. It was also good to hear that the seller was on board with what his true objective was ~ to sell the place!
Thanks! :)
Ba Da Bing, Ba Da BOOM!
Now that is one inviting, restful space. Fantastic, purposed transformation Melissa. I want those bedside lamps!
Melissa,
I agree with the home owner . It's hard to believe it's the same house.
We all know your "power of persuasion" in convincing the seller how to market his house to sell, Melissa! Another great illustration of the investment of staging.
Kathy
This is awesome, Melissa!
We are working up a bid as I type (Mark is doing it) for a home that has two master suites- one upstairs and one downstairs- each master bath has a garden tub, stand-in shower and his/her sinks (& a potty, of course). This is a challenge for us, too.
I think I feel a blog coming........ HELP :o)
~Leslie
PS. When I grow up, I wanna live in Chas and stage like you do!
Hi Melissa...Love befoe and afters. With these wonderful posts who needs to look at shelter magazines. Thank you for sharing these with us.
I have a completely empty house that I would love to see staged. I'm sure we would be able to get it sold so much faster.
Kathleen
I always love your posts! Great pictures and info!
Take Care & Have a Great '08!
Don't you just LOVE when that happens. Rewarding work we do and job security...he'll tell all his friends.
Looks awesome! Great job; glad they let you work your magic.
Just beautiful as always! Kym
Melissa: WOW, what a difference, you sure have the KNACK...I can always expect to learn a thing or two when I read one of your blogs, thanks!! I'm sure the homeowner wonders why he is moving now.
Thanks everyone! This home actually closes in just a few days... under contract in less than 30 days. There actually was an offer 4 days after staging, but it was not ratified. I don't know the amount but the owner said that he felt the staging was directly related to the offer and that he was very pleased!