Speaking Up about Home Staging

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Making a bedroom feel like a Master Suite

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 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

 

Comments

Nice job! I'm taking it the bed is in one end of the room and the chair's are on the other.  Very nice, just curious, what were the dimensions of the room?
Posted by Karen Monsour,REALTORĀ®, SSRS - SELLS FL WATER FRONT, SHORT SALE EXPERT! (Coldwell Banker Fort Lauderdale Beach) almost 4 years ago
thx for putting the story with the photo's!  Very entertaining and completed the pictures!
Posted by Karen Dembsky, Atlanta Home Staging (Peachtree Home Staging LLC, Home Staging in Atlanta, GA) almost 4 years ago
Much better!  Isn't it a no no to mix business (computer) and pleasure (sleeping and whatever else your thinking about).  The master bedroom should be a retreat, not a reminder of the work that needs to be done.  Nice work Melissa.
Posted by Ashley Berg *Seattle's Green Real Estate Agent* (Realty Executives BRIO) almost 4 years ago
Oooohhh, NICE JOB!
Posted by David & Lisa Webber, www.webberteam.com (RE/MAX Executive) almost 4 years ago
Awesome!  I'll have to use this as an example of "why stage your property".  Thank you much.
Posted by Margaret Woda, Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation Services (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., Crofton, MD) almost 4 years ago
Great job, there is a huge difference between the before and after story.  
Posted by Ryan Vivo, NRBA Realtor Solano County Gateway Realty 707-384-5894 (Gateway Realty) almost 4 years ago
Love, Love, Love the new Master Suite!  Where did you end up putting the computer?  Would love to see pictures of the rest of the house.
Posted by Raleigh Home Staging and Design -Michele Kurelich (Triangle Home Staging & Design/Lasting Impressions) almost 4 years ago
Great Job! I love walking in to a staged home. It feels and looks great and it really does make a difference with buyers. Keep up the great work!
Posted by Charles Tharp ~ Inland Empire Real Estate & Short Sale Specialist (Prudential California Realty) almost 4 years ago
Melissa - When clients see how the room could have been they can't believe they lived the way they did for so long.  What a great transformation. 
Posted by Maureen Maureen almost 4 years ago

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!  :)

Posted by Susan Cunningham* r.e.VISION ~ Suwanee,GA (NE Atlanta Home Staging) almost 4 years ago

Ba Da Bing, Ba Da BOOM!

Now that is one inviting, restful space. Fantastic, purposed transformation Melissa. I want those bedside lamps! 

Posted by Jackson West (Reveal Estate Home Staging - Vancouver) almost 4 years ago
Nice work as always.  Lamps, me too, on the list for the lamps please. 
Posted by Terrylynn Fisher, HAFA Certified, EcoBroker, CRS, CEP Realtor, Etc. (Dudum Real Estate Group - BuyStageSell.com) almost 4 years ago
WOW - what a transformation. Great job with a SKINNY bedroom!
Posted by Janis Gaines - Home Stager Eugene OR - The Notably Well-Dressed Home Staging (Staging Sells Eugene Homes) almost 4 years ago

Melissa,

I agree with the home owner . It's hard to believe it's the same house.

Posted by Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) almost 4 years ago
Wow, looks great. What a difference.
Posted by Amy Prouty (Home Staging) almost 4 years ago
Hi Melissa,  Beautiful job on that master suite!  It's never a good thing when the potential buyers have to figure out by process of elimination which room is the master.  Your staging leaves no question that this is it!
Posted by Diana Young (Staging Seattle, King & Snohomish Counties) almost 4 years ago

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

Posted by Kathy Riggle Houston Home Staging-STAGING SMART NSOLD (STAGING SMART N SOLD) almost 4 years ago
Melissa - the master looks like a fabulous master bedroom.  I recently did a consult for a homeowner of a condo and they have a desk in the bedroom and a child in the second room and no where else to move it so I have not persuaded them to move the desk out of the bedroom an into storage.  He works from home and insists he needs his "office".  I am hoping after I stage it they will see the value in my advice..
Posted by Sandra Hughes-Redesigned Spaces-Virginia Redesigned Spaces - Fairfax County, VA (Redesigned Spaces - Northern Virginia) almost 4 years ago

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! 

Posted by Leslie Hoyt ~ Hello Home! (Hello Home!) almost 4 years ago
Melissa, a great transformation. That Master suite sure is narrow isn't it for a room? Maybe a smaller width bed might make it look bigger? I don't know, you're the expert on these things.
Posted by Gary Woltal - Assoc. Broker REALTORĀ® SFR Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty) almost 4 years ago
Melissa- Fabulous job, as always! I am writing a proposal today that includes a very large master with the only wall for a bed at one end, and a fireplace at the other. I like the effect of the high-back chairs. Very cozy! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by Elaine Manes Gage~Colorado Stager ~ A Wonderful Space, LLC (A Wonderful Space, LLC) almost 4 years ago
Melissa, Very nice, as usual. I love the cozy sitting area. Must have been quite a task getting a techy to give up the computer! Great job.
Posted by Kimberley Hawley, Hawley Interiors & Staging (Hawley Interiors & Staging) almost 4 years ago

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

Posted by Kate Elim, RealtorĀ® 540-226-1964 Selling Homes & Land at LAKE ANNA almost 4 years ago
Melissa, as usual it looks great. I love that brown in the master, it looks cozy and comfy.
Posted by Tanya Venable Orlando Home Staging Orlando, FL Home Staging (Fresh Eye Designs, LLC ) almost 4 years ago
As always I love your before and afters, nice work. You've been busy with those two(wicker?) chairs girl
Posted by Ronelle Schroeder-Hill almost 4 years ago

I always love your posts!  Great pictures and info!

Take Care & Have a Great '08!

Posted by Sylvie Dolley, CHMS, ePRO, SFR Phoenix Arizona Real Estate 602-320-2392 (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage) over 3 years ago

Don't you just LOVE when that happens.  Rewarding work we do and job security...he'll tell all his friends.

Posted by Terrylynn Fisher, HAFA Certified, EcoBroker, CRS, CEP Realtor, Etc. (Dudum Real Estate Group - BuyStageSell.com) over 3 years ago

Looks awesome!  Great job; glad they let you work your magic.

Posted by Tori Lynn Wallitsch (Prudential Ambassador / Ross Designs, LLC) over 3 years ago

Just beautiful as always! Kym

Posted by Staged to Sell East BAy Danville, CA (www.Staged-to-Sell ) over 3 years ago

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.

Posted by Lori Howard (Hope Designs) over 3 years ago

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! 

Posted by Melissa Marro ~ StagingAndRedesign.com MarketReadyRealEstate.com (Staging & Redesign) over 3 years ago

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