Speaking Up about Home Staging

head_left_image

White walls, open floorplan... What's a buyer to think?

About 6 months ago (maybe longer actually) I was called for a vacant home consultation at a great condo complex downtown.  I didn't get the job - the unit didn't get staged.  Last week I was called out again... The building has a lot going for it - gated parking, elevators, passkey entry, etc.  This particular unit has been on the market for almost a year.

This time the agent, who is also one of the investors/owners decided that they needed a new plan.  I was hired to stage the unit.  I recommended doing some additional things, like painting, but at least we were able to make some headway this time....

downtown staging    downtown charleston

 

downtown charleston    charleston

 

downtown charleston   downtown charleston

I would have liked to add curtains to the windows in the bedroom for texture and height, but the windows were too tall and curtains would have had to be special ordered.  There was no budget for that.  This was definately a shoestring budget! 

The entire unit is just under 950 sqft and these photos comprise nearly the entire thing... all that's missing is the kitchen and master bath.  The real estate show below will give you the whole look.

There were some real issues in this home with layout.  Buyers could not figure out how to arrange the furniture.  I did what I normally do not and actually addressed the TV viewing arrangement in this property.  I felt it was a necessity.  While normally I don't like to have the back of the sofa facing into the room, I felt it was appropriate and necessary for buyers in this small unit.  With all the glass, this would be a common problem. 

The agent who had been so reluctant to stage prior came in about an hour or so after we started and was just beside himself happy.  His assistant is already trying to convince other clients of the value that staging can provide - which they now understand!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

 

Comments

Melissa, it looks nice. I wish all sellers would see the value of staging. I have had great success with homes that I have had staged. You will have to let us know when it sells.

Dave

Posted by Dave Ruwe Realtor GRI www.daveruwehomes.com (Re/Max Grand Haven) about 1 year ago
Wow, that looks great! 
Posted by Amy Prouty (Home Staging) about 1 year ago

Great work Melissa.  I love it when stagers share their before and after photos.  Very nice job on this one.

Posted by Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) about 1 year ago

Melissa,

Wonderful, just shows what can be done even on a budget. Great as always.

Posted by Donna Schoby, Ready, Set, Stage! Fayetteville, AR (Home Stager, Serving Northwest Arkansas) about 1 year ago

What a difference!!!

It's magical.

Great work, Melissa.

Posted by Linda Lipscomb RE/MAX Lexington Henderson County TN about 1 year ago
Melissa, great job. Lets face it, buyers watch tv, so we might as well address it.
Posted by Kimberley Hawley, Hawley Interiors & Staging (Hawley Interiors & Staging) about 1 year ago
It looks awesome and so glad that they had it staged it looked drab and boring before.
Posted by Patty Carroll about 1 year ago
Super transformation -- I love the slide show Melissa! Beofre - it really doesnt capture any kind of feeling at all!
Posted by TACOMA~FEDERAL WAY~AUBURN~KENT~WA 206-679-4768 Julianna Hind, REALTOR(R) (John L. Scott, Real Estate Agent, Cert. Staging Professional) about 1 year ago
Hi Melissa,  Those "great rooms" that are large enough (or supposed to be!) to accommodate the living room and dining room together in one big space are often a puzzler for buyers.  They just can't figure out how to arrange the furniture.  You've solved that problem for them with this arrangement.  And yes, sometimes in these types of rooms the sofa does need to have it's "backside" showing so that the individual spaces (dining and living) are defined.  Very nice work, as always!
Posted by Diana Young (Staging Seattle, King & Snohomish Counties) about 1 year ago
Beautiful job!! You are very talented!!
Posted by Patti Egan (Egan Design Group Inc.) about 1 year ago

Melissa, Great RES!  I love those pillows on the sofa.

Posted by Tanya Venable Greenville Home Staging Spartanburg and Upstate SC Home Staging (Fresh Eye Designs, LLC) about 1 year ago
Great job as always Melissa!  I can't wait to see your update that this unit is SOLD!  Buyers can now really see how to use this space. :)
Posted by Teresa Meyer-Home Staging Cincinnati-OH. Stage a Star: Home Stager Cincinnati (Stage a Star Staging & Consulting Services) about 1 year ago

Hi Melissa,

Which is better?  Plain and Empty or Creative and Full?

I think you qualify for for the second half!

Posted by Dan Woodworth * Encouraging Communicator (The Connection) about 1 year ago

It's such a no brainer why people should stage. the photos speak 1000 words ;)

cheers,

cindy

Posted by Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) about 1 year ago

Hi Melissa, The condo looks amazing. Great job!!!  Did you paint?  The walls look very light still.

Posted by Home Stager Karen Hubert (Center Stage Design-real estate staging, Hamilton/Burlington) about 1 year ago

Great job - looks like you now have a new advocate for staging.

Posted by Michelle Hall (Century 21 Hecht) about 1 year ago

Melissa: excellent job! I bet you they are kicking themselves that they did not give you the job the first time around. lol..."It just proves what we all say...staging works".

Posted by Lori Howard (Hope Designs) about 1 year ago

Thanks for all the great comments! 

Karen - No, they wouldn't give me the budget to paint, so we did the best we could.  It really is too bad because you can't even really see the crown molding, etc.

Posted by Melissa Marro www.StagingAndRedesign.com www.WeStageSC.com (First Impressions) about 1 year ago

Hi Melissa,  I just had the same situation.  It still looks great.

Posted by Home Stager Karen Hubert (Center Stage Design-real estate staging, Hamilton/Burlington) about 1 year ago

Participate



(optional)
What does the graphic say?