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....
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!
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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
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
Great work Melissa. I love it when stagers share their before and after photos. Very nice job on this one.
Melissa,
Wonderful, just shows what can be done even on a budget. Great as always.
What a difference!!!
It's magical.
Great work, Melissa.
Melissa, Great RES! I love those pillows on the sofa.
Hi Melissa,
Which is better? Plain and Empty or Creative and Full?
I think you qualify for for the second half!
It's such a no brainer why people should stage. the photos speak 1000 words ;)
cheers,
cindy
Hi Melissa, The condo looks amazing. Great job!!! Did you paint? The walls look very light still.
Great job - looks like you now have a new advocate for staging.
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".
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.
Hi Melissa, I just had the same situation. It still looks great.