No, really..... they do!! I was teaching my IRIS 5-day Staging Certification class this week and my students learned a valuable lesson. People don't always have the 'common sense' we think they do. When we discussed the homes that we may walk into the students were certain that sellers know better. On Thursday when we worked our final project, they realized they were wrong.
This home we were working on had been on the market for several months. The agents didn't want to add any interior photos & were excited that we were working on this as a class project (which means I do it at no charge). The homeowner was a single guy with a young boy and simply was overwhelmed with the process.
The owner did have the carpets cleaned just a couple of days before we came. We recommended and the agent made it happen. We didn't close these curtains, this is how the home was shown every day. There was clutter, dust and dirt everywhere.... When we were done the home showed light, bright and large!
Not every staging job is huge or requires a lot of time, energy or even amazing skills. Sometimes taking the basic approach makes the biggest change.... In this case, we just put things away, made the bed and hung some photos! What a difference it makes though. What would potential buyers think about the before photo?
In addition to having the carpets cleaned, they had the room painted for us. Don't think for a moment that we staged the room this way. All they did was move the furniture to the center of the room - they didn't make a mess out of it. This was actually an improvement to when I first saw the home!
When we were done, it felt like a master suite. The room was large, light, fresh and airy. We also reversed the tall dresser (not seen in photos) with the dressing table so that when you came in you didn't feel like you were walking into a furniture wall. This had a double effect of opening up the room & hiding the unattractive TV in the corner (again, not shown).
There were less than $150 in props used in this home. They consisted of a king bed-in-a-bag, 2 throw pillows for the living room and a clearanced off white throw. Staging doesn't have to be expensive to really showcase the home & bring buyers in.
Do you think the agents will be showing photos of the interior now? You bet! Will this increase the likelihood of selling the home? You bet!!
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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
Once again the value of staging shines through! I don't know how some agents think they can sell a home that is dark and dreary.
Yes, that home will sell now, what lousy before pics! I cannot believe the pictures I see on the MLS these days. Thank you.
I went into a home the other day that looked like a crime had taken place. I still haven't received a respone from the listing agent. Maybe I should write a blog on returning calls and crime scenes. Keep on teaching!! I think you are doing a public service after my last experience! lol.... Great blog........
Oh, some sellers have no clue. I told a seller recently to paint their kitchen a neutral color and they painted it orange gloss!
Nice work. Especially for the budget. This is a great example of how a team approach can benefit everyone.
The house looks a lot better now. Good job on making it a better looking house.
So little can make a big difference. Great work!
Beautiful job and great work! Good tips for everyone and thanks for sharing. Subtle changes but dramatic differences in the photos.
Your changes certainly enhanced the home and photos. You will have a waiting list of volunteers offering their home for your next "class project". Great lesson for your students!
Sometimes when showing a house, I realize why there were no interior photos. Great job on this house!
You are making me a believer in staging. I'm sure this would help the sellers.
Super Job and this should be a reference for sellers!
Thanks,
Tom Davis
World Class DE Realtor
Hi Melissa, As you prove staging does not have to be expensive and the diference is remarkable.
Do you find that when a home has been previously on the market and then is finally staged that many Realtors won't go back and repost the new photos? I am always floored by this and it happens more than I care to mention here.
Some howmeowners really don't get the concept about selling a home. Simple things can make such a huge difference but they just don't see it. I guess they don't watch all those HGTV shows........
Oh my, we see it all the time. I actually staged a property last year and then sent my photographer in the next day for the photos. In the mean time the two teenage boys decided to leave their underwear out, not make their beds etc. My photographer was so pissed by the time he got done making their beds that he left the underwear on the floor on purposes (knowing we would not use that shot) to make a point to the homeowner that they need to do better or the underwear would be going on the internet. The house was perfect after that! Kym
That story is priceless, Kym! I have a checklist for homeowners with hints on how to live in a staged home, then I just keep my fingers crossed!
Interior photos are SO important! I remember going through my 1st and 2nd time purchasing a home... I really didn't want to waste my time visiting a house that didn't have some way of intriguing me to view it. (Like great internet photos or a low asking price!) We ended up buying our 2nd home that didn't have photos, only because it was on the market for 32 days (in a HOT market where we sold our 1st house in 3 days $15,000 OVER asking with multiple offers), so we were able to get less for the new house. I'm sure if photos were taken, it would have been sold quicker! (Unfortunate for the seller, but lucky for me, the buyer, right?)
Melissa, What a difference.. I am sure that your students were blown away by your expertise.. God bless,
Melissa, after surfing the listings right here on AR, I am still amazed when I come across really bad lsiting photos. I just shake my head and say, "Why?"
Melissa, looks great as always! Little changes can make such huge differences. Furniture placement alone can increase or decrease the perceived size of a room. Great job!
Not everyone homeonwer is as sensitive to their surroundings as we'd like to think! Chances are they didn't even notice the ironing board out, beds unmade and curtains closed. Glad you could help them!