I love my job! I really really do! One of my favorite things is getting emails from agents and sellers letting us know how quickly a home has sold and how happy they are! This one came in my inbox over the weekend....
"Thanks again for your staging advice. We had our first showing today, and we did everything exactly as you suggested. They made an offer! This could potentially be a quick sale. You and Michele [Reneau] make a great team!"
Greg Larson - Homeowner, Tanner Planation, Hanahan, SC
List date: 10/14/08,
Under contract 10/20/08... DOM 6 days!
This is a home that all in all looked pretty good on it's own. The agent, one of my best, uses me for every listing. While she is incredible about knowing what to look for, how to talk to the client, etc, she knows that sometimes I have ideas or notice things that she doesn't. After all, that's my job - That's why I'm part of her team.
Despite all of the talk of housing slumps, crisis on Wall Street, fear of election results, etc, homes are still selling..... Well, the good ones are! Homes must be prepared properly. They must look good (condition), be a good value (price) and then they must be marketed well (agent). Having a quality listing agent who works with a professional stager is simply one of the must haves when putting your home on the market.
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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. She now operates as the CEO of First Impressions Home Staging & Interior ReDesign as well as an instructor for Staging And Resign 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.
Congratulations on great advice and a quick sale. It always makes you feel good when that happens. Great job.
Melissa - I agree 100% that if it is priced right and looks great it will sell! Great job and you are correct - we do still see things agents don't. Keep up the good work.
Melissa, that's true isn't it, a good partnership is worth alot. Of course you see things agents don't because they should be doing what they do best. It's wonderful when you complete each other. The perfect compliment.
Congratulations Melissa! It is such a treat to be greeted with that kind of e-mail! I believe you summarized it nicely in your last paragraph. When all these pieces are in place, homes are indeed selling.
Your work is always top notch which is proof positive that staging sells. You are blessed to live in an area with beautiful homes that need your finishing touches.
Hello Melissa, we are noticing the same thing here in Indy. We had planned on seeing our fall business be off a bitdue to the continued market problems, however we find ourselves with more work than any previous fall and our homes are selling nicely. I guess it just shows that in any market, the homes that present themselves the best are the top picks among buyers, even if there are not as many of them.
Melissa ~ I agree with you. They are selling . I just destaged 2 homes that sold. So they are selling. There are new mortgage programs that are working.
Thanks Melissa! It's important to have a cooperative seller willing to do whatever it takes, both on the condition of the home and pricing!
Congrats! It is good to hear some encouraging news.
Melissa, Excellent news, congrats AGAIN !! God bless,
Keeping a positive attitude and using the skills of a professional stager like Melissa will be the key for many homes!
When the real estate going gets tough, the tough keep staging! Thanks for that success story, Melissa. Congrats!
Wendy Casey- Surrey, BC
Great Job Melissa and congrats on a quick sale!! Smart realtor too I'd say!
Melissa I am having similar results. In my next newsletter I am listing all of my houses and days on market...they average under two weeks and some in just days. If the house is properly prepared for market, priced right and looking great it will sell. The interest rate is still very low and people with good credit are still getting loans. In the 70's when interest rates were over 20% people were still buying houses and getting loans. Just like your clients, my clients understand that they have to do everything possible to present their homes in the best light or they will sit. Kym
Aloha Melissa,
Thanks for sharing your success. With all the doom and gloom that's going on in the market it's good to know that people are still buying homes in your neck of the woods.
Peace,
Thank you for all of the great comments! I'm sorry I haven't been able to get back with each of you. I've been working like crazy on four projects far from home (2.5 hrs away actually!) I'm happy to see everyone recognize how important all the factors are - including presenation (condition!).
Amen Sister! You do a fabulous job. Our market is a price war and a beauty contest. Homes must be priced right and look great!
I really needed to hear something positive today. thank you for keeping the positive energy flowing. i have been living under a rock trying to shield myself from the woes of the world, all we ever seem to hear is the doom and gloom.it is nice to know that good things are still happening in the industry.
This illustrates the importance of working with a quality realtor. We must work hand in hand for the client...and we will be as successful as you were with this sale. Congratulations, Melissa!