Posted by ToniK on 9/12/07 7:30am
Msg #210479

Real Estate question

Has anyone used "staging" to sale their home?

Reply by ToniK on 9/12/07 7:34am
Msg #210480

oops should have put in the "Leisure" section n/m

Reply by Todd/OH on 9/12/07 11:11am
Msg #210519

Is that a way to get a feel for the market? Not familiar with the term.

Reply by FlBrit on 9/12/07 11:16am
Msg #210522

Re: Staging

Is when you hire a company to come fill your house with furniture, art work, lamps, etc to make it feel cozy. It's suppose to sell homes faster. Also heard that baking cookies does the same too.

Reply by NJ_Notary on 9/12/07 11:40am
Msg #210532

Hi Toni:

I am a real estate broker and am a firm believer in staging a home. Before hiring someone to stage the home (aka Professional Home Stager), speak with your real estate agent/broker/Realtor. Your agent could offer great pointers for staging your home while saving the fee to pay for a home stager. I good Realtor will always be able to help you in my opinion. You may also research home staging. Check google and put in "Barbara Swartz". Barbara is the person who really brought home staging to the forefront. She has a book and 2 videos as well as semniars and an Accredited Home Stager organization (aka ASP). I would give youu the title of her book since I bought it for reference material, but I am not at my office right now, but I'm sure if you google her you will find it. Hope this helps!

God bless!

Reply by NJ_Notary on 9/12/07 11:42am
Msg #210533

A good Realtor I mean. lol

Reply by Lee/AR on 9/12/07 12:06pm
Msg #210544

Toni, you're in a down market. The only thing that's going to 'sell' a home in that type of market is price. In an earlier thread, you said you wanted to buy because prices are so low. Well, there ya' go. Staging isn't going to sell an overpriced home. What YOU can do is spruce up, clean out & eliminate all excess 'stuff'. And check your price. Lower it to the least you can accept...and hang tough on that! Make sure your realtor knows you will not drop one dime lower. The price will get it looked at; the rest is up to you.

Reply by NJ_Notary on 9/12/07 6:25pm
Msg #210638

No offense but I could not disagree more. Sprucing up and elimating extra "stuff" are all part of staging a home. Also you should listen to your Realtor's advice. In a buyer's market you need to treat the home as you would a Relocation company does. This comes from experience and getting results in this type of market.

Reply by NJ_Notary on 9/12/07 6:26pm
Msg #210639

Sorry for the typos trying to do 5 things at once

Reply by NJ_Notary on 9/12/07 6:27pm
Msg #210642

There is a truth to what you say with respect to price; however, treat the price as a Relocation company would with its property. I should have clarrified that more in my first post. Have a great one!

Reply by Frenchie/TN on 9/12/07 7:56pm
Msg #210655

Toni,
Many years ago, before staging even existed, I was trying to sell a very nice house in a down market (euphemism for buyer's market). Price was right but house just was not selling. Finally we decided the house was just not going to sell so we decided to make a furniture change that we had put off for when we'd be in a new house. Went furniture shopping and refurnished the great room: new sofas, end table. coffee table and lamps. The house was still on the market as our contract with realtor had not expired. A few days later, the realtor called to show the house and wouldn't you know it sold! To this day I attribute it to the new look of the great room. So yes, I believe that some form of staging will help sell a house. What looks good to the owner is not necessarily appealing to a buyer. Realtors don't always offer an opinion unless you ask and keep an open mind.
Eveline

Reply by NorthernNotary JenniferGuinasso on 9/12/07 8:38pm
Msg #210661

I'm a stager - email me!

Toni - email me at [e-mail address] or [e-mail address]
I pull double duty as a staging professional as well as a signing agent.
I can give you A TON of advice, as well as help you.

Just like being a signing agent, never do something you are not knowledged in ...
Real Estate agents know how to sell a house, of course!! But, most of them are not certified in staging as well as even educated on the benefits of staging. It is a proven method and it does not have to cost a lot. In most cases, you can use your own furniture, but will need to add in small accessories to give the home a certain feeling the buyer is looking for. You need to "pull" that buyer in using props ... there called "emotional connection points".

It is MUCH more then cleaning, de-cluttering.

I'm on the run, so I am writing fast,
sorry for spelling and grammer mistakes ...

Reply by MelissaCT on 9/13/07 10:09am
Msg #210728

Also check out local furniture rental companies. They have experience in furnishings for relocations, apartment and home "models", etc. and can be a (relatively) inexpensive way to stage without having to actually purchase furniture. The deliver & setup, teardown and return.