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Welcome to the Sensational Home Staging Blog where you can learn from the experts. Whether you are interested in Home Staging for sale or Staging to Live - we have the answers and stories to share that you will find helpful.
Showing posts with label staging statistics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label staging statistics. Show all posts
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Staging Statistics: Where do they come from and can they be Trusted?
I read a fellow Blogger's post about Staging statistics being unsupported and wanted to address this concern in my own blog post. I believe the post was about where statistics come from and should that be the only success criteria measured when selling a house.
Staging Statistics are tossed around freely - and I can understand a concern where the origin of the statistics comes into question. Just where is this data gathered and who is compiling it and can it be trusted?
As a professional ASP Master Home Stager and business owner, I have ALWAYS tracked my own statistics for my own personal business. It is imperative that I am able to demonstrate that my work is successful and I am making a difference. Any Stager that does NOT do this as a standard business practice not only is missing a huge opportunity to promote their success and quantify it for clients, but perhaps is not operating their business at the same level of professionalism as others that DO track their statistics. Just as not all Realtors and real estate agents are created equal, the same can be said for Stagers.
I am not unique in this activity. Most professional Home Stagers (those that have set up a business, have training, accountability, etc.) can tell you how many houses they Stage, how quickly they sell compared to the overall regional market, and can quantify in some manner how successful their involvement in the listing and selling process is. We also share our numbers with each other and when a group of professional Home Stagers is able to share numbers in a region, we can capture a snapshot of what IS happening relative to Staging in a particular market. We can also segment out vacant versus occupied houses, high end versus modest.
Realtors: Before you throw out the baby with the bath water and discredit ALL Stagers or the Staging process by doubting statistics, it's important to remember that since the Staging industry is NOT regulated and anyone can call themselves a "stager" - for statistics and data on the market that you can trust, find a Stager that has training and credibility - and I bet that Stager will be able to offer you credible, reliable data you can share with Sellers.
Recent example: I Staged a house that had been listed for A YEAR with no offers. Then it was rented for a year. The owners decided to try their hand at Selling again - and this time decided to Stage. After Staging was complete the house SOLD in 10 days. Here's the other KEY PART: it was also PRICED RIGHT FOR THE MARKET.
Do Stagers believe that THEY are "the schizz" and the only reason a house sells is because they get their magic hands on the house and transform it? I hope not.
Selling a house is a PARTNERSHIP with the REALTOR. It takes both presentation and price to sell a house. Anyone that believes otherwise is living in their EGO and needs to remember that pricing the house for the market is the most important part of selling. A house that is Staged and overpriced won't sell.
Back to Statistics: Where do they come from anyway?
One of the best resources is the www.Stagedhomes.com site. For YEARS they have been tracking the success of ASP graduates who input statistics into a survey portal and then generate graphs and data based on the information. The houses are not just all the "good ones" either. A stat is a stat. When it sells - that data is put into the system. There are THOUSANDS of houses in the survey and it is a national snapshot of what is happening with Staged properties. For this reason, it is a great resource for the media, and often referred to by reporters writing articles on Staging or on television segments such as The Today Show that recently used the data on their segment on Home Staging with Barbara Corcoran.
Home Gain has been another good resource for Staging Stats. They track the Return on Investment for putting forth some money and time into making modifications to the house prior to listing. It's quantified. And they have been doing this study since 2003 - putting out new results of their survey of 2,000 agents every 2 years.
With ANY statistic - whether real estate, staging, diets, health, etc - the key is to ASK WHERE THE DATA came from for the survey? If the person cannot answer you - chances are they are regurgitating something they "heard" and it should not be trusted. If they can point to a reputable article (because reporters do their homework!) or other media segment - I would trust the data. If they can point to an actual survey that is being done and is ongoing - like the Stagedhomes.com site or the Home Gain survey - I would trust it. If they have their own data from their own work - trust it.
Statistics are only as good as those that submit the data. It boils down to trusting that the people in the industry have integrity and are reporting what the truth is relative to Staging and selling.
So - when a house SELLS after it is STAGED - and the rest of the marketed competition sits and the days on market for the Staged house are clearly far less than the average and the price is better than if it sat and dropped in price - should that house be counted in a statistic? Yes. Should the agent use that data to get future listings? Absolutely. Should the Stager credit him or herself with helping the sale? Of course.
Don't be skeptical of reputable statistics. Instead use them to help you get your Sellers on board with Staging - and then put that key partnership in place that helps everyone WIN.
________________________________________________________________________________
Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP, Owner & Principal Stager, Sensational Home Staging serving the Greater Denver region
•International Staging Expert, Blogger, and Media Personality
•Member of International Assoc of Home Staging Professionals since 2003
•Why Trust Your House or Listing to Anyone Else?
•Over 2,700 Houses Staged and Thousands of Satisfied Realtor and Seller Clients
•303-717-7918 or 888-93-STAGE
Staging Statistics are tossed around freely - and I can understand a concern where the origin of the statistics comes into question. Just where is this data gathered and who is compiling it and can it be trusted?
As a professional ASP Master Home Stager and business owner, I have ALWAYS tracked my own statistics for my own personal business. It is imperative that I am able to demonstrate that my work is successful and I am making a difference. Any Stager that does NOT do this as a standard business practice not only is missing a huge opportunity to promote their success and quantify it for clients, but perhaps is not operating their business at the same level of professionalism as others that DO track their statistics. Just as not all Realtors and real estate agents are created equal, the same can be said for Stagers.
I am not unique in this activity. Most professional Home Stagers (those that have set up a business, have training, accountability, etc.) can tell you how many houses they Stage, how quickly they sell compared to the overall regional market, and can quantify in some manner how successful their involvement in the listing and selling process is. We also share our numbers with each other and when a group of professional Home Stagers is able to share numbers in a region, we can capture a snapshot of what IS happening relative to Staging in a particular market. We can also segment out vacant versus occupied houses, high end versus modest.
Realtors: Before you throw out the baby with the bath water and discredit ALL Stagers or the Staging process by doubting statistics, it's important to remember that since the Staging industry is NOT regulated and anyone can call themselves a "stager" - for statistics and data on the market that you can trust, find a Stager that has training and credibility - and I bet that Stager will be able to offer you credible, reliable data you can share with Sellers.
Recent example: I Staged a house that had been listed for A YEAR with no offers. Then it was rented for a year. The owners decided to try their hand at Selling again - and this time decided to Stage. After Staging was complete the house SOLD in 10 days. Here's the other KEY PART: it was also PRICED RIGHT FOR THE MARKET.
Do Stagers believe that THEY are "the schizz" and the only reason a house sells is because they get their magic hands on the house and transform it? I hope not.
Selling a house is a PARTNERSHIP with the REALTOR. It takes both presentation and price to sell a house. Anyone that believes otherwise is living in their EGO and needs to remember that pricing the house for the market is the most important part of selling. A house that is Staged and overpriced won't sell.
Back to Statistics: Where do they come from anyway?
One of the best resources is the www.Stagedhomes.com site. For YEARS they have been tracking the success of ASP graduates who input statistics into a survey portal and then generate graphs and data based on the information. The houses are not just all the "good ones" either. A stat is a stat. When it sells - that data is put into the system. There are THOUSANDS of houses in the survey and it is a national snapshot of what is happening with Staged properties. For this reason, it is a great resource for the media, and often referred to by reporters writing articles on Staging or on television segments such as The Today Show that recently used the data on their segment on Home Staging with Barbara Corcoran.
Home Gain has been another good resource for Staging Stats. They track the Return on Investment for putting forth some money and time into making modifications to the house prior to listing. It's quantified. And they have been doing this study since 2003 - putting out new results of their survey of 2,000 agents every 2 years.
With ANY statistic - whether real estate, staging, diets, health, etc - the key is to ASK WHERE THE DATA came from for the survey? If the person cannot answer you - chances are they are regurgitating something they "heard" and it should not be trusted. If they can point to a reputable article (because reporters do their homework!) or other media segment - I would trust the data. If they can point to an actual survey that is being done and is ongoing - like the Stagedhomes.com site or the Home Gain survey - I would trust it. If they have their own data from their own work - trust it.
Statistics are only as good as those that submit the data. It boils down to trusting that the people in the industry have integrity and are reporting what the truth is relative to Staging and selling.
So - when a house SELLS after it is STAGED - and the rest of the marketed competition sits and the days on market for the Staged house are clearly far less than the average and the price is better than if it sat and dropped in price - should that house be counted in a statistic? Yes. Should the agent use that data to get future listings? Absolutely. Should the Stager credit him or herself with helping the sale? Of course.
Don't be skeptical of reputable statistics. Instead use them to help you get your Sellers on board with Staging - and then put that key partnership in place that helps everyone WIN.
________________________________________________________________________________
Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP, Owner & Principal Stager, Sensational Home Staging serving the Greater Denver region
•International Staging Expert, Blogger, and Media Personality
•Member of International Assoc of Home Staging Professionals since 2003
•Why Trust Your House or Listing to Anyone Else?
•Over 2,700 Houses Staged and Thousands of Satisfied Realtor and Seller Clients
•303-717-7918 or 888-93-STAGE
Don't "Test the Market" - Stage it Before Listing!
Don’t “Test the Market” – Stage it Before Listing!
by Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP - Owner, Sensational Home Staging
Back when I first got started Staging, the “belief” that Staging would work was just not really there. Realtors knew inherently that a house needed to look good, but understanding the principles of Staging (depersonalizing, declutter, clean, color-pizzazz) was missing. Also, conveying the facts to a Seller about how Staged houses sell at a better price and faster than the marketed competition was a challenge. Sellers were skeptical and did not want to make “unnecessary changes.”by Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP - Owner, Sensational Home Staging
When I finally did get opportunities to Stage and the house sold quickly the “belief” was still not 100% that what I did really made an impact. Some thought, “Well it is the market, the house would have sold anyway.” So I kept plugging away and keeping track of statistics that supported Staging. Eventually my track record of success spoke for itself and doubters could not explain away why a house I Staged sold in 10 days while the other listings sat and sat for months.
Flash forward 10 years and in most places in America we are in a market now that demands Staging. A seller that wants their house to sell NOW versus sitting and waiting needs to use every tool available to attract a buyer. Stage the house BEFORE it is listed. Don’t wait to “try” or “test” the market thinking that “Well we don’t want to ‘spend’ the money on Staging if we can sell without doing that.”
What sellers may not fully understand is with Staging, you either invest up FRONT in the process of preparing a house for sale to maximize the rate of return, or you LOSE it on the back-end with a price reduction, low-price offer, and extended days on the market.
I went to Stage a house recently and the office was dark burgundy and had been that color when the current owners bought the house. They never liked it but just had not yet gotten around to painting it. After showing them pictures of how dark and un-welcoming that room would look in photos and for buyers, they agreed to paint. They invested less than $200 to have a painter paint the room a nice warm tone neutral color (Sherwin Williams: Blond) and said, “We wish we had done this when we first moved in.” Now the room is bright and inviting – and since they are competing with lots of other properties, they have not given the buyer a reason not to choose their house. Best foot forward.
Don’t test the market – Stage it now. Even if you happen to be one of the lucky ones in a market where it’s a Seller’s market, think about how much money you might be leaving on the table if you choose not to Stage? Yes, the house might sell but could it have sold at an even BETTER price if it had been Staged? The answer is – yes. . . Statistics prove this.
And the best part is Staging helps everyone WIN. The Seller wins with a faster sale and a good sales price, The Realtor wins with a faster sale and more commission, and the Buyer wins because they can picture living in the house and make that connection that helps them make an offer.
__________________________________________________________________________
If you live in the Greater Denver area and need to prepare your house for sale, give me a call! Affordable prices, expert recommendations that work and professional standards.
Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP - Owner, Sensational Home Staging - 303-717-7918
www.SensationalHome.com
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
If Home Staging is in the Main STREAM why are so many Sellers up the CREEK without a paddle?
If Home Staging has gone Main STREAM why are so many Houses still up the CREEK without a paddle?
Home Staging has gone Main STREAM - and yet there are still many houses that are not Staged and listed for sale. WHY?
Based on my experience, it can only be one of two reasons.
1. The Seller does not believe Staging will work to help them get the best price in the shortest time.
2. The Seller has not been told the honest truth about their house.
I know that some people would think “MONEY” – and yet when a Seller understands that “The investment in Staging is less than a price reduction” – they cannot afford NOT to Stage!
When they understand that Staging will help them keep anywhere from 5-20% of their equity (according to the National Association of Realtors) based on their current market conditions, why would they not want to invest in Staging? On average the Staging report that details what the Seller needs to do is about $300. For vacant houses, an average house would be about $2,000 for the Staging installation with an ongoing monthly rental commitment until the house sells. Custom homes or houses that require unique inventory would be more.
When they understand that Staging will help them keep anywhere from 5-20% of their equity (according to the National Association of Realtors) based on their current market conditions, why would they not want to invest in Staging? On average the Staging report that details what the Seller needs to do is about $300. For vacant houses, an average house would be about $2,000 for the Staging installation with an ongoing monthly rental commitment until the house sells. Custom homes or houses that require unique inventory would be more.
CONSIDER THIS:
Home Gain came out with a recent study for 2009 that listed Home Staging as the second most important activity a Seller can do to get top dollar for their house. The number one activity was de-cluttering – which is part of any Staging plan, so really, Staging is the BEST thing a seller can do to ensure the best price in the shortest time.
CLICK HERE for STAGING STATISTICS you can use.
The most important part about Home Staging is getting the Seller to consider the BUYER and what they want to see, feel and experience in the house. Sometimes this does require sharing tough messages to the Seller, but when it is couched in kindness, it is easier to receive. And providing them actual help to get the work done is also key.
A professional ASP® Home Stager has been trained to handle clients with kindness, and work within their timeframe and budget to get the Staging completed. This helps everyone involved in the selling process as a Staged house sells faster and at a better price than a comparable un-Staged house.
When you want an honest assessment of your house or property for a client or yourself, you can trust the professional recommendations of Sensational Home Staging and Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP President.
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Wednesday, December 16, 2009
10 Markets that are Poised for Rebound and 10 Markets that are Over Priced
10 Cities Where Housing is on the Rebound.
According to Michael Kling of Investopedia (www.Investopedia.com), the following US Cities are poised for rebound:
(from MSN.com Real Estate news – December 16, 2009)
1. Minneapolis – up 3.2%. Manufacturers such as 3M, and high-tech industries are hoping to benefit from the coming recovery. Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp is among the healthiest U.S. financial services companies, according to Moody's.
2. San Francisco – up 2.8%. Home prices there will drop 8.3% by next June, but will increase 14.3% by 2011.
3. Detroit – up 1.9%. Home prices fell 22.6% since last year, and are at about 72% of what they were in 2000.
4. Chicago – up 1.7% following a 2.7% increase from June to July due to first-time homebuyer tax credit that has motivated buyers.
5. Phoenix – up 1.6% after a 1.8% increase from June to July. The city was one of the hardest hit in the real-estate bubble. Prices have dropped by more than 25% since last year.
6. San Diego – up 1.6% but reported a 2.5% increase in July, and fell about 8.9% since last year.
7. Los Angeles – up 1.6% - Prices there rose 1.8% from June to July, but are still 12% lower than last year.
8. Washington DC – up 1.4%. and fell almost 8% since last year. The city is somewhat protected by a reliance on government employment.
9. Denver – up 1% - Prices there fell only about 2% since last year and have avoided the real-estate bubble that hit east and west coast states.
10. Seattle – up 0.1% with 3.8% increase predicted over the next few years. The real-estate market suffered less than others, as prices fell 15.2% over the last few years.
According to Forbes, the following cities are the most overpriced markets.
This means the houses for sale in these markets are sitting longer than needed and are not selling.
The 10 most overpriced metro areas
1. Orlando-Kissimmee, Fla.
2. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Fla.
3. Jacksonville, Fla.
4. Baltimore-Towson, Md.
5. Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-Wis.
6. San Antonio
7. Denver-Aurora, Colo. (tie)
7. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla. (tie)
9. Indianapolis-Carmel, Ind.
10. Austin-Round Rock, Texas (tie)
10. Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tenn. (tie)
As an ASP Home Stager, it is important that I stay on top of the national statistics and trends related to the housing market so that I can serve my clients even better. Knowing that markets around the country are rebounding is good news, and yet in any market ASP Home Staging helps a house present the best for Buyers and therefore get an offer faster than the un-staged competition.
We know that when a house is ASP Staged and priced right, it will sell. But the two key factors of Presentation and Price must be balanced. We know based on our statistics that we track at Stagedhomes.com that an ASP Staged property sells 2-3 times faster, and in some markets 6 time faster, than the un-Staged competition. We also know that the Staged property sells for 5-20% more than the un-Staged competition, helping homeowners keep more equity and helping Realtors earn more commission and make more money.
When it comes time to sell your house, make sure to work with an ASP Home Stager. You can find us at http://www.stagedhomes.com/ in our online directory or at http://www.iahsp.com/ online directory of the current members of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP).
If you live in the greater Denver region, I would be happy to personally assist you in getting your house or listing Staged for sale.
Please contact me at Sensational Home Staging - 888-WE-STAGE. www.SensationalHome.com
Happy Staging & Selling!
Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP President
Owner, Sensational Home Staging
http://www.sensationalhome.com/
888-WE-STAGE
SensationalHomeStaging@q.com
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