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.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Home Staging Accreditation - BOSTON & Northern VA/DC REGIONS - JANUARY 2012
The Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) Course from Stagedhomes.com (www.Stagedhomes.com) - the industry leader in Home Staging Training - is coming to BOSTON - JAN 17-19 AND NORTHERN VA/DC JAN 31-FEB 2, 2012.
This class is being offered for both Realtors and Home Stagers that would like to earn both a professional Accreditation and Designation for Home Staging. An ACCREDITATION is the highest form of Training in the Staging industry!
Realtors attend the first 2 days and learn about Home Staging as a listing and marketing tool, as well as things they can do to help their own clients prepare their houses for sale. They become members of the International Association of Home Staging Professioanls (IAHSP) - the only professional association that serves only Home Stagers and the Home Staging industry, and has standards of membership that begin with education. No other association has educational standards prior to joining - this sets IAHSP apart with our standards of quality, ethics and excellence. For over 12 years IAHSP has set the standards of excellence in the real estate and Staging industry and no other group has the longevity, integrity and history that IAHSP provides.
Realtors licensed in Virginia receive 8 Continuing Education credits for this class.
Professional Stagers attend for 3 days and learn about the real estate industry and how to work with Sellers and Realtors for business, as well as how to establish, manage, market and maintain a successful Home Staging business. They become members of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP) the only professional association founded in education and excellence standards, for the Home Staging industry.
ASP graduates also receive access to the Staging University, the largest online resource for Home Staging success and is a private resource available only to ASP graduates.
This class is taught in a LIVE classroom setting with a Trainer that has actual success and knowledge related to Home Staging and real estate. All questions are answered and you have ongoing support from a real person that cares about your success after you graduate. The hours you receive are the equivalent of a college semester course with 24 hours of Stager education and 16 hours of Realtor education.
Only Stagedhomes.com has over 12 years of training history, and is based in nearly 40 years of experience by the Creator of Home Staging, Barb Schwarz.
If you would like to become trained as a professional Home Stager, enroll now to receive the only legitimate Accreditation available for Home Staging in a live classroom forum. An Accreditation is the HIGHEST form of training in the Home Staging industry.
If you are a Military Spouse - you can enroll in this course under the MyCAA Program. Click here to find out more: http://www.stagedhomes.com/public/MyCAA.php
Go to www.Stagedhomes.com for information including a course comparison spreadsheet that will give you an entire summary of the most imporant things to consider when getting training, and how our ASP Course stacks up to others that are offered. https://www.stagedhomes.com/PDF/COURSE%20COMPARISON%20SPREADSHEET-SHC%20ONLY.pdf
to Register for BOSTON: http://www.stagedhomes.com/training/registration/massachusetts/reading/?id=58
to Register for HERNDON, VA: http://www.stagedhomes.com/training/registration/virginia/herndon/?id=69
If you have any questions you can contact Stagedhomes.com at 800-392-7161 Save $$ off your tuition as an ASP Home Stager or ASP Real Estate Agent by using code "HOLIDAYSALE" when registering.
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
This class is being offered for both Realtors and Home Stagers that would like to earn both a professional Accreditation and Designation for Home Staging. An ACCREDITATION is the highest form of Training in the Staging industry!
Realtors attend the first 2 days and learn about Home Staging as a listing and marketing tool, as well as things they can do to help their own clients prepare their houses for sale. They become members of the International Association of Home Staging Professioanls (IAHSP) - the only professional association that serves only Home Stagers and the Home Staging industry, and has standards of membership that begin with education. No other association has educational standards prior to joining - this sets IAHSP apart with our standards of quality, ethics and excellence. For over 12 years IAHSP has set the standards of excellence in the real estate and Staging industry and no other group has the longevity, integrity and history that IAHSP provides.
Realtors licensed in Virginia receive 8 Continuing Education credits for this class.
Professional Stagers attend for 3 days and learn about the real estate industry and how to work with Sellers and Realtors for business, as well as how to establish, manage, market and maintain a successful Home Staging business. They become members of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP) the only professional association founded in education and excellence standards, for the Home Staging industry.
ASP graduates also receive access to the Staging University, the largest online resource for Home Staging success and is a private resource available only to ASP graduates.
This class is taught in a LIVE classroom setting with a Trainer that has actual success and knowledge related to Home Staging and real estate. All questions are answered and you have ongoing support from a real person that cares about your success after you graduate. The hours you receive are the equivalent of a college semester course with 24 hours of Stager education and 16 hours of Realtor education.
Only Stagedhomes.com has over 12 years of training history, and is based in nearly 40 years of experience by the Creator of Home Staging, Barb Schwarz.
If you would like to become trained as a professional Home Stager, enroll now to receive the only legitimate Accreditation available for Home Staging in a live classroom forum. An Accreditation is the HIGHEST form of training in the Home Staging industry.
If you are a Military Spouse - you can enroll in this course under the MyCAA Program. Click here to find out more: http://www.stagedhomes.com/public/MyCAA.php
Go to www.Stagedhomes.com for information including a course comparison spreadsheet that will give you an entire summary of the most imporant things to consider when getting training, and how our ASP Course stacks up to others that are offered. https://www.stagedhomes.com/PDF/COURSE%20COMPARISON%20SPREADSHEET-SHC%20ONLY.pdf
to Register for BOSTON: http://www.stagedhomes.com/training/registration/massachusetts/reading/?id=58
to Register for HERNDON, VA: http://www.stagedhomes.com/training/registration/virginia/herndon/?id=69
If you have any questions you can contact Stagedhomes.com at 800-392-7161 Save $$ off your tuition as an ASP Home Stager or ASP Real Estate Agent by using code "HOLIDAYSALE" when registering.
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
Friday, December 9, 2011
Vacant Home Transformation - Wilmington, DE - ASP Course
Check out the wonderful photos of the transformation of a house for sale - using inventory and creativity to "set the scene" for Buyers! Thanks to Theresa Thomas of Stage Right Home Staging for allowing us to use her Staging project and inventory (and movers) to get this house Staged to sell!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Do Stagers need a 12-Step Program?
- and although I know most of us do not actually have that condition - I did think that Stagers enjoy staging because of the short term gratification element.
Along those same lines - I also believe that those of that have found our life passion with Staging are ADDicted to Staging.
What is an addict? Websters defines it as: A person who cannot resist a habit, especially the use of drugs or alcohol, for physiological or psychological reasons.
OK - let's just remove the drugs and alcohol part - and put in "A person who cannot resist a habit, especially the use of Staging and creativity, for physiological and psychological reasons." - and there you have it!
We that love Home Staging are Staging Addicts!
Does this mean we need our own 12-Step program for support? Having grown up in a 12-step household (so this is not in any way meant to demean the helpful groups that saved my family's life), I can just hear the statements now at the weekly support groups - "SA - Stagers Anonymous."
"Hello, my name is Jennie, and I am a Staging Addict." Group: "Hello, Jennie."
The 12 Steps would be launched with the statement:
1. I am powerless over Staging - and help declutter other houses and my own so their lives and mine will not be unmanageable.
2.. Came to believe that a power greater than myself - Staging - could restore me and my clients' houses to sanity.
Etcetera.
The truth is, like an addict, I CAN feel myself going through withdrawals when I have not had my hands in someone else's house. My husband and kids notice it too - as I begin to "re-Stage" our own house - rearranging things, straightening, and fussing in the house - in order to make something "old new again." It bothers them - they want to be able to leave a blanket on the ground or not put the centerpiece back where it belongs after playing our Wii. To me - I often don't feel complete until my own house is back "in order" and yet I do have clutter - the kind that most families with children would have. Books, papers, collections, displayed school projects, and laundry - lots of laundry. And yet I recognize when I am crossing over to the addiction fix - I become sort of like a whirling dervish - spinning through my house cleaning, straightening, and re-doing displays. Time for a Staging project - FAST!
I do believe we that love Staging are ADDICTED to it - as one of my mentors proudly shared, "It gets in our blood stream - it's addictive." And yet I also know it is one of those "healthy" addictions. We are not harming anyone in the process of Staging (unless we drop a box on our toe), and we do help others to achieve their goals.
Now as I am writing this - I realize that as Home Stagers, we are addicted to Staging spaces and making houses more visually appealing, which is true. But what about the other role we play in this 12-Step world?
Think about it. Are we also codependent as Stagers? Do we do for others what they should do for themselves - but are not able? Yes we do. The decluttering, the proper presentation for the overwhelmed home seller - are all things the seller (or Realtor) are not able to do - and we come in and "save the day" with our plans, our creativity, our inventory, our knowledge.
Hmmm. I had not thought of that before now - but there is a grain of truth. We do help rescue the sale time and time again, offering up our solutions, telling our sellers not to be concerned - we'll take care of it - and allowing them to step aside and pass the responsibility for presentation of the house to us.
I guess we play both roles - we are the proverbial Addict and the Enabler. But the good news is that we are not hurting anyone in the process - we are helping. We are helping feed our own addiction and helping the Client achieve their goal of selling, even if it means we have to do the work ourselves.
Afterall - life should not be all boring - we have to have some FUN to feed our spirit - even if it is an addiction that can drive some of our family and friends crazy! And that is a whole other 12-step program.
SA unite!
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
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
'Twas the Month Before Christmas . . . A Staging Poem for Sellers and Realtors
Trouble viewing the graphic? Here is the text version:
‘Twas the month before Christmas, and all through the town
Sellers were asking, “Should we bring our price down?
Or go off the market until sometime next year,
We just can’t seem to get a buyer in here.”
Their houses were marketed during the season
No buyers were coming - what could be the reason?
Perhaps there needs to be more appeal
To help a buyer come make a deal!
Well here’s the solution that’s sure is engaging
From your Staging expert - Sensational Home Staging!
I’ve transformed many houses, to help them look best
From furnished, to vacant, large, small and the rest.
The services are varied, but one things for sure,
Staging a house is often the cure!
The best things about a home - I help buyers see
Using their own items or special inventory.
The data I track proves Staging works well
Even in this market - my Staged houses sell.
The investment in Staging is really quite clear
It will help you sell now versus sometime next year.
Copyright (C) Jennie Norris, 2003-2011 - All Rights Reserved.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Staging for the Holidays - How Much is Too Merry?
The holidays are just around the corner. If you have your house listed for sale or are going to put it on the market, here are some things to think about to ensure your house is "buyer friendly" during the holidays.
First, not everyone celebrates the holidays you do so minimizing what is put out for celebrating is key. Make every buyer feel welcome - even the ones that don't do much for the holidays or believe in celebrating the ones you do. There is nothing "wrong" with what you believe or celebrate and it's important to think like a buyer and create that welcome feeling for anyone viewing your house. Not putting out everything you own for decorating for a holiday will keep your house feeling spacious, neutral and inviting for any buyer.
The next major holiday is Thanksgiving. The warm tones associated with this holiday are fine for selling unless they totally clash with your current color scheme. Having a nice cornucopia on the table, or an arrangement with fall gourds, pumpkins and the like is fine. Just make sure the decor you put out does not draw too much attention to it - whatever you use to decorate for the holiday needs to be just a highlight in the room - not the focal point. Don't overdo it in your front yard with a bunch of cute yard items like scarecrows, pumpkins, turkeys, flags, etc. Think "less is more" for selling during this time.
The religious holidays that are coming are a source of remembrance, joy, and ritual for many. Not all buyers are going to know what your religious items signify and we don't want anyone feeling uncomfortable in the house they are potentially buying. If someone feels uncomfortable they will just get out and go look at the next house on their list.
I am going to address Christmas because that is what we celebrate in my house and if you celebrate another religious holiday in the November-December timeframe, apply the same guidelines to your house. Christmas decor is a lot of fun - I have lots of Nativity Scenes and Santas. I have a collection of over 40 Nutcrackers that are a family favorite and on display wherever I can fit them. They would surely be a conversation topic for any buyer coming to see the house if it were for sale.
Are you selling your decorations or are you selling your house? Also if you have some heirloom or precious things on display and they get broken or stolen, wouldn't you be upset? So this is the year to not put all those things out. Keep it to a minimum.
Even our tree has a special spot and it blocks the view to the back yard. So if we were selling, I would not put my Nutcrackers on display, I would relocate the tree to a better spot (or maybe not have one), and I would limit the number of decorative things to a few. Poinsettias are fine. A wreath on the door or on a wall is OK. But the abundance of decor some of us put out for our normal Christmas tradition would have to be left in the boxes for where we move next.
It might seem hard, but you are selling a house, not a home. If it is really a non-concession for you and you insist on having all your stuff out - then have no showings for the week before and after Christmas until you can get your personal holiday decor put away.
Know this: People DO buy houses at Christmas. There are people relocating from around the country and this can be a time when serious buyers are looking for a house, and must make an offer.
If you HAVE to sell now - then make some adjustments so that you house can remain on the market and be viewed as a product that any buyer would want to purchase.
Enjoy your scaled-back holiday and know that next year when you are in your new home you can go all out!!
Staging Creativity and Transformation!
Check out the latest Staging transformation from Accredited Staging Professionals in the Wash DC area . . . wonderful work using what the Sellers had in their house - and the principles of Home Staging!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Latest ASP Staging Project - Total Transformation!
Check out the latest Staging Tranformation - has been on the market over 90 days so far and with the Staging work of the ASP Students from Boston, we expect this house to show much better to buyers and get SOLD!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Denver-Littleton Condo For Sale!
Open house October 22 from 11-2 PM! Come check out the latest listing from Virginia Clair, Urban Mountain Properties - 303-229-2450. 7925 Layton Avenue, #317 - Denver 80123. Located right off Wadsworth and Belleview area - close to shops and is a quiet condo community.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
15 Ways to NOT Sell Your House: Real Life Stories about Real Sellers that Really Did not Want to Sell
15 Ways to NOT Sell Your House: Real Life Stories about Real Sellers that Really Did not Want to Sell
by Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP – Owner, Sensational Home Staging
If your house is on the market and you do not want it to sell – here are some tips you should consider.
1. Keep all your personal stuff out in plain sight. Clutter makes buyers feel right at home and hides all the real selling features of your house. They will probably layer up their counters and floors with stuff so just let the Buyer see how the house will look when they live in it too.
REAL STORY: This was one of my clients known as Dr. Bill. He had papers strewn all over his floors, coming out of tubs, down hallways, all over the counters. It was incredible! This was a bedroom but you cannot tell by the photo.
2. With area rugs more is better! Hide the hardwood or tile floors throughout your house with area rugs – and do not worry if they do not match. Letting the buyers hop-scotch from one rug to the next is FUN!
REAL STORY: What is it with homeowners that put a million area rugs all over. If you do not want your wood floors, put in carpet! This particular seller had 38 rugs in her house – all sizes (I counted).
3. Make sure to keep oddities and strange thing out. It gives buyers something to talk about and remember your house by recalling that item. Forget all the selling features you want them to remember your collectible. Killed a moose in the wild with your son? Great – keep that up on the wall with the large eyeballs following Buyers through the house. Even better, hang the photos of your hunting expedition right under the moose head so they are sure to get the full story.
REAL STORY: This was a treasure that I found in a high-end house owned by a doctor. Proudly on display at the entrance of the house in a niche, they could not understand why buyers would not appreciate the Jack-a-phes-a-lope.
4. Do not put any of your personal artwork away. If you have ones that are nudes that’s even better. That will tell Buyers that you are free and easy and do not care about pretenses and are super comfortable with yourselves.
REAL STORY: This is a painting that hung in the formal dining room of a very high-end house. If you look closely enough you get too much of a view. The seller had listed the house and it had not sold (surprise!). The painting ended up leaving the dining room and a tasteful fruit bowl painting was put in its place.
5. Keep all your family photos out so that Buyers can really get to know who you are. Your young children that go to school down the street will be recognizable by anyone seeing your house in person and online and it is a great way for your kids to gain new adult friends!
REAL STORY: I had a client protest having to put away all her kid’s photos. She said, “They are so cute, I do not want to pack them up.” Too many family photos give buyers too much information about you, your family, your interests, your background. No one should be able to determine that much personal information about a seller.
6. Do not make your beds or clean up when Buyers are coming. They have seen dirt and unmade beds before and if this is how you live they can either like it or go to the next house. And if your house is smelly on top of dirty, that is an added bonus!
REAL STORY: This was a client that was too busy to be bothered to make the bed. Anyone that is in the business has seen this – do they not know Buyers are coming through? Yes, I’d much rather look at your unmade, rumpled bed and clothes on the floor.
7. Do not paint any of your walls – the colors you like have to be appealing to everyone. Darker colors you painted will make your rooms feel small – which actually means, cozy, right? Darker colors are good for mood lighting – after all who wants to see all the features of a room?
REAL STORY: This client thought the purple walls were “fun” and the fact that she had accented the walls with bedding in all hues of purple made it better.
8. Wallpaper – who says you have to take it down? You picked the pattern because you liked it so buyers should like it too. In fact, if you have put wall paper up that matches the curtains, and also matches your fabric in the room – all the better because then Buyers can REALLY appreciate the pattern and thought you put into selecting the design.
9. Keep all your windows shut and blinds closed or nearly closed so that the house is nice and dark. It will take a moment for the Buyers’ eyes to adjust to the dim lighting in the house, but that will make them appreciate how private your house can be from the neighbors. They do not need to see the view from the windows – they saw it when they drove up to the house.
REAL STORY: Although the room itself is not bad from a Staging standpoint, having the blinds down, AND the curtains drawn over them is not a good selling point. Buyers immediately ask “what are you hiding?”
10. Make sure to leave out air filters, fans, water filters and water jugs – Buyers want to know if the house they are thinking of buying will make them sneeze, have water that tastes bad, or doesn’t heat and cool properly. Give them the clues up front so that they can make sure to bring their fans, heaters, filters and jugs when they move in! Extra bonus! When the buyer sees the large jug on the counter they will obviously think “Hey look at all the room!”
REAL STORY: These sellers used the jug water daily. When asked to move it for selling, they resisted saying, “If buyers cannot look past this then they can just get over it.” Then the agent, afraid of offending the seller said, “I actually think the blue of the water jug is a nice accent.” Please. If we do not tell them the truth we are not doing our job to help the house sell!
11. Do not bother cleaning up the yard or trimming your bushes and trees. They are just going to grow back so it is better to let Buyers see how they will look that way than trim them down. When they cannot see the house from the street it is more of a “surprise” when they get around the limbs and bushes and see the front door for the first time. When the trees and shrubs hide the windows of the house from the front it adds that special touch of privacy that every Buyer wants.
REAL STORY: This seller had not only the issue of “cannot sell it if you cannot see it” with the giant tree hiding his house, but the neighbors were kind enough to park all their extra vehicles all over the cul-de-sac so it looked like Auto-Row. I recommended he trim his tree and have a motivating conversation with the neighbors.
12. If you are updating your house make sure to pick styles and colors from years gone by – they are nostalgic and will help Buyers feel that connection the past. Brass fixtures really shine – and just scream 1980’s and who did not LOVE the 80’s?
13. Follow potential Buyers around your house during a showing. They do not need privacy and need to hear all the things you did over the years to personalize your house. Tell them all about your pets, your children, all the stories that will make sure to leave an impression.
14. Do not put any photos of your house online. Keep it a mystery so that the “big reveal” happens when the Buyers come in person!
15. Do not Stage your House and list your house with a Realtor® - Staging does not really matter and buyers can look past your stuff. You can just watch a TV show and figure out what to do innately. And Realtors - they do not do much anyway and you can just do it yourself. Marketing cannot be all that hard and the paperwork if you get an offer does not have any legal issues at all. It’s a cinch!! (please note I am being sarcastic – and value Realtors and what they do greatly!)
_________________________________________________________________________________
For help in Staging your house so it DOES sell, please give me a call. 303-717-7918 or toll free 888-93-STAGE. After Staging over 2,500 houses for sale since 2002, I have yet to meet a house or client I could not help. You can find me on the web: http://www.sensationalhome.com/
by Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP – Owner, Sensational Home Staging
If your house is on the market and you do not want it to sell – here are some tips you should consider.
1. Keep all your personal stuff out in plain sight. Clutter makes buyers feel right at home and hides all the real selling features of your house. They will probably layer up their counters and floors with stuff so just let the Buyer see how the house will look when they live in it too.
2. With area rugs more is better! Hide the hardwood or tile floors throughout your house with area rugs – and do not worry if they do not match. Letting the buyers hop-scotch from one rug to the next is FUN!
REAL STORY: What is it with homeowners that put a million area rugs all over. If you do not want your wood floors, put in carpet! This particular seller had 38 rugs in her house – all sizes (I counted).
3. Make sure to keep oddities and strange thing out. It gives buyers something to talk about and remember your house by recalling that item. Forget all the selling features you want them to remember your collectible. Killed a moose in the wild with your son? Great – keep that up on the wall with the large eyeballs following Buyers through the house. Even better, hang the photos of your hunting expedition right under the moose head so they are sure to get the full story.
REAL STORY: This was a treasure that I found in a high-end house owned by a doctor. Proudly on display at the entrance of the house in a niche, they could not understand why buyers would not appreciate the Jack-a-phes-a-lope.
4. Do not put any of your personal artwork away. If you have ones that are nudes that’s even better. That will tell Buyers that you are free and easy and do not care about pretenses and are super comfortable with yourselves.
REAL STORY: This is a painting that hung in the formal dining room of a very high-end house. If you look closely enough you get too much of a view. The seller had listed the house and it had not sold (surprise!). The painting ended up leaving the dining room and a tasteful fruit bowl painting was put in its place.
5. Keep all your family photos out so that Buyers can really get to know who you are. Your young children that go to school down the street will be recognizable by anyone seeing your house in person and online and it is a great way for your kids to gain new adult friends!
REAL STORY: I had a client protest having to put away all her kid’s photos. She said, “They are so cute, I do not want to pack them up.” Too many family photos give buyers too much information about you, your family, your interests, your background. No one should be able to determine that much personal information about a seller.
6. Do not make your beds or clean up when Buyers are coming. They have seen dirt and unmade beds before and if this is how you live they can either like it or go to the next house. And if your house is smelly on top of dirty, that is an added bonus!
REAL STORY: This was a client that was too busy to be bothered to make the bed. Anyone that is in the business has seen this – do they not know Buyers are coming through? Yes, I’d much rather look at your unmade, rumpled bed and clothes on the floor.
7. Do not paint any of your walls – the colors you like have to be appealing to everyone. Darker colors you painted will make your rooms feel small – which actually means, cozy, right? Darker colors are good for mood lighting – after all who wants to see all the features of a room?
REAL STORY: This client thought the purple walls were “fun” and the fact that she had accented the walls with bedding in all hues of purple made it better.
8. Wallpaper – who says you have to take it down? You picked the pattern because you liked it so buyers should like it too. In fact, if you have put wall paper up that matches the curtains, and also matches your fabric in the room – all the better because then Buyers can REALLY appreciate the pattern and thought you put into selecting the design.
REAL STORY: These sellers could not get past the amount they had invested in the wall paper. Taking it down seemed like a crime! Notice how the striped curtains and striped chairs, area rug and wall paper all make the room spin? Where does my eye go? My eye goes “lets get out!”
REAL STORY: Although the room itself is not bad from a Staging standpoint, having the blinds down, AND the curtains drawn over them is not a good selling point. Buyers immediately ask “what are you hiding?”
10. Make sure to leave out air filters, fans, water filters and water jugs – Buyers want to know if the house they are thinking of buying will make them sneeze, have water that tastes bad, or doesn’t heat and cool properly. Give them the clues up front so that they can make sure to bring their fans, heaters, filters and jugs when they move in! Extra bonus! When the buyer sees the large jug on the counter they will obviously think “Hey look at all the room!”
11. Do not bother cleaning up the yard or trimming your bushes and trees. They are just going to grow back so it is better to let Buyers see how they will look that way than trim them down. When they cannot see the house from the street it is more of a “surprise” when they get around the limbs and bushes and see the front door for the first time. When the trees and shrubs hide the windows of the house from the front it adds that special touch of privacy that every Buyer wants.
REAL STORY: This seller had not only the issue of “cannot sell it if you cannot see it” with the giant tree hiding his house, but the neighbors were kind enough to park all their extra vehicles all over the cul-de-sac so it looked like Auto-Row. I recommended he trim his tree and have a motivating conversation with the neighbors.
12. If you are updating your house make sure to pick styles and colors from years gone by – they are nostalgic and will help Buyers feel that connection the past. Brass fixtures really shine – and just scream 1980’s and who did not LOVE the 80’s?
13. Follow potential Buyers around your house during a showing. They do not need privacy and need to hear all the things you did over the years to personalize your house. Tell them all about your pets, your children, all the stories that will make sure to leave an impression.
14. Do not put any photos of your house online. Keep it a mystery so that the “big reveal” happens when the Buyers come in person!
15. Do not Stage your House and list your house with a Realtor® - Staging does not really matter and buyers can look past your stuff. You can just watch a TV show and figure out what to do innately. And Realtors - they do not do much anyway and you can just do it yourself. Marketing cannot be all that hard and the paperwork if you get an offer does not have any legal issues at all. It’s a cinch!! (please note I am being sarcastic – and value Realtors and what they do greatly!)
_________________________________________________________________________________
For help in Staging your house so it DOES sell, please give me a call. 303-717-7918 or toll free 888-93-STAGE. After Staging over 2,500 houses for sale since 2002, I have yet to meet a house or client I could not help. You can find me on the web: http://www.sensationalhome.com/
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Home Staging for Realtors & Stagers - ASP Course - Littleton, CO Nov 15-17
Join over 25,000 other Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) Graduates that have learned the secrets and processes of successful Home Staging and attend the ASP Course - Littleton, CO on November 15-17.
Realtors attend 2 days (Tues & Wed - Nov 15-16) and learn how to get Sellers to say, "YES," to Staging their houses BEFORE listing. Stagers attend 3 days (Nov 15-17) and learn how to own and operate a successful and profitable Staging business.
For over 12 years Stagedhomes.com has been the industry and world leader for Home Staging training and education. The ASP Accreditation is the highest form of training in the industry and testimonials from graduates prove that the ASP Accreditation and Designation help create more income for Realtors, help houses sell faster and make Sellers happy, and help Stagers know how to run a profitable business.
Go to the link below to register and use code "BACKTOSCHOOL" to save $$ off your tuition.
http://www.stagedhomes.com/training/registration/colorado/littleton/?id=46
Realtors attend 2 days (Tues & Wed - Nov 15-16) and learn how to get Sellers to say, "YES," to Staging their houses BEFORE listing. Stagers attend 3 days (Nov 15-17) and learn how to own and operate a successful and profitable Staging business.
For over 12 years Stagedhomes.com has been the industry and world leader for Home Staging training and education. The ASP Accreditation is the highest form of training in the industry and testimonials from graduates prove that the ASP Accreditation and Designation help create more income for Realtors, help houses sell faster and make Sellers happy, and help Stagers know how to run a profitable business.
Go to the link below to register and use code "BACKTOSCHOOL" to save $$ off your tuition.
http://www.stagedhomes.com/training/registration/colorado/littleton/?id=46
Monday, October 17, 2011
Staging Works!! See for yourself the magic of ASP Staging!
This house looks MUCH better after Staging than before - and the magic is that we used only what the Sellers had in their house! Staging is not about the money - it's about Creativity and Talent - and ideas!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
7701 S. Estes Drive - Staged and for Sale!
Check out this great unique house in Littleton, CO - listed by Kellie Morrissey of the KW City & Mountains Group. The 5 bedroom, 4 bath, 3,359 sq ft house has been updated with new carpet, and remodeled kitchen and baths. CONTACT: Kellie Morrissey - Keller Williams Realty Success: 303-877-2813
Description:
This quintessential farmhouse style home has over 3300 finished square feet on 1/3 acre with a 2 bedroom mother-in-law apartment in the walk-out basement. This home has been beautifully upgraded throughout with a Stunning kitchen complete with slab granite, stainless appliances and new cabinets. All baths have been equally upgraded including a beautiful glass bowl sink, elegant fixtures, and tastefully framed mirrors. New carpet and paint top off this incredible home, complete with a main floor master suite, his and her closets in the oversized upstairs bedrooms, separate large office or additional living area, make this home a rare find!
Subdivision: Fairview Heights.
Description:
This quintessential farmhouse style home has over 3300 finished square feet on 1/3 acre with a 2 bedroom mother-in-law apartment in the walk-out basement. This home has been beautifully upgraded throughout with a Stunning kitchen complete with slab granite, stainless appliances and new cabinets. All baths have been equally upgraded including a beautiful glass bowl sink, elegant fixtures, and tastefully framed mirrors. New carpet and paint top off this incredible home, complete with a main floor master suite, his and her closets in the oversized upstairs bedrooms, separate large office or additional living area, make this home a rare find!
Subdivision: Fairview Heights.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Gain an EDGE in your Business! Colorado - Home Staging Training - November 15-17
The Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) Course from Stagedhomes.com is coming to Littleton, CO November 15-17, 2011. Now is your chance to earn the industry's top rated accreditation and designation for Home Staging.
If you are a Realtor - you need to know how to get your Sellers on board with making the necessary changes to their house BEFORE listing. The ASP Designation will give you the knowledge and tools to help you gain an edge in your business. Staging is a key financial, marketing and listing tool for you - and will help you work smarter, not harder - to earn your income.
If you are someone that wants to start a Staging business, the ASP Stager Accreditation is the top in the industry and ASP Stagers around the world earn 5-7 figures from the Staging busineses. Learn how to set up a professional business with performance standards, and proper pricing for your creative skills and ideas. Staging is a key tool for Sellers that want to sell their house in the shortest time and for the most money.
Stagedhomes.com has graduated more students than any other training organization. For over 12 years Stagedhomes.com has been educating Realtors. Stagers, and the public about Home Staging - and continues to be the only nationally recognized designation for Staging.
Graduates earn their ASP Real Estate Agent or ASP Stager Accreditations - and have a full-year membership in the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, as well as in the Staging University - the only online resource of its kind to support ASP graduates.
ASP Graduates also are featured on the Stagedhomes.com site with a profile and links to websites and other information that help the public find them to work with, gain exposure on a top-rated Staging site, and feature properties that are Staged.
To register go to www.Stagedhomes.com - http://www.stagedhomes.com/training/registration/colorado/littleton/?id=46
Use CODE "BACKTOSCHOOL" to save $$ off your tuition as a Realtor or as a Stager.
If you are a Realtor - you need to know how to get your Sellers on board with making the necessary changes to their house BEFORE listing. The ASP Designation will give you the knowledge and tools to help you gain an edge in your business. Staging is a key financial, marketing and listing tool for you - and will help you work smarter, not harder - to earn your income.
If you are someone that wants to start a Staging business, the ASP Stager Accreditation is the top in the industry and ASP Stagers around the world earn 5-7 figures from the Staging busineses. Learn how to set up a professional business with performance standards, and proper pricing for your creative skills and ideas. Staging is a key tool for Sellers that want to sell their house in the shortest time and for the most money.
Stagedhomes.com has graduated more students than any other training organization. For over 12 years Stagedhomes.com has been educating Realtors. Stagers, and the public about Home Staging - and continues to be the only nationally recognized designation for Staging.
Graduates earn their ASP Real Estate Agent or ASP Stager Accreditations - and have a full-year membership in the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, as well as in the Staging University - the only online resource of its kind to support ASP graduates.
ASP Graduates also are featured on the Stagedhomes.com site with a profile and links to websites and other information that help the public find them to work with, gain exposure on a top-rated Staging site, and feature properties that are Staged.
To register go to www.Stagedhomes.com - http://www.stagedhomes.com/training/registration/colorado/littleton/?id=46
Use CODE "BACKTOSCHOOL" to save $$ off your tuition as a Realtor or as a Stager.
Fantastic Transformation with ASP Creativity! - Montclair NJ
Accredited Staging Professionals from the Stagedhomes.com ASP Course tackled a 6 bedroom house, that was in sore need of some pizazz to present it the best for the market. Using what the seller had (and removing a lot of excess) our students tranformed this house in a matter of hours. The homeowner remarked, "This house has never looked this good." Now it's sellable - and even though there could be some updating (removal of wall paper, painting, etc.) the house will show much better than it would have before our teams took on the challenge!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Staging Before & Afters - Sensationally Staged for the Client's Budget & Timeframe!
Check out the transformation Staging creates in this house. Although the house itself is dated, the Staging helps give it an "updated look" using current colors and styles. The Buyers will still have decisions to make on flooring, counters and amenities, but they can definitely appreciate the square footage and layout of this house. The Staging selections were based on the client's budget and timeframe for Staging and we used a combination of their things paired with rental items. Now it's time to get an offer!
Staged by Jennie Norris, Sensational Home Staging - 303-717-7918
Staged by Jennie Norris, Sensational Home Staging - 303-717-7918
Staged and Ready for Showings! Come and buy!
Check out this listing by Lee McCue - the McTeam - Keller Williams DTC; Call Lee for a showing at Cell: 303.859.0198;
http://www.McTeamRealEstate.com
13245 Regulus Drive, Highlands Ranch, CO
Sensationally Staged by Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP - Owner, Sensational Home Staging 303-717-7918
http://www.McTeamRealEstate.com
13245 Regulus Drive, Highlands Ranch, CO
Sensationally Staged by Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP - Owner, Sensational Home Staging 303-717-7918
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
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Stunning Home in Highlands Ranch - For Sale!
Listed by Lee McCue - Keller Williams Realty, Cell: 303.859.0198. Call now to schedule a showing!
5940 S. Cimarron Way - Littleton 80123 - Staged and Ready to Buy!
Listed by Susan Miesen, Remax Professionals, 303-521-2133. Call today to schedule a Showing!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Sensational Staging Project - Littleton, CO - Staged and Ready to show and SELL!
Check out the latest Staging success from Sensational Home Staging - Denver Region's Premier Home Staging Resource!
This staging project came from a Seller that found me online - and impressed with what she saw, she hired me to Stage this property. It was listed for 90 days with another agent - did not sell. Enter Staging - and working with professionals that know how to market and sell a house.
Not only did I get the Staging work - but I also REFERRED the listing to a Realtor client that I do a lot of business with - and it was my pleasure to give her this opportunity as a way to say, "Thank you" for all the business she has brought me. I also know she gets the job done - and has successfully SOLD some tough properties! Of course, they were all Staged - so we are a good team.
For help in Staging your house or listing, please give me a call. 303-717-7918 or 888-93-STAGE. After successfully staging over 2,500 properties, I have yet to meet a house or client that I could not help. - Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP, WCR
This staging project came from a Seller that found me online - and impressed with what she saw, she hired me to Stage this property. It was listed for 90 days with another agent - did not sell. Enter Staging - and working with professionals that know how to market and sell a house.
Not only did I get the Staging work - but I also REFERRED the listing to a Realtor client that I do a lot of business with - and it was my pleasure to give her this opportunity as a way to say, "Thank you" for all the business she has brought me. I also know she gets the job done - and has successfully SOLD some tough properties! Of course, they were all Staged - so we are a good team.
For help in Staging your house or listing, please give me a call. 303-717-7918 or 888-93-STAGE. After successfully staging over 2,500 properties, I have yet to meet a house or client that I could not help. - Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP, WCR
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Home Staging Success - ASPs Set the Scene for the Buyer
This house in Indianapolis was transformed using what the Seller had - and the principles of ASP Staging. We packed, rearranged, repurposed and set the scene in every room of this house. The results speak for themselves! Enjoy!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Staging Success - another great transformation!
This house had lovely features and amenities but a LOT of stuff and big pieces of furniture not arranged in a good flow cut off access to rooms, and made rooms feel smaller than they really were.
Enter ASPs who Staged this house in a matter of hours! What a difference - the Seller was amazed and we know it will help this house sell in record time!
Enter ASPs who Staged this house in a matter of hours! What a difference - the Seller was amazed and we know it will help this house sell in record time!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Wonderful Staging Transformation - Time, Talent and Creativity!
Check out the transformation of this 3,300 square foot townhouse. This is why a professional Stager is needed - to create the proper vision for the Buyers - and to help get the work done so the listing agent can focus on what they do best - list and sell houses!!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
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National Association of Professional Women - NAPW - Woman of the Year Award Recipient - Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP - Owner, Sensational Home Staging.
Check out the profile link below!
Share this Profile
Check out the profile link below!
Share this Profile
Monday, July 11, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Staging Works! Check out the before-after transformations of this occupied house!
Fabulous Transformation - ASP Staging makes this house look its best!! Using CREATIVITY versus telling a Seller "you have to replace all your furniture and buy things," works!!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Fabulous Staging using Creativity to transform the house for sale
Check out the before/afters of this wonderful ASP Staging project from the Boston-Waltham, MA Course taught last week . . . students did an amazing job after learning the principles of Staging from me in the ASP Course. As the Trainer - it's fun to see how the reality of Staging is applied in a real house! I advise, and get involved in rooms only if they struggle - and did not have to do too much of that with this class!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Home Staging Training - ASP Course - White Plains, NY - July 26-28, 2011
The Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) Course from Stagedhomes.com (www.Stagedhomes.com) - the industry leader in Home Staging Training - is coming to WHITE PLAINS, NY - JULY 26-28, 2011.
This class is being offered for both Realtors and Home Stagers that would like to earn both a professional Accreditation and Designation for Home Staging. Realtors attend the first 2 days and learn about Home Staging as a listing and marketing tool, as well as things they can do to help their own clients prepare their houses for sale. They become members of the International Association of Home Staging Professioanls (IAHSP) - the only professional association that serves only Home Stagers and the Home Staging industry, and has standards of membership that begin with education. No other association has educational standards prior to joining - this sets IAHSP apart with our standards of quality, ethics and excellence. For 12 years IAHSP has set the standards of excellence in the real estate and Staging industry and no other group has the longevity, integrity and history that IAHSP provides.
Professional Stagers attend for 3 days and learn about the real estate industry and how to work with Sellers and Realtors for business, as well as how to establish, manage, market and maintain a successful Home Staging business. They become members of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP) the only professional association founded in education and excellence standards, for the Home Staging industry.
ASP graduates also receive access to the Staging University, the largest online resource for Home Staging success and is a private resource available only to ASP graduates.
This class is taught in a LIVE classroom setting with a Trainer that has actual success and knowledge related to Home Staging and real estate. All questions are answered and you have ongoing support from a real person that cares about your success after you graduate. The hours you receive are the equivalent of a college semester course with 24 hours of Stager education and 16 hours of Realtor education.
Only Stagedhomes.com has over 12 years of training history, and is based in nearly 40 years of experience by the Creator of Home Staging, Barb Schwarz.
If you would like to become trained as a professional Home Stager, enroll now to receive the only legitimate Accreditation available for Home Staging in a live classroom forum. An Accreditation is the HIGHEST form of training in the Home Staging industry.
If you are a Military Spouse - you can enroll in this course under the MyCAA Program. Click here to find out more: http://www.stagedhomes.com/public/MyCAA.php
Go to www.Stagedhomes.com for information including a course comparison spreadsheet that will give you an entire summary of the most imporant things to consider when getting training, and how our ASP Course stacks up to others that are offered. https://www.stagedhomes.com/PDF/COURSE%20COMPARISON%20SPREADSHEET-SHC%20ONLY.pdf
Here is the link to the registration information for the WHITE PLAINS, NY COURSE: http://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=947606 If you have any questions you can contact Stagedhomes.com at 800-392-7161 Save $$ off your tuition as an ASP Home Stager or ASP Real Estate Agent by using code "ACTNOW" or "JUNESIZZLE" when registering.
_______________________________________________________________________________
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 Client
•303-717-7918 or 888-93-STAGE
This class is being offered for both Realtors and Home Stagers that would like to earn both a professional Accreditation and Designation for Home Staging. Realtors attend the first 2 days and learn about Home Staging as a listing and marketing tool, as well as things they can do to help their own clients prepare their houses for sale. They become members of the International Association of Home Staging Professioanls (IAHSP) - the only professional association that serves only Home Stagers and the Home Staging industry, and has standards of membership that begin with education. No other association has educational standards prior to joining - this sets IAHSP apart with our standards of quality, ethics and excellence. For 12 years IAHSP has set the standards of excellence in the real estate and Staging industry and no other group has the longevity, integrity and history that IAHSP provides.
Professional Stagers attend for 3 days and learn about the real estate industry and how to work with Sellers and Realtors for business, as well as how to establish, manage, market and maintain a successful Home Staging business. They become members of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP) the only professional association founded in education and excellence standards, for the Home Staging industry.
ASP graduates also receive access to the Staging University, the largest online resource for Home Staging success and is a private resource available only to ASP graduates.
This class is taught in a LIVE classroom setting with a Trainer that has actual success and knowledge related to Home Staging and real estate. All questions are answered and you have ongoing support from a real person that cares about your success after you graduate. The hours you receive are the equivalent of a college semester course with 24 hours of Stager education and 16 hours of Realtor education.
Only Stagedhomes.com has over 12 years of training history, and is based in nearly 40 years of experience by the Creator of Home Staging, Barb Schwarz.
If you would like to become trained as a professional Home Stager, enroll now to receive the only legitimate Accreditation available for Home Staging in a live classroom forum. An Accreditation is the HIGHEST form of training in the Home Staging industry.
If you are a Military Spouse - you can enroll in this course under the MyCAA Program. Click here to find out more: http://www.stagedhomes.com/public/MyCAA.php
Go to www.Stagedhomes.com for information including a course comparison spreadsheet that will give you an entire summary of the most imporant things to consider when getting training, and how our ASP Course stacks up to others that are offered. https://www.stagedhomes.com/PDF/COURSE%20COMPARISON%20SPREADSHEET-SHC%20ONLY.pdf
Here is the link to the registration information for the WHITE PLAINS, NY COURSE: http://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=947606 If you have any questions you can contact Stagedhomes.com at 800-392-7161 Save $$ off your tuition as an ASP Home Stager or ASP Real Estate Agent by using code "ACTNOW" or "JUNESIZZLE" when registering.
_______________________________________________________________________________
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 Client
•303-717-7918 or 888-93-STAGE
Home Staging Training Course - Virginia, DC, MD Area - July 13-15, 2011
The Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) Course from Stagedhomes.com (www.Stagedhomes.com) - the industry leader in Home Staging Training - is coming to FAIRFAX, VA - JULY 13-15, 2011.
This class is being offered for both Realtors and Home Stagers that would like to earn both a professional Accreditation and Designation for Home Staging. Realtors attend the first 2 days and learn about Home Staging as a listing and marketing tool, as well as things they can do to help their own clients prepare their houses for sale. They become members of the International Association of Home Staging Professioanls (IAHSP) - the only professional association that serves only Home Stagers and the Home Staging industry, and has standards of membership that begin with education. No other association has educational standards prior to joining - this sets IAHSP apart with our standards of quality, ethics and excellence. For 12 years IAHSP has set the standards of excellence in the real estate and Staging industry and no other group has the longevity, integrity and history that IAHSP provides.
Professional Stagers attend for 3 days and learn about the real estate industry and how to work with Sellers and Realtors for business, as well as how to establish, manage, market and maintain a successful Home Staging business. They become members of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP) the only professional association founded in education and excellence standards, for the Home Staging industry.
ASP graduates also receive access to the Staging University, the largest online resource for Home Staging success and is a private resource available only to ASP graduates.
This class is taught in a LIVE classroom setting with a Trainer that has actual success and knowledge related to Home Staging and real estate. All questions are answered and you have ongoing support from a real person that cares about your success after you graduate. The hours you receive are the equivalent of a college semester course with 24 hours of Stager education and 16 hours of Realtor education.
Only Stagedhomes.com has over 12 years of training history, and is based in nearly 40 years of experience by the Creator of Home Staging, Barb Schwarz.
If you would like to become trained as a professional Home Stager, enroll now to receive the only legitimate Accreditation available for Home Staging in a live classroom forum. An Accreditation is the HIGHEST form of training in the Home Staging industry.
If you are a Military Spouse - you can enroll in this course under the MyCAA Program. Click here to find out more: http://www.stagedhomes.com/public/MyCAA.php
Go to www.Stagedhomes.com for information including a course comparison spreadsheet that will give you an entire summary of the most imporant things to consider when getting training, and how our ASP Course stacks up to others that are offered. https://www.stagedhomes.com/PDF/COURSE%20COMPARISON%20SPREADSHEET-SHC%20ONLY.pdf
Here is the link to the registration information for the FAIRFAX, VA COURSE: http://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=906402 If you have any questions you can contact Stagedhomes.com at 800-392-7161 Save $$ off your tuition as an ASP Home Stager or ASP Real Estate Agent by using code "ACTNOW" or "JUNESIZZLE" when registering.
______________________________________________________________________________
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
Professional Stagers attend for 3 days and learn about the real estate industry and how to work with Sellers and Realtors for business, as well as how to establish, manage, market and maintain a successful Home Staging business. They become members of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP) the only professional association founded in education and excellence standards, for the Home Staging industry.
ASP graduates also receive access to the Staging University, the largest online resource for Home Staging success and is a private resource available only to ASP graduates.
This class is taught in a LIVE classroom setting with a Trainer that has actual success and knowledge related to Home Staging and real estate. All questions are answered and you have ongoing support from a real person that cares about your success after you graduate. The hours you receive are the equivalent of a college semester course with 24 hours of Stager education and 16 hours of Realtor education.
Only Stagedhomes.com has over 12 years of training history, and is based in nearly 40 years of experience by the Creator of Home Staging, Barb Schwarz.
If you would like to become trained as a professional Home Stager, enroll now to receive the only legitimate Accreditation available for Home Staging in a live classroom forum. An Accreditation is the HIGHEST form of training in the Home Staging industry.
If you are a Military Spouse - you can enroll in this course under the MyCAA Program. Click here to find out more: http://www.stagedhomes.com/public/MyCAA.php
Go to www.Stagedhomes.com for information including a course comparison spreadsheet that will give you an entire summary of the most imporant things to consider when getting training, and how our ASP Course stacks up to others that are offered. https://www.stagedhomes.com/PDF/COURSE%20COMPARISON%20SPREADSHEET-SHC%20ONLY.pdf
Here is the link to the registration information for the FAIRFAX, VA COURSE: http://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=906402 If you have any questions you can contact Stagedhomes.com at 800-392-7161 Save $$ off your tuition as an ASP Home Stager or ASP Real Estate Agent by using code "ACTNOW" or "JUNESIZZLE" when registering.
______________________________________________________________________________
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
Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) Course - Indianapolis August 2-4, 2011
The Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) Course from Stagedhomes.com (www.Stagedhomes.com) - the industry leader in Home Staging Training - is coming to INDIANAPOLIS, AUGUST 2-4, 2011.
This class is being offered for both Realtors and Home Stagers that would like to earn both a professional Accreditation and Designation for Home Staging. Realtors attend the first 2 days and learn about Home Staging as a listing and marketing tool, as well as things they can do to help their own clients prepare their houses for sale. They become members of the International Association of Home Staging Professioanls (IAHSP) - the only professional association that serves only Home Stagers and the Home Staging industry, and has standards of membership that begin with education. No other association has educational standards prior to joining - this sets IAHSP apart with our standards of quality, ethics and excellence. For 12 years IAHSP has set the standards of excellence in the real estate and Staging industry and no other group has the longevity, integrity and history that IAHSP provides.
Professional Stagers attend for 3 days and learn about the real estate industry and how to work with Sellers and Realtors for business, as well as how to establish, manage, market and maintain a successful Home Staging business. They become members of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP) the only professional association founded in education and excellence standards, for the Home Staging industry.
ASP graduates also receive access to the Staging University, the largest online resource for Home Staging success and is a private resource available only to ASP graduates.
This class is taught in a LIVE classroom setting with a Trainer that has actual success and knowledge related to Home Staging and real estate. All questions are answered and you have ongoing support from a real person that cares about your success after you graduate. The hours you receive are the equivalent of a college semester course with 24 hours of Stager education and 16 hours of Realtor education.
Only Stagedhomes.com has over 12 years of training history, and is based in nearly 40 years of experience by the Creator of Home Staging, Barb Schwarz.
If you would like to become trained as a professional Home Stager, enroll now to receive the only legitimate Accreditation available for Home Staging in a live classroom forum. An Accreditation is the HIGHEST form of training in the Home Staging industry.
If you are a Military Spouse - you can enroll in this course under the MyCAA Program. Click here to find out more: http://www.stagedhomes.com/public/MyCAA.php
Go to www.Stagedhomes.com for information including a course comparison spreadsheet that will give you an entire summary of the most imporant things to consider when getting training, and how our ASP Course stacks up to others that are offered. https://www.stagedhomes.com/PDF/COURSE%20COMPARISON%20SPREADSHEET-SHC%20ONLY.pdf
Here is the link to the registration information for the INDIANAPOLIS COURSE: http://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=945504 If you have any questions you can contact Stagedhomes.com at 800-392-7161 Save $$ off your tuition as an ASP Home Stager or ASP Real Estate Agent by using code "ACTNOW" or "JUNESIZZLE" when registering.
________________________________________________________________________
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
This class is being offered for both Realtors and Home Stagers that would like to earn both a professional Accreditation and Designation for Home Staging. Realtors attend the first 2 days and learn about Home Staging as a listing and marketing tool, as well as things they can do to help their own clients prepare their houses for sale. They become members of the International Association of Home Staging Professioanls (IAHSP) - the only professional association that serves only Home Stagers and the Home Staging industry, and has standards of membership that begin with education. No other association has educational standards prior to joining - this sets IAHSP apart with our standards of quality, ethics and excellence. For 12 years IAHSP has set the standards of excellence in the real estate and Staging industry and no other group has the longevity, integrity and history that IAHSP provides.
Professional Stagers attend for 3 days and learn about the real estate industry and how to work with Sellers and Realtors for business, as well as how to establish, manage, market and maintain a successful Home Staging business. They become members of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP) the only professional association founded in education and excellence standards, for the Home Staging industry.
ASP graduates also receive access to the Staging University, the largest online resource for Home Staging success and is a private resource available only to ASP graduates.
This class is taught in a LIVE classroom setting with a Trainer that has actual success and knowledge related to Home Staging and real estate. All questions are answered and you have ongoing support from a real person that cares about your success after you graduate. The hours you receive are the equivalent of a college semester course with 24 hours of Stager education and 16 hours of Realtor education.
Only Stagedhomes.com has over 12 years of training history, and is based in nearly 40 years of experience by the Creator of Home Staging, Barb Schwarz.
If you would like to become trained as a professional Home Stager, enroll now to receive the only legitimate Accreditation available for Home Staging in a live classroom forum. An Accreditation is the HIGHEST form of training in the Home Staging industry.
If you are a Military Spouse - you can enroll in this course under the MyCAA Program. Click here to find out more: http://www.stagedhomes.com/public/MyCAA.php
Go to www.Stagedhomes.com for information including a course comparison spreadsheet that will give you an entire summary of the most imporant things to consider when getting training, and how our ASP Course stacks up to others that are offered. https://www.stagedhomes.com/PDF/COURSE%20COMPARISON%20SPREADSHEET-SHC%20ONLY.pdf
Here is the link to the registration information for the INDIANAPOLIS COURSE: http://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=945504 If you have any questions you can contact Stagedhomes.com at 800-392-7161 Save $$ off your tuition as an ASP Home Stager or ASP Real Estate Agent by using code "ACTNOW" or "JUNESIZZLE" when registering.
________________________________________________________________________
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
Thursday, June 9, 2011
IAHSP Featured on The Today Show - finding a professional Home Stager to help you prepare your house for sale!
On Monday, June 6th, Al Roker and Barbara Corcoran discussed real estate issues and talked about Staging a house for sale. When posed with the question of where to locate a qualified professional Home Stager, the answer was "IAHSP" - The International Association of Home Staging Professionals. Having served as Vice President for 5 years and President for 2 years, and currently on the IAHSP International Board serving as Ethics and Special Projects Director, IAHSP members truly are the industry leaders for Home Staging.
IAHSP is the only professional association serving the Home Staging industry that is rooted in education first, ethics that are enforced and excellence standards for Staging. Members must be educated in Home Staging from a reputable entity - and earn the highest form of training - an Accreditation as a Staging professional to qualify for membership.
As a member of IAHSP since 2003, I am happy to see this great coverage for our professional Association that serves thousands of members worldwide!
IAHSP is the only professional association serving the Home Staging industry that is rooted in education first, ethics that are enforced and excellence standards for Staging. Members must be educated in Home Staging from a reputable entity - and earn the highest form of training - an Accreditation as a Staging professional to qualify for membership.
As a member of IAHSP since 2003, I am happy to see this great coverage for our professional Association that serves thousands of members worldwide!
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Before and AFTERS - Sensationally Staged!
This is the latest transformation by Jennie Norris of Sensational Home Staging! Using what the Seller had, adding a few updated items helps this townhouse show better for Buyers in photos, virtual tours and in person! For help preparing your house or listing for sale, contact Jennie at 303-717-7918.\
Lovely Lonetree Townhouse!
9495 Southern Hills Circle, Lone Tree, CO 80124
This townhouse is located in a well-maintained community in Lonetree. It is conveniently located near shops and parks, with easy access to C470 and Hwy 25. The house features vaulted ceilings in the Living Room, hardwood floors, formal dining, kitchen with counter bar area, eat-in nook, lots of storage! Upstairs 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, and downstairs has large Family room and another bedroom and full bath.
Listed by:
Mary Davis and Tom Spall
RE/MAX Leaders
303-790-7475 Direct Office
303-548-9137 Cell
MaryDavisTomSpall@msn.com
This townhouse is located in a well-maintained community in Lonetree. It is conveniently located near shops and parks, with easy access to C470 and Hwy 25. The house features vaulted ceilings in the Living Room, hardwood floors, formal dining, kitchen with counter bar area, eat-in nook, lots of storage! Upstairs 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, and downstairs has large Family room and another bedroom and full bath.
Listed by:
Mary Davis and Tom Spall
RE/MAX Leaders
303-790-7475 Direct Office
303-548-9137 Cell
MaryDavisTomSpall@msn.com
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Home Staging – Miss the Mark and Miss the Market - by Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP, Owner of Sensational Home Staging
Home Staging – Miss the Mark and Miss the Market
by Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP, Owner of Sensational Home Staging
There is a trend I see emerging in some Staging businesses where the Staging is so extreme, so unique, so well, trendy, that it misses the mark, and more importantly misses the market. In other words, the Staging may “look really cool” but does it actually appeal to the target Buyer? With Home Staging we have to ask ourselves, “Who is the potential Buyer for this house?” “Who am I creating this look for and is that audience going to like what I have planned for this Staging?”
Dare I say, we need to ask, “Are we more focused on the Staging or the fact that the house is Staged?”
The truth is, lately I see some that call themselves “Stagers” use some truly amazing inventory – stuff that would make any reader of a design magazine drool. But again, is the inventory and Staging of mass audience appeal or is it taking Staging down to a tiny market niche? The photos I see of some work really make me say, “Huh?” because the Staging is not broadly appealing.
Don’t get me wrong - Is it stylish? Yes. Is it fun? Yes. Is it too unique? Yes. Does it appeal to the broad base of buyers – NO. That is the telling question – and the key is that Staging is NOT Decorating or Design. Both industries serve a purpose but only one serves the goal of Selling a house and appealing to mass audience online and in person. STAGING.
What is the goal of Staging? To SELL the house. A “Home Stager” that is focused on the STUFF is not focused on the goal. I am all for creating a really great look in a house, but when the focus is on the stuff, prices charged are often too high, and the look truly does not appeal to the broad audience.
More importantly, in a market like we are in today, we cannot afford to alienate any facet of the audience of potential buyers by using furnishings that are too “out there.” Instead of selling the house, what is being sold is the “design style” of the person that installed all that “really cool stuff” in the house.
Most (and that is 99%) of Buyers cannot relate to a red piano or extremely modern art as things they would like to own. Those items have a place of use for Staging – in a very miniscule number of properties. So unless you are Staging strictly Soho lofts In NY for eclectic artisans, this type of Staging is not doing the job of appealing to the broad buyer base.
Keep our eyes on the GOAL – Sell the house, sell the house, sell the house. Can we afford to Stage for that one Buyer that likes our design aesthetic, or are we Staging for ALL Buyers so they all want to buy the house? I know it only takes one – but do you want a needle in a haystack or the whole haystack? And when time is not on the Seller’s side, it’s up to us as the professionally trained Stagers to make SURE that the house appeals to the broadest demographic.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Charming Rancher in Arvada
Check out this new listing in Arvada - great starter home or home for someone downsizing that wants a nice one-story layout in a charming neighborhood. Hardwood floors, new refrigerator, updated amenitites - ready for you to move in!
Friday, May 13, 2011
Realtors - Don't Tarnish Your Hard Earned Reputation
Realtors - Don’t Tarnish Your Hard Earned Reputation
by Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP
Owner & Principal Stager, Sensational Home Staging
There are many articles expressing the need to Stage from a financial standpoint and buyer standpoint, but I have not read any that address this service from a REPUTATION standpoint.
Realtors need to know that Staging listings will help THEM gain market share and keep a great reputation as a successful agent.
It positions you as the Agent that gets the job done. You are the “hero in the hood” and all the neighbors that are watching take notice when the sale goes PENDING.
When Staging is not included – there is a lot at RISK.
Think about it. When a house or product is listed for sale and is NOT presented well and Staged – the house languishes on the market.
This means it will have to have a price reduction in order to respond to the market and buyers. This makes the Seller unhappy.
As the listing agent, you promote YOU as the marketer and expert to get the house SOLD.
You have your signage out front and in the house. You are promoting this property online, and hopefully marketing it using various methods to gain exposure.
When the house does not sell – and sits and sits – this makes YOU as the agent look like you can’t get the job done. Your reputation suffers as a result. This makes you unhappy. It makes your broker unhappy.
Maybe you even lose the listing that you have worked hard to win, hard to market and hard to sell. BUT – the house was not Staged and therefore did not appeal to the broadest audience.
When the house does not sell, your reputation is TARNISHED.
Damage is done. People in the neighborhood that are looking to list their house will not consider you because you were not successful.
It is a high price to pay. And NOT Staging costs you.
• TIME
• MONEY
• REPUTATION
Do you really want to be known in the neighborhood as the Realtor who could not get the job done? Do you really want to have people going through a house that presents poorly with your name all over it?
Staging Recommendations and Resistance
Now I know that sometimes you do recommend Staging and tips to Sellers and they resist. I also know that sometimes you don’t want to tell the Seller the truth about their house because you don’t want to hurt their feelings and risk losing the listing. And I know sometimes the Seller has some pretty odd things in their house that you just have no idea how to eliminate.
It takes skill and patience – and that is where working with a professional Stager can really help.
When you Seller says to you, “I don’t want to spend the money on Staging,” AGREE with them. Tell them you don’t want them to spend it either. Tell them you want them to INVEST their money – in STAGING – because Staging their house will help them get the highest return on their sale.
They either INVEST in time and dollars to Stage up front, or they will lose far more on the back-end with price reductions.
Then work with your ASP Stager – who has statistics and information to help you demonstrate to your Seller that they cannot afford NOT to Stage.
YOUR REPUTATION is at stake
Don’t risk tarnishing your reputation because or resistance or fear. Get an advocate to help you – partner with a Stager who is ready to use their skills and knowledge to get your clients on board.
Make it standard protocol that all your listings are Staged.
Many Realtors I work with will not take a listing if the Seller does not agree to Stage it first. WHY? When the house is Staged it makes your job much easier to market a product that looks great for all buyers. It reduces the time on the market and helps the Seller get the best price possible based on the market.
IF a price reduction has to happen, it is not because you have not used every tool possible to attract a Buyer . . . it is just the market. And when the house does sell, it will still sell at a better price and faster than the marketed un-Staged competition. These are FACTS that have been proven time and again and there is data and statistics available to back the statement up.
And the best part is . . . when you do include Staging, everyone WINS!
Your Seller is happy because they get their house sold in the best time frame and at the best price possible based on the market. You are happy because you are successful, and you’ll earn more commission! And the Buyer is happy because they were able to mentally move in to the Staged house.
Don’t risk your valuable REPUTATION . . . use Staging for your clients. Staging is not just for them – it’s also for you.
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