This property was listed for sale for nearly a year prior to Staging. Because of the custom design work that was carried out prior to listing the property has been challenging for buyers to appreciate. The goal of the Staging was to tone down the glitz inside and help "normalize" the interior with furniture and décor that adds color and visual appeal while not being over the top. With an price tag of $1.6M this condo is located in the heart of Denver with amazing city and mountain views.
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.
Monday, May 4, 2015
Downtown Condo - City Park - Bef & Aft Staging shows the difference Staging makes to attract a Buyer
Custom downtown condo near City Park with views of downtown Denver and the mountains! The Staging helped this place get SOLD because buyers don't have an imagination on how to place furniture in a wide open space.
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Best Foot Forward - Don't Let Your Listing Sell The Competition
Best Foot Forward
by Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP-Premier,
ASP-SRS, ASP-REO, ASP-BTS
Owner, Sensational Home Staging
Helping Sellers & Realtors in the Denver Region
The truth is in life we do only have one chance to make the best FIRST impression so we want to have, as they say, our BEST foot forward!
When a house is listed for sale and a buyer looks at it online or in person - the house either sells itself or sells the competition. They either want to see more and make an offer or they walk on to the next option.
Buyers compare houses online and in person. When one looks great and the other is not prepared for sale - dirty, dated, cluttered, too dark, smelly, etc. - a Buyer will naturally compare that house to the one that is ready to show and buy. So your choice as a Seller or as a Listing Agent is simple. You either Stage up front to get the positive attention and offers or you don't and you just SOLD your competition.
As a Listing Agent you have to ask yourself, "Why would I want to market an ugly foot?"
You invest a lot of your time, energy and dollars to get a house sold. The house reflects on YOUR reputation. When it does NOT sell you are often held responsible and blamed by the Seller - and word gets around the neighborhood. Aren't you in this business to get referrals from happy clients? Of course. So YOUR best foot forward is to make it a requirement that all your listings are Staged BEFORE they are listed for sale. Or else you just help sell YOUR competition because the neighborhood is watching who gets the pending sign out first and at what price the house sold.
Yes I know Sellers can resist change and it can be hard to tell them their house has warts or corns. Yet you are not doing them (or yourself) any favors by marketing their house "as is." I know there are special circumstances that can exist, but for the most part, a Seller wants ALL the money from the sale of their house. Not just some.
Putting an ugly foot on the market guarantees they will not net the most from their house and it guarantees their house will be USED to sell the houses that put their BEST foot forward.
Yes - even in a hot market, a Buyer does not want the hairy foot with warts and icky toenails when they have the option of buying the beautifully manicured foot with pretty color and jewelry. Those two houses will NOT sell at the same price and the ugly foot will be used to sell the pretty one.
The changes a Seller needs to make to get their foot from ugly to pretty are usually simple and very effective. In most markets a Staging Consultation where the Seller is given a detailed summary of what to do room by room is an average of $250. That small investment can yield thousands of dollars in return. Anything a Seller can do UP FRONT to help their house show better should be recouped in the sale and help their house sell at the best price.
Best Foot Forward. Get the house Staged by a professional Stager to ensure the house truly has the best opportunity to get the best price. Then when the house closes at the BEST price, treat yourself to a manicure! After all the running around we do for our clients we deserve it!
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For help putting your best foot forward in the greater Denver area, give Jennie a call 303-717-7918. www.SensationalHome.com
Monday, April 27, 2015
Staged and UNDER CONTRACT in 1 day - Highlands Ranch Staging and Listing Success!
This property was on the market last year and did not sell. New year, new Realtor that brought me in as the professional Stager - and new look for the property that included tasteful furniture and décor to highlight this home's features. Result: This house went under contract in 1 day! THAT is the power of proper marketing of a house even in a hot market!
Home Staging and the Laws of Buyer Attraction
Home Staging and the Laws of Buyer Attraction
by Jennie Norris, ASPM®, IAHSP-Premier®, ASP-SRS®, ASP-REO®
Owner, Sensational Home Staging – Serving the Greater Denver Region
The spring market is in full swing around the country as homeowners take the plunge and decide to sell. It is important to make the very best first impression for buyers and that means you need to Stage your house before you sell. Barb Schwarz, The Creator of Home Staging® coined a phrase used by many in the industry, “The way you live in your home and the way we market and sell your house are two different things.” What that means is there is nothing “wrong” with how you choose to live in your home. However, selling a house requires a shift in mindset because you are looking to attract a buyer.
Staging is the process of preparing a house for sale so that it sells in the quickest time and at the best price. It is an up-front investment in time and dollars to ensure you maximize the rate of return on the sale of your house.
Property Interviews and Dates that lead to a Match
Think about any time you went to a job interview or on a date. Did you shower, dress up nicely, present yourself well to the person you were meeting? Hopefully you answered, “yes.” Selling a house is no different. Buyers preview your potential property online and I call that the interview. When they come in person to see the house – it’s a date. In both instances the house has to look its best. If the buyer does not like what they see online, then there is no date set to see the house in person which means no offer. One leads to the other and both are essential to get you the best price for your house.
It’s the laws of attraction at work.
You might be in a “hot market” where houses are selling quickly, and yet Staging will help you get the very best price and in some markets results in competing offers for the property because it looks so good. In a traditional market statistics show that Staging helps houses sell 2-3 times faster and anywhere from 5-20% MORE than the un-staged competition. Your ASP® or ASPM® Accredited Stager can explain the difference between “Staged List Price” and “List Price” which can mean more money in the sale of your house, as well as show you the statistics that support Staging.
We live in our homes and sell a house or product. Staging is about preparing the house for the unknown buyer and that is why we have to put things away that are personal to us or might be distracting to buyers. All you know about a prospective buyer for your house is that they have money to invest in a property and are searching in your area. You don’t know their age, faith, race, background, politics, education, what they do for work, or family status. In order for your house to attract all buyers you need to remove any of those things I just listed from your home and turn it into a house that all buyers can appreciate.
Staging is also to help protect the Seller. By removing things that are too personal such as family photos, financial information, health issue items such as prescriptions, you are protecting your family from potential predators online and in person. Even something as generic as kitchen knives in a butcher block need to be removed because they are weapons. In fact any weapons in the house need to be removed and/or secured before any buyers enter the house. It is both a safety and liability issue.
Here are some tips you can use to help get your house ready to sell:
1. Clean your house – top to bottom, inside and outside. A clean house tells a buyer that you took care of your house and they feel better about the purchase. If you don’t have time to do the really deep cleaning in bathrooms and your kitchen, hire someone to help you. It will be well worth the investment.
2. Clutter-Free – removing all the excess from corners, counters, and rooms is key. You are packing – just pack up early so that when you get that offer, you are already well on your way to being ready to move. Think about the things you have now and decide if you really want to pay to move them – and then purge and donate things that you no longer want or need.
3. Color – we paint our walls custom colors that we like but have to understand they may not appeal to the buyers. Paint out any bold colored walls to a nice warm tone neutral. If you love that color you get to paint it in your new home. Remember we are selling SPACE so open up those rooms visually by putting warm tone neutral paint on the walls. You can add color with artwork, accessories, accent pillows, and bedding. Do add color to the exterior of your house with fresh annuals that are cheerful and inviting.
4. Pets – What do we do with our fur babies when the house is for sale? Buyers may have positive or negative experiences with pets so you need to minimize the evidence of pets for photos and showings. Buyers may assume a pet soiled the carpet or did damage to the house if there is evidence of a lot of activity. Leaving a large dog that barks in the backyard or garage is not a good strategy. Taking them with you, putting them in a day-kennel, or having family members help out is a good plan. Pets that are strictly indoor pets need to have a discreet area to do their business that are kept very clean, and if they are housed in a cage or terrarium it should be clean, covered and located in a discreet part of a bedroom. Make sure pet hair is cleaned up before any showings, and take time to remove any dog “bombs” from the back yard so buyers don’t track that inside.
5. Personal Items – As you prepare your house for sale remove anything of value. If you leave things out on display they are at risk because a buyer could handle them, accidentally break the item or even steal it. Jewelry should not be left out nor should prescription medications. I recommend my sellers take those things with them when there are showings. Just stuffing these things in a drawer is not a good idea because buyers may snoop.
6. Get Help - The last and most IMPORTANT recommendation I am going to make is for you to get an objective, third party opinion on what your house needs to prepare it for sale. Find an Accredited Staging Professional® (ASP®) Stager in your area and have them prepare a Staging Consultation which is a documented detailed summary of what you need to do room by room, inside and outside. We don’t see our houses the way buyers see them – and getting an objective assessment is crucial. On average a consultation investment can range between $125-$375 depending on where you live. If your house is vacant, an ASP® Stager will preview your house and provide a Staging estimate to Stage the key rooms in the house.
To find a qualified, trained, Accredited Staging Professional go to www.Stagedhomes.com and click on the ASP Directory Link.
About the Author:
Jennie Norris, ASPM®, IAHSP-Premier®, ASP-SRS™, ASP-REO™, ASP-BTS™ is the owner of Sensational Home Staging, serving the greater Denver region. Since 2002 she has Staged over 3,000 homes and over $1 Billion in property values. She is a Board Member of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals® (IAHSP®) and is the President of the local Denver IAHSP® Chapter. Jennie is also a Certified ASP® Course Trainer with Stagedhomes.com and since 2005 has helped educated thousands of Realtors and Stagers. Staging is her passion and she enjoys sharing the value and benefits of Staging with Realtors and Sellers. Jennie is a marketing expert, author, blogger, mother to four teenagers and wife of 27 years. You can find her online at www.SensationalHome.com.
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