Will you stage homes in the $295,000. price range?? How many times have you been asked that question?
Okay, we all have discussed this topic many times but I feel it is worth repeating. It seems as home staging becomes more popular, our aspirations grow bigger and bigger along with our inventory and cost to stage. As more and more realtors are being turned onto the concept of having their listings staged, more and more concerns are arising. Concerns about pricing!!
I have spoken with many realtors and homeowners over the past several weeks and this same question comes up each time. What can you do for me with my client with their listing that is only in the $295, 000 price range?
The vast majority of homes that are featured on the internet with regard to stagers websites are of before and after pictures of "staged" vacant homes or "staged" model homes. Let's face it, they look amazing. The furniture is top notch, the kitchens usually have granite counter tops, the master bathroom has the wonderful sunken jacuzzi tub, and so on and so on.
Now, if I were a seller and wished that I could hire a home stager, I might be turned off by some of these pictures simply for the fact that I might feel I could either not afford a stagers services or a stager would not be interested in my ho hum house with my ho hum furniture in a mediocre price range. After all, isn't staging only for the MILLION DOLLAR HOUSE?? NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!
Home Staging is for real people, real houses and real budgets. Home Staging covers all houses in all price ranges. We love those houses. Your house is the exact house that makes our creative juices flow.
The original concept of ReStyled to Sell home staging was to completely transform your space by using what you already have in your home. As a professional home stager I will look at your house and make suggestions according to the needs of your house and your house only. Then I will work out a plan and a proposal that will fit into your budget. Remember, we are here to help you sell, that is our main goal as home stagers.
Vacant homes and model homes are fantastic to stage as well. Yes the budget will be set higher because the clients will need more to complete that lived in look that will appeal to buyers. Does the whole house have to be staged if you cannot afford to do so?? NO!! These are the things that a home stager will sit and review carefully with you to also fit into your budget.
I would ask that you reconsider calling a home stager if you are considering selling your home. Realtors, we are there for you no matter what the price of your listing. Our goals are the same...SELL YOUR HOUSE!! Whether your home is worth $295,000 or $2,950,000.00 the COST OF STAGING YOUR HOME IS STILL LESS THAN YOUR FIRST PRICE REDUCTION.
If you have any concerns or questions, please take the time to call ReStyled to Sell Home Staging NJ and we will be more than happy to answer ALL your questions or concerns that you may have. REMEMBER, WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF HELPING PEOPLE MOVE ON!!
Great point about the cost of staging vs. the first price reduction! It would be great to find a stager with good before and afters of the "average" 2.5 kid, 1 dog, mom and dad home...but most examples I've seen so far immediately bring to mind "high end/type A families who never drop their socks on the floor"
The value of staging can not be denied and in this market, a "free" to the seller consultation with a stager could be a powerful tool in the listing presentation.
Phyllis, It is a good thing you posted this information again. Look at the realtor responses. With new people popping in all the time it is good to do some refreshing with a twist. Thank you for making the info known.
I think I've finished my realtor packet. I say think because I keep thinking of new or different things. If you would like to see what I have, send me an e-mail with your address. I can't send over the AR e-mail because I will have to attach the pages. Also thanks for sending yours my way. They were fun to see.
Hey Phyllis,
This was a great idea for a post and judging from the response thus far, it appears that there is still soe confusion as to the affordability of this service. I can't speak for all stagers, but can tell you that a lot of us, myself included, will work within the seller's budget. It doesn't cost thousands of dollars to stage a house - not unless it's a vacant in need of 3 months worth of furnishings!
Also, I would like to point out that a 'consulation' is generally inexpensive and gives the seller the 'tools' with which to 'stage' the house themselves.
BTW, Phyllis, I had no idea that you could fit so many words into a blog title!
VAL
It is great to see so many different twist on the staging. I have the same issues as Gerald when it comes to staging and or offering it to the sellers.The first question from the seller is what is wrong with my home ? They get very defensive and feel it is an insult to them and puts us (listing agents in a tuff spot) How I handle this is I do not offer it.The reason being it is most of the time placement of furniture or dated furnishings seems to make a home look more dated than it really is and this is a minor adjustment.Yes the other issue is money and out of pocket cost.I am an Realtor in New Jersey and list in my area on an average of 3 a month in new listings.Take a look at the other side "The Buyers".When I take a buyer out to a staged home the first question is does someone really live here or what are they trying to hide.So yes they show wonderful but it gives the buyer a caution sign as to what they are really buying.You would think that a syaged home would sell ,however every buyer I have shown one to has walked on by.
Another great blog I seemed to have missed during my down time, illness way back when...
WOW - Sing it again to the Choir Phyllis!
I love this post and agree - for any home in any price range - staging can and does work. Staging is not only for the wealthy with high end homes and getting the message out there is key. Staging is always less than the first price reduction is right! A consultation alone is cost effective, quick and can be a huge factor (if the homeowner chooses to do the work themselves even more cost effective) in the difference of a sale or not.
Finally,
someone has put into words what I have been thinking. It does seem that some of us are loosing sight on just what home staging is suppose to do. Make the home appealing to buyers using what the client has. An above taking the clients budget in mind to do this. This seems to me that we are then helping people who truly need the help. The rich can hire costly interior designers.
I hope I am not stepping on anybody toes. I realize I am new at this but when I decided this was my calling helping people was a part of it. Sure I want to make money too but if I turn off vast number of people who truly need staging like the elderly who need to relocate and can not afford a lot of money am I loosing a lot of projects this way.
Thank you for this blog I agree 100%
Amen Sister!
This is why I posted the post about my staging stats- these were real people with real homes and we staged all of them for $300. You can see from the pics that they have normal furniture, lived in kitchen and real lives. Staging is not expensive- it just depends on the degree of staging your home requires. I actually prefer the less expensive homes. The results are more dramatic and you can do a lot on a smaller budget. More expensive homes require more expensive bling and often times a client's budget cannot support that and the home ends up looking weak. I just got a call last week from a client in a high end home that another stager staged and it did not look high end enough because she did not use inventory that was fitting with price point of the home. I originally gave a quote to stage that house and the builder did not hire me because I was too expensive- I was actually more realistic about the investment needed to get the results they wanted.
I want to take out a billboard- You wouldn't perform heart surgery on yourself would you? Then why would you try to market and sell your home on your own? Your home is your most valuable asset- Hire a stager and get the results you deserve.
Great post!
"You wouldn't perform heart surgery on yourself would you? Then why would you try to market and sell your home on your own? Your home is your most valuable asset- Hire a stager and get the results you deserve." K. Hart
Where's this sign going up Ms. Hart? Great marketing blitz!