We work with Real Estate agents day in and day out. Agents refer us to their sellers for staging their client’s vacant homes for sale.
Although it is a Real Estate Agent’s fiduciary responsibility to provide their sellers with the tools and marketing strategies for a successful sale, some are occasionally hesitant to suggest that their clients invest in staging. Why would this be, you ask? Staging is statistically proven to increase the perceived value of the home, and our clients have netted up to 700% return on their staging investments this year.
The listing agent’s role is a delicate balance, and one of advocate, advisor and strategist, just to name a few. As they tasked with marketing a product that they themselves have no control over, with regards to location and condition, they can only make best-case recommendations to their clients. Some agents may not want to “rock the boat” and suggest their clients invest in updates or staging at all, in fear of losing the listing altogether.
We feel that the savviest of agents are those with proven, repeatable processes for marketing and presentation of their listings, regardless of market conditions.
This month, we’d like to showcase a few agents who not only believe in staging and make it a part of their listing process, but have recently staged both a combination of their own personal homes, or investment properties, with great success. The locations range from Willowsford in Loudoun County, Alexandria, Ashburn and Reston. Let’s hear from them in their own words:
Why was staging important for your home/investment property?
Rebecca Williams, Pearson Smith Realty:
Believe it or not, this was the first time I have ever hired a stager but must say I am a true convert. I have sold most of my listings/homes empty but in this case I wanted to showcase the functionality and define the open space on both the main and lower levels of my home. While I had envisioned various uses for the sunroom, dining area, office nook, and the different spaces throughout my lower level, integrating these spaces cohesively proved challenging. I sought the expertise of Staged by Design to help visualize and unify these areas into a harmonious and cohesive layout.
Eric Pearson, Pearson Smith Realty:
Being an older home (1906) and vacant; it was important to incorporate staging/furniture to highlight the character of the home. This home has a very unique floorplan, so allowing the buyer to visual how the property could come together with furniture/decor, made an extremely positive impact during tours, etc.
Jeremy Browne, Century 21:
I believe staging is important for every listing. It is very rare to see a "lived-in" home that will appeal to the largest pool of buyers in its immediate condition. We had just finished a full renovation of this property, and it was vital to provide a vision for how it could look.
Rob Ferguson, RE/Max Allegiance:
It was such a nice renovation project that we felt that the staging would be the perfect complement to enhance all of the upgrades and allow a buyer to feel how they would live in the home.
How did staging affect the way the home showed, and/or feedback on the home?
Rebecca Williams, Pearson Smith Realty:
I immediately began receiving very positive feedback regarding the staging of my home. I sent colleagues and friends the pictures and they were stunned over how great my home looked, especially those who had spent time in my home prior to listing it. Heck, after walking through the first time after the stagers left, I joked with my husband that we were not going to move after all.
Ultimately, the furniture choices, rugs, artwork, accents all brightened up my home (I have dark hardwoods, dark kitchen cabinets and dark granite) and made it feel cozy, warm and inviting. I have hosted many open houses and the host of my open house told me that buyers were spending 45 minutes to an hour in my home and I ended up receiving several offers over asking price on day one! This never happened when I had no staging/furniture in my listings. I credit the staging, 100%.
Eric Pearson, Pearson Smith Realty:
We received over list price in 3 DOM; so it is safe to say, staging was 100% worth it!
Jeremy Browne, Century 21:
Staging made the home feel inviting and complete. Several people asked me if they could buy the furniture, as they loved the way it was put together! The home sold the first weekend for $50,000 over list price.
Rob Ferguson, RE/Max Allegiance:
It gave the house a warm, home like feeling that we were hoping for so the house would have a personal feel.
Were there areas of the property you hoped that staging would highlight or help make sense of for buyers?
Rebecca Williams, Pearson Smith Realty:
Yes, definitely. Aside from making the open spaces more defined, I thought it was important to showcase/highlight the main level and lower level of the home for those buyers who were seeking multi-generational living spaces. When we bought this home, we purchased it with the point of view of raising teenagers but more and more buyers are desiring spaces to accommodate family and I think the staging team nailed it.
Eric Pearson, Pearson Smith Realty:
Leigh and her team made it a point to highlight the main level (home buyer first impression), the primary bedroom, and bathrooms. We trusted their judgement (they are the experts) and we believed they nailed it!
Jeremy Browne, Century 21:
Yes! The main floor had flexible space, and I wanted it to capture that flexibility. Leigh and her team did an amazing job of creating a flow from the kitchen to the dining to the family room. The living room actually felt like a living room, and one that would be used, as opposed to a formal living room which seems to be dated at the moment. The recreation room on the lower level was also laid out to maximize space and really helped to give buyers ideas for themselves.
Rob Ferguson, RE/Max Allegiance:
Yes…the kitchen was nicely remodeled and had what we would consider a pantry/coffee bar/small seating area or office off the kitchen. It would be hard to have a vision for this space without directing the buyer to ideas that we had for the space and the staging helped provide that vision.
Whether it’s your own home, listing or investment property, we can help elevate the home through intentional designs that MAKE YOU MONEY!
Click here for more information and a quick quote: https://www.staged-by-design.com/contact
