Rose-Colored Staging

Reposted from August 2009

Once my house was beautifully staged and had put on its “best face,” the next step was making sure people saw it!  These are the steps I took to ensure that my home had many visitors and that I made the most of each visit:

•  What I did:  I determined that every time someone was going to see the house, whether it be other realtors or buyers, they would have yummy treats and made to feel welcome.  Whether it be cookies, muffins, juice, soda– whatever can be put out on a pretty plate with matching paper cups and napkins makes buyers want to stay and enjoy your home. 

•  Buyers’ response:  They were thrilled and so were their agents.  After touring many homes on a hot, sunny day, they loved those refreshments!  And later found out I was the only one to have snacks for them! 

•  What I did:  The two dogs and the cat were packed up and taken for a ride during every showing.  Most people do not have pets, therefore I cannot expect them to feel at home with mine.  All evidence of them (bowls, bedding, etc.) was hidden away.

•  Buyers’ response:  They were shocked when they realized we did have pets.  All they saw was a clean, well-kept home.

•  What I did:  I created a feeling of a serene, comfortable, home.  Soft music played in the living room and master bedroom.  Everything was in place.  The buyers had no idea of the mad scramble to catch the cat, or that the nervous dog with the bladder problem had an accident, there was a large party the day before, the laundry that didn’t get done, or the coffee that spilled!

•  Buyers’ response:  The feedback was, “I feel such a sense of peace in this house!”  and “Phenomenal!”  Overwhelmingly, the buyers loved it. 

•  What I did:  I never, ever turned down a showing!  Never!  Even if it was last minute, I made it work by asking them to give me one hour.  On the weekends, the house was always ready– just in case, since that is the time when most people are out looking.  And open houses?  YES!  Did them too!

•  Buyers’ response:   They  were able to see the house on their schedule.  In fact, the buyers who ended up buying the house, also visited the open house the next day.  The house’s availability to them was most important in their final decision!

 The Results:

 Of the last four showings, we had four offers; the accepted offer was just over asking price!  In a local market that is riddled with short sales and foreclosures, and houses that are just languishing, this house easily sold!  Was it worth all the craziness and work to get it ready?  Absolutely!  In fact, I have watched our competition continue to sit on the market .  Why didn’t they stage?  I don’t know– but I’m glad they didn’t!

Part One:  The Preparation

Part Two: The Staging

Michele Rose is a Realtor and Professional Home Stager in Burlington County, NJ.  She has been assisting both buyers and sellers with their real estate needs for the last 6 years.  In 2007, she formed Rose-Colored Staging to help sellers market their homes with professional home staging.

Reposted from August 2009

Disclaimer:  This is the true story of a somewhat obsessive home stager.  The level of staging in a home is set by the homeowner– you can do as much or as little as you like.  I chose the “all-out, go for broke, I’m gonna sell this house if it’s the last thing I do” approach.

My first hand experience with staging my NJ home continues!  Now that I have de-cluttered, it’s time to actually stage the house. 

 First Challenge:  No Storage Space

When a seller has packed loads of stuff to store until moving day, they have a couple of options:

•  Rent a storage unit or store it with a friend or relative until moving day.  This is not always an option.  So, the next best thing–

•  Designate a space in the basement or garage where storage bins can be neatly stacked, away from the main living areas of the home.

Uh-oh!  I do not have a garage or basement– a good reason why I’m moving.  I not only have my own stuff but a ton of staging accessories for my home staging business.  What to do?

So, sad but true, I broke my own rule, and used an extra bedroom to store everything.  Now, the bedroom is the same size as the one next to it, which is good.  I contained everything neatly against the back wall, taking up less than half the room.  And– I certainly did not include pictures of this room in my marketing!  My hope was that the buyers would be so “wowed” by the first floor that once upstairs, they would overlook the one room that wasn’t “up to snuff.” 

Second Challenge:  Staging with Pets

Any evidence of our beloved furry members of the family must be hidden.  It’s true.  And it’s difficult.  Bedding, toys, food and water bowls, litter box, hair, chews, and the pets themselves.  Here’s what we did:

• The bedding and clean litter box were hidden under beds; toys into storage trunks.

• We took both dogs and the cat for a car ride during every showing. 

NOTE:  Hiding things under the bed only works if the bed skirt is long enough to cover.  If the skirt’s not long enough, you’re not hiding anything!

Third Challenge:  Living Staged

Now, all was in place-- the rooms were decorated to appeal to buyers, everything was clean and smelling fresh.  Now, how to keep it up?

The best thing I can tell you is:  baskets and storage benches/ottomans are your best friend!  You can quickly and easily toss stuff into them before showings.  Toiletries, laundry, toys, mail and bills, remotes and chargers, shoes, just about anything that can add clutter can get tossed into a bin and hidden.

Living staged is a bit odd.  I have towels and table settings that are only for show.  I routinely hide all evidence that anyone eats here, sleeps here, or uses the bathroom in any way.  The house needs to be ready for those agents who give very little notice when requesting a showing.  I have become a master of hiding things, cleaning quickly, and freshening a room.

It is exhausting.

Statistically, homes that have been staged spend less time on the market so that’s really good news for me!  I have to say, when the house is really clean, beautifully decorated, and you’re careful about the upkeep, it is a very nice way to live!

 Stay tuned for my next post:

My First Hand Experience with Staging my NJ Home-Part Three:  The Showings!

Part One: The Preparation

 Michele Rose is a Realtor and Professional Home Stager in Burlington County, NJ.  She has been assisting both buyers and sellers with their real estate needs for the last 6 years.  In 2007, she formed Rose-Colored Staging to help sellers market their homes with professional home staging.

Reposted from August 2009:

I have been selling homes as a Realtor in Burlington County for 5 years and have been staging homes for the real estate market for 2 years.  I have helped many sellers determine what repairs to make, what needs to be updated, and what it would take to market their homes with staging.

 And then it happened… (queue the scary music)

My own home is for sale!  I know the stats– staged homes sell faster and for more money.  As part of my marketing plan, I needed to stage the house!  So– would I be able to take what I dished out?  Live what I preached?  Take my own advice?  (Here’s where my clients gleefully cheer, “ha-ha, now SHE has to do it!)

OK, first things first.  De-cluttering.  We all hear the word; we all know we have to do it, but until you’re selling your home, you usually aren’t forced to do it.

What needed to go?

•  The family photos:  Packed away!  People are distracted by faces and I want them to focus on the house.  Also, my goal is to help buyers see themselves living in my house, not me.  Family photos may give buyers the sense they are invading on my territory.  I did leave out a couple of travel photos– my theory is that pictures of me in exotic locations may help buyers envision a lifestyle that can be theirs!  (Because my life is soooo glamorous… )

•  Extra furniture:  I determined what I really want to move with me.  Did I buy it in the last decade?  Have the kids and pets wreaked havoc on it?  Do I use it?  Is there really room in my new home for it?  If not, it was sold in the moving sale or on Craigslist, or donated. 

•  Anything that doesn’t bring on my “happy face”:  I use this method all the time in de-cluttering.  When I consider the item, I take note of what my face does.  Do I scrunch up my face and think, “oh yeah, Aunt Mable gave me that.”  Do I get a worried look and think, “what am I going to do with that?”  Or– do I smile and say, “Oh, I always loved that!”  I pay attention to my face and if the item doesn’t make me smile, it is outta here!  I keep only the things that bring me joy!

Once I determined what I’m keeping, I packed away anything that is not useful or beautiful and left out only my best items for staging.  I packed anything smaller than my hand– it’s a much cleaner look to have one beautiful item on display rather than several small ones.   

OK, now that’s done and I have a lot less I have to deal with!  I can tell you it’s a really good feeling to unload stuff that’s just been taking up space!  What wasn’t packed or sold, got donated or trashed.  It is also much easier to keep everything clean since there’s not nearly as much stuff!

Next on the list:  Repairs, painting, and updating.  Carpets and windows were replaced, bathrooms updated, painting done just about everywhere.  A ton of work, really.  Still recuperating.  And this was all BEFORE the actual staging of the home began!

 Am I going to be able to keep this up?

 Stay tuned for my next post:

My First Hand Experience with Staging my NJ Home– Part Two:  The Staging

Michele Rose is a Realtor and Professional Home Stager in Burlington County, NJ.  She has been assisting both buyers and sellers with their real estate needs for the last 6 years.  In 2007, she formed Rose-Colored Staging to help sellers market their homes with professional home staging.

I just started a new staging job with a new client, a really nice woman who found me in her internet search for a home stager.  We met for the initial consultation, she gave me a tour of the house, and all was going well.  With a staging plan in place, as I prepared to leave, my new client said to me with such relief in her voice, “You are so nice!  I was afraid you would be mean!”

 Mean?

As I stood there (I’m sure with my mouth hanging open), she went on to explain.  She had seen the television shows with the not-so-nice stagers who criticize people’s homes and unbeknownst to me, she was nervous about inviting me in.

So, I’ve been contemplating this.

I’ve always known home sellers might be a bit anxious to have a professional home stager come into their home, telling them what they need to change in order to make their home more appealing to buyers.  I always try to reassure my clients-it’s not about good or bad design.  It is very possible for a house to be perfectly, beautifully designed and still not appeal to the widest array of buyers.  Staging takes out the seller’s personal taste and lets buyers imagine themselves living there.   

So, a little nervous about inviting me in, yes, I expect that.  But, afraid I would be mean?  I felt terrible she had this impression of stagers.  I also began to wonder how many sellers (and real estate agents too, for that matter) hesitate to hire a stager because of this fear?

 Don’t believe everything you see on TV!  The reality is this:

A stager’s job is not to be mean and criticize; a stager’s job is to tell you the truth about your home and its appeal to homebuyers, and then formulate a plan to make your home show as well as it possibly can.  We all have the same goal:  for your home to sell as fast as possible for the most money possible.

A good home stager will work with you in a positive way to bring out the best in your home and should be able to do it without giving you nightmares!

Michele Rose is a Realtor and Professional Home Stager in Burlington County, NJ.  She has been assisting both buyers and sellers with their real estate needs for the last 6 years.  In 2007, she founded Rose-Colored Staging, a professional home staging and redesign business, to help sellers successfully market their homes with professional home staging.

A while back I saw on television show with doctors giving advice on weight loss.  They said that yes, some people are genetically predisposed to being overweight and a large part of it is heredity.  But, they said, that is not an excuse to be overweight, it just means you have to work harder.

Hmmm…

Kind of like selling a house in a tough market– it’s not that it can’t be done, you just have to work harder.  Yes, it may be more tough– but that does not mean it cannot be done!

So what does working harder to get a house sold mean? 

• Be Committed:  Be serious about selling your house.  I mean, seriously serious.  I mean doing what is needed to get it sold.  I mean taking the advice of your agent and a home stager. 
• Have an “Exercise” Plan:  Fix the needed repairs, update anything not from this decade, and add a fresh coat of paint.
• Picture Yourself in a New Place:  Get into the mindset that this house (which is no longer your home) is going to be sold– soon.  Pack away whatever you can live without for the next few months, since you will be moving.  (The weight-loss advice would be to get rid of the “fat clothes!”)
• Track Your Progress:   Get feedback from your agent, be aware of market changes, know your agent’s marketing plan, and make sure your home’s marketing is excellent.  Make sure your home is advertised, especially on the internet.
• Keep Your Goal in Mind:  You may have to adjust your price, or you may need to make concessions to get what you want.  Keep your goal in mind– you are selling your house.  Do not let anything get in the way of that goal!

There is no reason, even in a strong “buyers’ market” that a home cannot sell.  It needs to be priced well and it needs to show well.  As in weight loss, motivation is key.

Now… if only shedding those pounds was as easy as selling a house…  

Michele Rose is a Realtor and Professional Home Stager in Burlington County, NJ.  She has been assisting both buyers and sellers with their real estate needs for the last 6 years.  In 2007, she founded Rose-Colored Staging, a professional home staging and redesign business, to help sellers successfully market their homes with professional home staging.

I am currently in the process of helping my sister prepare her home for the market.  She has a beautiful home.  She is an HGTV junkie.  Her décor, her taste in accessories and home furnishings, and her design sense always get rave reviews from guests.

So why does she need to stage?

Because her home was not decorated for the buyer– it was decorated for her.  Everything was done to her specific taste and according to what made her feel comfortable. 

Compliments from guests do not always translate into offers from buyers.  Guests may be saying, “What a beautiful home!” but silently thinking, “But not for me.”  Studies have shown that a whopping 90% of homebuyers cannot envision themselves in a home if the décor is not to their taste.  Staging does the “envisioning” for them so they can see themselves living there.

It is very difficult to stage your own home because everything is so personal to you.  Know your limitations.  I have seen some people effectively stage their own homes without hiring a professional.  In the same way people hire contractors, electricians, or landscapers, if you can do it yourself, that’s great, if not, hire a professional.

We are having lots of fun re-designing my sister’s house so that it shows better for the market.  It’s interesting to see her home become staged.  It’s no longer her home, it’s her most valuable commodity that needs to be marketed and sold for the most profit she can make.  And all her personal decorations, mementos, souvenirs, and photos?  They’re being carefully packed away for her new home.   

Michele Rose is a Realtor and Professional Home Stager in Burlington County, NJ.  She has been assisting both buyers and sellers with their real estate needs for the last 6 years.  In 2007, she founded Rose-Colored Staging, a professional home staging and redesign business, to help sellers successfully market their homes with professional home staging.

Let me introduce you to Carl and Lisa.  They have been married for three years, are expecting their first child, and lived in a one-bedroom apartment.  It was time to buy a house!

Now let me share with you some key steps they took in their journey to homeownership, steps that ensured they got their dream home:

• They made sure they were financially secure.  For three years, Carl and Lisa have rented a one-bedroom apartment and lived below their means, saving for the day they would buy a house.  The payoff:  They had a healthy down-payment at closing, negotiated for closing costs from the seller, and had enough left over to purchase necessities such as appliances and furniture.
• Their timing was perfect.  With baby expected the end of June and their lease not up until May, they could comfortably close the end of March.  The payoff:  Having that goal in mind helped keep them on track for finding their home.  Within just a few weeks, their home was found and we successfully closed the end of March, giving them the luxury of taking their time to move in– a big stress relief!
• They knew what they wanted.  She knew she wanted a formal dining room; he knew he wanted a basement.  We sat down together and talked about what they pictured in their “dream home.”  Her real dream: a Victorian style home with a front porch.  They knew they would not likely get everything they wanted, but we kept these things in mind in our search.  The payoff:  They purchased a totally renovated Victorian-era farmhouse complete with a wraparound porch and they are in love with it.
• They assembled their “dream team.”  Their mortgage representative was a recommended trusted friend with a reputable, local bank so their financing was secure.  Prior to placing an offer, we went back for another look, this time with a few friends in tow.  They brought their electrician friend, a friend who does insulation, and one who does flooring, all with varying degrees of construction knowledge.  Once under contract, they hired an experienced licensed home inspector who was knowledgeable about older homes. The payoff:  There were no big surprises at the home inspection and they knew exactly what they were buying.
• They wrote a letter to the seller.  If there is a chance a home has other offers, I encourage my buyers to write a letter to the seller when submitting an offer.  Their letter introduced themselves to the seller, explained their situation, and shared their hopes and dreams for their new life in his home.  The payoff:   The letter helped my buyers keep focus as to what this house meant to them.  The seller, having never received a letter like that before, was extremely touched.  All negotiations after that went very smoothly.  The seller agreed to make all repairs according to the home inspection, and at closing gave my buyers old pictures and history of the house, making this a very friendly transaction.

Carl and Lisa did not find a perfect home, but they found the home of their dreams.  They are slowly moving in and making the new house their home.  Lisa told me the other day that when there is a day she does not go to the new house, she feels a little sad!  They are totally in love with it and looking forward to settling in soon, in plenty of time for baby’s arrival.   

Michele Rose is a Realtor and Professional Home Stager in Burlington County, NJ.  She has been assisting both buyers and sellers with their real estate needs for the last 6 years.  In 2007, she founded Rose-Colored Staging, a professional home staging and redesign business, to help sellers successfully market their homes with professional home staging.