I have new found compassion for all the home sellers out there that we work with on a regular basis. We are going through that process right now, preparing our home to sell. Aaaagh! It's not fun!
In the spring, we thought it might be a good time to downsize. My friend and frequent staging partner, Ann Gobler, came over with her clipboard and pencil.
I WAS THE CLIENT FROM HELL! I argued about removing many of my favorite accessories. We only made it through about 3 rooms that day. Gone! my beautiful palm tree. Gone! My green accent wall. Gone! About half the contents of my china cabinet.
She was right, of course. No one knows that better than I do. In a two-week period, we made numerous trips to Goodwill... so many, I've lost count. Now I have lifestyle staging accents in strategic places. See photo example above. It really looks refreshingly open and neutral. Much better.
I am more convinced that ever that you cannot stage your own home.
We just got word that a very nice house in an upscale neighborhood sold to the first person who saw it. It had been on the market for a long time, an expired listing.
They had staged it themselves with the previous agent. We were called in to "see if it needs anything." We did a little staging but left a critically important, detailed staging report.
The staging report is an extensive list of things to do to make the home appeal to the broadest group of potential buyers. The homeowners followed through on all if it. My agent said they were a little irritated about the long list at first. They are happy now. To read a step by step article from my blog on the staging report, go to this link. The Staging Report
See you next month for a FAQ session. Send in your most difficult questions.
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