
Let's have lunch out on the patio!
When I first viewed this home (click here for more photos), it was nice, in good condition, but nothing about it set it apart from other homes in the neighborhood. After two attempts to sell it, and 234 DOM (days on market) later, it finally sold at a huge discount to my soon-to-be client.
UNTAGED it was listed at $190,000 but sold for only $105,000! Why the big discount? Well, it just wasn’t inspiring enough, appearantly. As soon as my client took ownership, he added a chandalier in the dining area, and a hood over the stove. I then had it cleanned top to buttom, including carpets just to freshen it all up. Then the big guns came out….STAGING! I staged the kitchen, dining area, patio, all three bathrooms, and three out of four bedrooms. I also docorated the front door with a natural twig wreath and a bright doormat…and PRESTO! It was SHOW TIME! Within 3 days we had 5 offers, including two of them cash. One cash offer was for asking, and the 2nd was for over asking, which is the one seller chose. The other three offers included one being over $15,000 of asking, but needed at least 30 days to close. STAGED sold price was $162,000 and we closed escrow in 11 days!!!
My staging was free of charge to my client, as part of my listing services, and I KNOW it was the reason the home sold so fast. The buyer even wanted to buy some of the items I used for staging, but because they are very specific to what I use them for, I did not sell anything. The dining table is small but cute and it folds, and so is the patio set. Everything is super light for quick and easy setting up & breaking down by one person. My “beds” are an air mattress on top of large plastic containers, which are used for storing the bed sets for easy storing and trasporting.
Next time you have a listing that’s just not selling, in spite of there not being anything wrong with it, try a little staging. You’ll be surprised how easy (and fun!!) it is, and what a huge difference it will make in buyer interest. With just some beautiful towels, place settings, and accents, will turn a builder-grade house into a Must-Have home! This post is pure proof.