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Staging Scripts - What are yours?

I am realizing more & more many Realtors are apprehensive when it comes to approaching their Sellers about Professional Home Staging. Its tough and takes finesse. Myself, I have worked hard and with have practice become better at it. When I get an opportunity to speak to Realtors® my focus these days is to open their eyes & educate them on Staging Scripts. First, here are some wonderful sayings to add to your communication skills. In time they will become natural to you. Every single one works!

Phrases to remember - from Barb Schwarz, The Creator of Home Staging®

  • You can’t sell it if you can’t see it.
  • Tell me about that.
  • When I think I can, I can. If I think I can’t, I can’t.
  • I usually receive what I believe.
  • Buyers and agents only know what they see, not the way it is going to be.
  • Whether or not there is a budget, we can do a lot.
  • We don’t want you to spend money. But rather, we ask you to make an investment of your time, energy and dollars for the highest rate of return in the sale of your home.
  • Let me tell you how I work.
  • Remove the “if ’s” from your life and replace them with “as soon as”.
  • We are going to do this together as a team.
  • Staging is a feeling.
  • Stand at the doorway to each room and say what you feel about what you see.
  • Staging is creating a feeling in the room that makes buyers want to come in.
  • Staging each room begins at each room’s doorway
  • We need to get the buyers to mentally move into each room before the house will sell.


Scripts -

Homeowner has an odd collection of items on display all over the house.

“I see you collect . Tell me about it ... let them talk; the ensuing conversation will lead you to say ... I see, I’ll bet this is quite a conversation piece when you have visitors. Now, when we sell your home we don’t want potential buyers focusing on this. We want potential buyers to focus on the unique features of your home and lifestyle provided by living here. If we were to leave this collection on display I’m afraid it would distract them. I suggest you start packing for your anticipated move and place these treasured items in storage.”

Home is dirty; buried in clutter; it’s hard to tell the last time the place was cleaned well.

“In this kind of market, where Buyers have so many homes to choose from, they are very selective. Potential buyers will look in every closet, cupboard, under rugs and in every corner. It is very important that we get this home “Q-tip clean.” That means if you can get a Q-tip in a space it needs to shine. A Q-tip clean home shows that it has been well care for & well maintained over the years.

As you pull up to the house you cannot see the front for the overgrown trees & bushes.

How your home looks from the street should read like a best selling book cover. It needs to provide interest and a real desire to see more in potential buyers. We need to trim the trees from the bottom up and the shrubs from the top down making sure there is a clear view of the front entrance from the street.

House needs painting & repair.

Buyers today want move in ready homes that appear to have been updated within the last two years. You may not want to invest a great deal of money in remodeling and you do not have to. We agree that you should get as much bang for your buck! In this market your home needs to stand out from the crowd of distressed properties on the market. Well prepared & Professionally Staged homes are setting the standard for the homes for selling quickly today. I have a great Staging Professional that can come in with just right advice on what to do to make this property appeal to more buyers.

I don’t need a Stager to Stage my house it’s just fine the way it is.

Every home that goes up for sale need some preparation, by bringing in a Professional Home Stager we will gain that third party perspective needed to prepare your home specifically for a faster sale @ the highest market value. A professional Home Stager will know what is best and what we do to need to do in order to make a quick sale. Of course you will have the final say on all decisions.

Too much furniture.

During showings it’s vital for the flow in & between rooms be as easy as possible. Removing some furnishings will improve this and make showings easier for agents & buyers. By bringing in a Professional Stager to help us decide what to keep, what to store and the most advantageous furniture placement, to draw attention on your home’s great features we will preset your home as a quality investment.

It’s a Short Sale. I have no money to Stage

We need to be creative first, last & always. Currently, ASP Staged Homes sit on the market 32 days while non-staged homes are sitting on the market an average of 187 days - that’s a difference of 145 days or almost 5 months. Even with a short-sale the shortest amount of time on the market will save you time and money.

My neighbor is a good decorator; she/he can do it.

I am sure he/she is very talented, but by using a trained, Professional Home Stager we will know the home has been prepared with the buyer foremost in mind. There is a big difference between Decorating for Living & Staging to Sell. Please think about it and read the Staging information I have included in my listing packet.

So what are your Staging Scripts?


Posted Thursday Aug 06