Hey Mikey, they liked it!

Karen,

You are so right about buyers needing help to see how rooms are used.

Not PLANO!

Ann

hi, Karen:
I thought you were posting a message for me - sorry, it was a flashback to growing up in the 70's...

Can't stress it enough:  One of my creedos is to have a game plan decided upon and put in action before the house lists.  And the two most important things to work on before listing are Preparation and Price.

They are many eager beavers out there who rush the contract over, get it signed, and have the home on the MLS before the end of the day.  THEN start thinking about a plan.  Do it right the first time, and Prepare and Stage, then List with a Smart price.  Just makes sense.

Not plain - o is right Ann ;-)

Did you suffer endlessly as a child Mikey? 

Another important factor in the pre-list game plan is make sure you have ample time to do the work!

Glad to learn of the quick sale Karen.  I had no doubt they would like it all along.  Congrats!!

Karen, you are so right that many buyers need the visuals.  Some just are not able to imagine anything other than what they are looking at.  You present the goals with great simplicity, and know how to acheive the desired effect.  Congratulations!

Thank you Michele!

I appreciate that Lynn. The majority of buyers (people in general too - think about the store displays at any retailer) are visual and cannot ENVISION where things go and with such a huge purchase product (a home!) they need all the visual packaging they can get.

Karen - Congratulations on a successful staging!!  I agree - staging does help sell a home quicker. I did not used to believe that - know I do. In this market - it is even more important to provide the feeling buyers want when they make their home purchase.

I like your title - Hey Mikey - they liked it!

Thank you Kathleen. 

It a hot market when most sellers just hung a sign out, things were a bit different (although staging in a hot market has been known to bring multiple offers and bidding wars) now a days there is a literal flood of vacant properties including new builds and buyers can pick what they want.

8 of 10 times (is the estimated statistic - 80%) the buyer will choose a furnished home over a vacant. That's sobering.

Not to mention buyers are looking online and if they don't like what they see in photos (or lack thereof) they won't even see the property in person.

Karen, where did you get that statistic about 80% picking furnished homes over vacants? We're putting together a list of statistics for a realtor to back up staging, and that's a great one!

Hi Laurie,

I wish I had a source for you for as this has been an "estimate" I've read from many sources just not a qualifed research study. From my own personal observations, this is an accurate assumption.

No matter how many ways you say it, it's true, and isn't likely to change.  People want it to be other reasons a home doesn't sell, but it's just the price and staging...plain and simple.  good post.

There is nothing plain or simple about your staging Karen!!  It sells homes!!!

As a "stagent" you know it Terrylynn!

Thank you Cathy, that was kind to say.

You are a shining star, Karen.  It's a simple formula for selling your home that works!

Kathy

You know it Kathy! Thank you for that!

  Great blog for a/r community, have a wonderful week.

Thank you Lynn ! Hasn't the weather been great lately?