Jennifer Birdsong Rager

I was recently called by a national builder, for whom we are their premier stager, to assist a client in staging their home to make it more appealing to potential buyers. Upon arrival, I met with the homeowner and was pleasantly surprised by what I found.

The homeowner was a licensed real estate agent who knew enough about staging homes for sale to have already completely de-cluttered and de-personalized the home. In addition, she left me with no recommendations about the state of her home. After a brief visit that included a conversation about previous showings to potential buyers and feedback from other activity on the property, I noticed the real estate flyer sitting on a table in the foyer. The photos on the flyer were dark, narrow and hard to see. I was having a hard time making out the rooms in the pictures. This led me to inquire about any other marketing the homeowner may be doing, including any online marketing. The homeowner informed me that she had been doing her marketing through the agency she worked for and that this agency is a nationwide real estate franchise with access to over a dozen web sites and web search engines dedicated to real estate sales and marketing.

After reviewing her online marketing, which closely resembled the flyer I had found, I asked her if she had considered using a camera with a wide angle lens or creating an online virtual tour for potential out-of-town buyers who may be interested in looking in her area. Her response was no, she hadn't.

Since I never attend an appointment without my camera, I offered to retake photos of the home with a wide angle lens and create a virtual real estate tour that she could attach to her online and published marketing materials. After seeing some of the photos I had taken, the homeowner was excited not only about the opportunity I had presented her, but that I had given her a different perspective on the tools she was using to market her home and the homes of her clients.

The lesson here is that in this tough real estate market, we, as consumers, REALTORS (pick the appropriate one) and home stagers, must look outside the professional box we've created for ourselves and view our marketing techniques from another angle, perhaps from a "wide angle", in order to reach our goals.

Our recently staged Showhomes:

http://www.realestateshows.com/show.php?mls=basic&id=369194

http://www.realestateshows.com/show.php?mls=basic&id=365969

http://www.realestateshows.com/show.php?mls=basic&id=365654

http://www.realestateshows.com/show.php?mls=basic&id=365399

SHOWHOMES, AMERICAS LARGEST HOME STAGING COMPANY,AS SEEN ON:

Jennifer

Building a New Home? Relocating? Need Upscale Temporary or Short Term Housing?

Live in a luxurious South or Southwest Florida home for an incredibly low monthly fee with no lease! Showhomes is looking for a Home Managers to live in and help us stage homes that are being marketed and are currently empty. If you have no pets, are a non-smoker and have designer furniture and accessories, you could live an upscale lifestyle for the price of a small apartment! If you have just sold your home and don't know where you are going call US today to see if you qualify to live in one of our Fabulous Properties!

HOMEOWNERS DO YOU HAVE A VACANT PROPERTY!

The Showhomes Marketing System is based on the proven premise that a well maintained and tastefully furnished home commands a quicker sale and higher price than a vacant house. Builders are keenly aware of this fact and as a result spend thousands of dollars to furnish their own model homes. For twenty two years, national relocation companies, banks, corporations, real estate concerns and private homeowners have recognized Showhomes as the #1 Service Provider in the industry.

The Showhomes Marketing System has contributed to the sale of over 20,000 homes representing approximately $7.5 billion in residential real estate. As a result of reduced holding cost, fewer days on the market and higher resale prices our clients have gained, on average, 10-20% more value per home. The Showhomes Marketing System can provide you the needed marketing strategy, placing your home first in the market, to get your home sold in less time and for more money.

Jennifer Birdsong-Rager

239.561.7919
www.showhomes.com

In SWFL there are many vacant properties sitting on the market. According to a two-year study by the Employee Relocation Council, these homes will take an average of 90 days longer to market and will sell for 10-15% less than a comparative owner occupied residence, typically because the seller of a vacant property loses both negotiating leverage, and the advantage of emotional or visual appeal. While vacant property sales create a challenge to the real estate agent, seller or builder, some of these obstacles can be overcome. But before we offer some "aid" for these "lemons" let's review the various issues and challenges associated with marketing vacant properties.

Why do homes become vacant? They become vacant for a variety of reasons including, corporate relocation, new job transfer, divorce, foreclosure and bankruptcy and when sellers take possession of their newly constructed home prior to the sale of their former home. After the owners leave these properties empty there are many factors to be aware like insurance coverage. Most Homeowners Insurance polices include a cancellation clause of 30 - 60 days after a property becomes vacant. If the insurance companies do re- insure, it will be at a substantially increased premium. This is sometimes overlooked while owners are in the mist of moving and relocating. Therefore the first order of business is to advise the homeowner to check with their insurance agent before their property becomes vacant.

Another challenge an agent may face in a vacant property is the homes curb appeal "You never have a second chance to make a good first impression!" Sellers and agents of a vacant home need to always keep the lawn trimmed and the pool maintained. But how about adding other elements to grab a buyer's attention before they walk in the door? You can place a couple of tropical palms in decorative planters on the front porch. A door mat that says welcome! Outdoor lighting does wonders in the evenings--when many home buyers do drive-bys of properties. This adds warmth and accents the outside of the home while protecting and deterring vandals. Curb appeal" is that first look at your house, so make it a good one.
Marketing the inside of an empty property is difficult. Most buyers cannot visualize there things in a vacant property. Ideally if you can hire someone to stage it with furniture and accessories and then manage it for you will it is on the market then you have eliminated the home looking bare and showing its "true colors". Like blemishes, nail holes left over from the previous owners, pests lying around on the floor, the air conditioner set at 90 on a steaming hot day and various other problems that come with showing empty properties.

If you must sell it without furniture and accessories remember these tips. Make certain the house remains in an immaculate condition.; this means washing the windows often, floors swept and polished, carpets cleaned, remove all nail and anchors from the walls. Touch up the holes with filler and then repaint. Buyers see everything when a house is bare. Provide as much "eye catchers" in the property as necessary, like greenery, rugs, air fresheners and other items that take the eyes away from blemishes. I am in no way promoting disguising obvious defects in the home, these items should be clearly laid out in the owners property disclosure.

Remember when you are marketing a vacant listing you are acting as the owners property manager. You will need to do some regular inspections of the property to make sure that lights were not left on, doors unlocked, and the last person that showed it did not turn the A/C down to 60. The agent may want to flush toilets and run water occasionally, particularly if the property is on well and septic. Open windows and air it out, vacant homes often greet agents and homebuyers with a blast of stale air.

Showhomes, a nationwide company, can aid and assist the agent in the marketing and managing of their vacant properties by providing both home staging and home managing services.

Let us "show" you how we can assist you in marketing your vacant listing.

Jennifer Birdsong-Rager
239.561.7919
www.showhomes.com