Liz Harrison ASP

One of my teenaged daughters recently left home for a summer student exchange program in Costa Rica. Now... I have forever been a real travelbug so I'm thrilled to hear of her adventures and to learn about the details that define the culture of the small, Central American country. After I read her e-mails, I find myself Googling everything I can about Costa Rica even real estate for sale. Bright colored, stucco homes with courtyards wait in quiet villages for the right family to come along. I peruse the photos, wondering what retirement in a warm climate would be like...Retirement???? Way too far away for me. So instead, my thoughts drift toward entrepreneurship there...Oh to be the one to bring home staging to the forefront of real estate marketing in some sunny, exotic place where siestas reign as a favorite pastime, barefoot is the dress code and the sound of wind in the palms beats out the sound of rain on the rooftops. I glance now at the pineapple and mangos that grace my fruitbowl, and begin to figure out how to say "Spruce It Up! Home Staging" in Spanish.

Stayton 3/2 Home

Oct 2008-April 2009-Vacant, on the market for 6 months w/multiple price reductions

April-May 2009- Removed from the market, replaced carpeting, professionally staged by Spruce It Up! Home Staging.

May 2009- Relisted w/ new agent for more than last asking price. SOLD in 3 weeks...cash offer at nearly full asking price!

West Salem 3/2 Home

April 2009- Home was cleaned out and professionally staged by Spruce It Up! Home Staging

May 2009-Listed on WVMLS and under contract in 14 days.

Yahoo news had a short feature today http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/242/home-accessories-you-dont-need/ about a few of those "Igottahavit" purchases that are simply a waste of money. As a professional stager, I've walked in so many homes, filled to the brink with enough stuff to fill 3 houses. There's a line that gets crossed between what can be called "eclectic" and what becomes hodge-podge. If you have the right things in your home, that function how you need them to, that suit your taste and lifestyle then there's really no need to keep on buying. And if you surround yourself with things that work for you, you might not be inclined to keep looking and buying. Professional stagers also do "redesign"-a skill that takes what you've got and makes it work in the space. No need to buy more igottahavits, an opportunity to purge what you don't use, even make a little cash on a garage sale or craigslist. Don't hesitate to call on a redesigner to help you make some right decisions-not only money well spent but often results in money saved.

I just read some interesting info on another blog. (http://activerain.com/blogsview/1024528/Would-You-Pay-More-To-Sell-Your-House) Something about sellers being willing to pay higher commissions or bonuses to agents to ensure that their house gets more showings. I really am being very objective when the question popped into my head..."Why would someone pay a higher real estate commission when a less costly investment in professional staging would yield better results for showings, better results for DOM and better results for selling price???" Perhaps because a) Sellers are being convinced by some agents that paying more for your agent gets you a better salesperson, or b) sellers still don't have enough information available to them about the value of professional home staging, or c) agents don't have enough knowledge about the proven success of home staging to be able to use it often and effectively in their marketing plans, or d) All of the above.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Jamal Malik has done it again! The correct answer, for 20 million rupees, is...D-All of the above.!"

The final million dollar question remains...How can we professional stagers improve the knowledge base of consumers and agents to use the very effective tool of home staging?