We've been working on the new home for about 2.5 weeks now and are definately making progress. Unfortunately sometimes it's really hard to tell. A lot of what we've been doing has been ripping things apart, tearing it out or pulling it down. The good news is that this part of the process is very cheap... really mostly free!
Remember the Dining Room Before....
Vinyl sticky tile flooring, popcorn ceiling, wrong color walls for my decor....
Our progress....
In the living room and dining room we ripped out the vinyl flooring, painted the walls and scraped the ceilings (ok, they haven't been scraped in the living room yet... which is sad because it needs it the most, but apparently this will be a job we'll have to hire out as the previous owner did something to make this a very tricky job.) We also added new 6" baseboards and are in the process of painting the crown molding and all the trimwork.
New bamboo flooring goes in this week and I'm excited to see it.....
Remember the Master Bedroom before....
Well, we ripped out the shelving and mudded the walls.... new carpeting is in the process of going in....
Now in an ideal world we would have been able to finish the ceilings and painted everything before the flooring was installed. If we were flipping this house it definately would have gone in a different order. Unfortunately we are trying to sell our current residence and really would prefer to sell it without living in it... especially with so much work going on in this house. As soon as the home is habitable we'll be moving in....
One of the things stagers and agents need to stop talking about is how much staging costs. in today's market we need to talk about the INVESTMENT of staging. Staging doesn't cost nearly as much as it provides in saved time on market and higher offers.
Recently a Realtor in the Charleston/Mt. Pleasant market took the CSP Elite Agent course and received her CSP Affiliate Designation. When I arrived for her first staging consultation for a vacant unit that she personally owned she already knew the benefits staging would provide. We discussed which rooms we thought would provide the most value in staging and agreed upon a price. Within the week my team set to staging this lovely condo in Park West.
We agreed that the home should be completely ready for market PRIOR to listing it including finishing the staging, having photos and visual tour ready (which we provided) and all marketing pieces into place. Since this had already been explained to this new real estate professional in her CSP Elite class she knew the process. The results were no less than textbook perfect! Here is what she had to say less than 24 hrs after the home went on the market....
"I had a call from a buyer's agent less than one hour later and had a written offer to purchase, at 97% of list price, less than 24 hrs after I went "live"! I received that written offer before Jenna in our office had processed the paperwork I had given her re the listing, before it went out on the HotSheet as a new listing to fellow agents in our office! Wohoo!
I spent today satisfying contingencies and have a signed contract, with all parties happy for the time being anyhow, with a (cash) close October 15th. Keep your fingers crossed, ok?
This is GREAT advertising/marketing for both you and for me. My goal was to get under contract within 30 days, consistently, in this market. Never did I dream I might go under contract in less than 24 hours! The only contingency left is a routine home inspection, scheduled to take place within a week or so.
Staging, coupled with great pricing, is the way to go! As both you and Michele know, I am a on board with this, even thou I am a rookie.
I hope this all works out well and I look forward to continued partnership with you in the future. Let's keep the furniture in place til closer to close, til the inspection contingency is fulfilled, just in case........................"
So for all of the sellers and agents that feel that staging is just an expense that is too costly to consider, remember that staging is really an INVESTMENT that has a high rate of return.
A couple of friends who know that I recently purchased a home in need of massive renovation told me that I should begin putting together a blog about what all is involved, the process, tips and cost. This diary, in additon to my regular blogs will attempt to tell the story. When I can I'll tell you the 'how to' of the job and the overall cost. I'm the first to admit that I can be thrifty and am always looking for a good deal. I'm also the first to say that if I think we'll get better results or more ROI by spending some additonal money then I will.... on with the diary....
The beginning of the story -
This year has been a monumental year in my life. I won't go through all of it, but let's just say that some days I feel like curling up in my pajamas with a cup of coffee and not leaving the house (or my bed) at all. Moving certainly became another disruption, but this time maybe of the good kind because I always feel better after a good day of hard labor. I like to look back at the hard work, sweaty, tired and sore and see the fabulous change we created. I guess it's like working out for some people - something I also used to take great pride in when I was younger, but seem to avoid when possible now....
Ready to downsize we started looking for another home and eventually agreed that we should earn some sweat equity instead of buying move in ready. Now with that said, as a professional home stager I would say that buyers like me are few and far between and when we are shopping we are looking for rock bottom prices, keeping all the equity for ourselves. After many offers that went unaccepted (remember, we were looking for rock bottom prices) we finally found the perfect one, and negotiated what we feel was a great price on the home - less than half the going rate of a renvoated home.
Our new home is 2900 sqft, 5bdrms, 3.5 baths with a great yard and in a good neighborhood that I deeply love. This project is not for flipping (though the process might be similar) it is for living in... we are planning on moving in around Halloween....
Master Bedroom
Den
Kitchen
Living Room
If you want to view the full tour of the home visit: http://tour.previsite.com/EF6CEBDA-F3D0-276F-1B25-F260949C1B6A
As work progresses, I'll add new tours and new before and after photos. When I can, I'll also include tips, costs, etc. If you are planning on trying some of this at home, feel free to ask questions and I'll see what i can do to help you!!
If the home doesn't sell in the first month or two, then I'll stage. This philosophy, designed to save money, actually has a tendency to cost the seller more than they could possibly stand to gain - in both time and money.
MLS PHOTO BEFORE MLS PHOTO AFTER
Think back to one of the first things you learned after real estate school. New listings are HOT! This is when the most interest is generated. Agents who are WOWed by the listing will show it over and over again - if it lasts that long. The best possible offers are typically obtained during this initial period as well. When you postpone staging, you have missed the opportunity of putting your best foot forward, so to speak. These are excited potential buyers and possibly agents that you will never win back!
So, what to do? At the listing table, explain the importance of staging to compete in today's market. Have your professional home stager provide a consultation immediately - before the listing hits the market! (It may be necessary to postpone the listing contract.) Your stager will provide a list of projects and possible improvements necessary to compete and shine in your market.
These changes are vital to securing the maximum equity for your clients as possible in today's current market conditions. Hesitating or waiting WILL cost your client equity.
Learn more & download brochures and literature for your clients.
Seriously, we have been selling and staging houses like gang busters! Many may notice I haven't had time to post lately what with my new position at CSP and still trying to run our company here in Charleston. Thank goodness I have a great team because boy have we needed them! Here are just some of our recent statistics...
MLS# 2904781 $262,500 staged 2/17/09, under contract 2/22/09 under contract in 5 days!
MLS# 2905414 $248,000 staged 2/23/09, under contract 3/17/09 under contract in 23 days!
MLS# 2906646 $334,900 staged 3/25/09, under contract 4/13/09 under contract in 19 days!
MLS# 2829097 $1,999,999 staged 3/27/09, under contract 4/23/09 under contract in 27 days!
MLS# 2910733 $635,000 staged 2/03/09, under contract 4/22/09 under contract in 78 days! (had been on the market since 04/02/08!)
MLS# 2823882 $450,000 staged 3/11/09, under contract 3/20/09 under contract in 9 days!
MLS# 2901714 $192,500 staged 4/03/09, under contract 5/2/09 under contract in 29 days!
Are you still just thinking about staging?? Isn't it time you did the right thing for your sellers and contact a stager today?
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First Impressions Home Staging & Interior ReDesign is a nationally award winning company owned and operated in Summerville, SC a suburb of Charleston, SC. We provide high quality staging for both occupied and vacant homes in the greater surrounding areas and beyond! For more information please visit, www.WeStageSC.com. If you are interested in learning about making Home Staging your profession, please visit, www.StagingAndRedesign.com for more information.
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First Impressions Home Staging & Interior ReDesign is dedicated to helping sellers get top dollar for their properties in the shortest amount of time. We also offer also top notch staging training.
Melissa Marro, a Home Staging and Interior Redesign Specialist from Charleston, SC has always had an obsession with decorating and redesign. "Even as a teenager I had a strange obsession with it. I would take my graph paper, measure all my furniture and my room and start making scale cutouts of everything trying to see which way it would fit best. When that didn't work, I would just move everything until I liked it!"
Marrying young and having three children while her husband was in the Navy she had to learn how to decorate on a budget. Moving 12 times in 14 years, quickly finding the correct placement for things and more importantly using what you already owned became very important to her. "There just wasn't money to spend on new things every time we moved. I wanted the house to look nice, but didn't really have a budget for much more than paint."
Moving also meant buying and selling homes, lots of them! Always on a budget and looking out for the bottom line, the homes the Marro family bought were usually the plain or neglected house that could be bought for below market value but had good bones and potential. The homes were then given great paint jobs, cleaned and staged to sell when the time came. Every home she put on the market sold quickly and at top dollar. She realized she had a knack for the job.
Moving to Charleston in 2004 and working for a real estate company her passion for redesign and staging took off and she decided to make it her life's work. Now owning her own company called First Impressions, Home Staging & Interior ReDesign, she does what she loves. "It's very gratifying at the end of the day. People's lives are changed. Home is more about comfort and security. When there is peace there, people can relax and unwind."
I specialize in Vacant property staging, however I do offer staging services for owner occupied residences as well. I also offer comprehensive certification courses for both agents and those wishing to become full time Interior Redesigners or Home Stagers. Please visit my website for further information.
Classes Offered:
Dewey Color Coordinator Class
Dewey Color Consultant Class
AWARDS -
2009 RESA Professional Stager of the Year Award
2007 RESA Professional Stager of the Year nominee
2007 RESA Staging Innovator of the Year nominee
Positions in the Industry -
SC Stage it forward Roundtable Moderator (2007, 2008)
RESA Regional Vice President Region 8 (Southeast) May 2007 - April 2008
List date 06/18/2006 $819,900 List date 04/11/2006 $234,900
Staged 09/06/2007 Staged 10/24/2007
Under contract 10/23/2007 Under contract 11/08/2007
List date 12/14/2006 $345,000 List date 07/02/2006 $374,733
Staged date 08/08/2007 Staged date 07/25/2007
Closed 09/20/2007 Under contract 09/26/2007
To view a sample of our currently staged properties, click here.
"I just want to take a moment and compliment your staging services. As a Realtor with nearly a decade of experience in the business and hundreds of satisfied past clients who refer business to me, I know something about providing exemplary service. Your service definitely lives up to that standard. Your staging flair, responsiveness, and attention to detail has turned a last minute pre-Tour of New Homes distress call into one of the best service experiences I have had in this business. I look forward to developing a long-term working relationship with you."
Dave Sansom, Agent, Prudential Carolina Real Estate
"Thank you for the staging of our model home in Brickhope Greens. It was a pleasure working with you from the initial appointment until the completion of the staging. The furniture that you picked out works perfectly and has allowed home buyers to visualize how nice their new home can look with the right touch. You can really tell a difference when selling new homes how buyers take note of the potential when comparing complete rooms to an empty one. Thanks again and I'll call you on our next project."
Chisolm Walker, Agent, The Cassina Group
This is a team of true professionals that are focused on customer satisfaction and exceeding your expectations with delivery of services. With little notice and under pressure to stage three listings, they worked 24/7 to meet the deadlines. Staging with First Impressions is a savvy investment tool for realtors and sellers in this market. Presentation in marketing of your product and in showings to potential buyers is EVERYTHING. "You only get one chance to make a good impression, so leave a mark and not a stain" Ann Coggiola, Agent, Prudential Carolina Real Estate
"Melissa was great. She came to our appointment prepared and having already researched the market. She had good suggestions and we were very pleased with the selections she made"
Michelle Scarafile, Broker Associate, Prudential Carolina Real; Estate.
"Melissa goes above and beyond! She can turn what may appear to be impossible clutter and chaos into organized reality and charm. Her rooms welcome you the instant you walk in with a clean, crisp, warm feel. Thank you, Melissa for your services."
Pamela Cox, Realtor, Agent Owned Premiere Group
"Melissa is amazing...she was not only professional and artistic, she was able to help my clients re-design their home for very little money and make it look like a show place! Both times I used her, the homes I had listed sold for the highest prices in their neighborhoods per square foot! I can't say enough about her and how much my clients enjoyed working with her!"
Lisa Roettger O'Keefe, Realtor Prudential Carolina Real Estate
"It was a true pleasure working with Melissa. She is very bright, energetic and creative. She was always a lot of fun and had toms of great ideas. She's a true "winner."
Laverna Smith, Broker Associate, Prudential Carolina Real Estate
"Melissa, I went by the unit yesterday and it looks smashing! You've created a "Pottery Barn" feel for the condominium that will help me sell these units. I honestly feel that your staging will help me sell these condominiums mush quicker and for a higher price. Truly magical work and the best thing is I didn't have to worry about a thing. Thanks Melissa."
Tommy Loeber , Agent, Kit Thrash Properties
"Melissa is truly an artist making my vacant new construction listing into a real show piece! The difference was amazing, even to my builder client who was so impressed with the magical transformation. She totally captured the vision the builder had for each space and made it come alive. Thanks for your hard work!"
Michele Reneau, Agent, Prudential Carolina Real Estate
"Using First Impression Home Staging and Interior Redesign was the best decision I made in regard to selling a newly constructed townhome in Charleston National. They took empty rooms and turned them into a showplace with a "welcome home" appeal. They did a wonderful and timely job. I will definitely use them again when the opportunity arises. I know this will help to sell this property quicker than if the townhome was left empty. Thanks again, First Impressions, for performing your image."
Marlene Beauston, Agent, Weichert Realtors
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