I received a frantic phone call from a realtor last week saying he needed to get a vacant condo staged IMMEDIATELY!! Okay, I do hear this all the time, everyone wants their job yesterday...but here was his dilemma...
He had recently become the agent for a group of condos that were finally nearing their completion after a year of construction woes. The first units were completed and he was ready to have his photos taken and begin his marketing....BUT, the seller/investor DID NOT WANT THE PROPERTY STAGED! They did not see the value in it!
THANK GOD this very smart realtor thought differently and realized that he would be spending alot of money on a photo shoot of an empty, cold, uninviting space, and just could not proceed. When he called me it was a Thursday evening and the photo shoot was scheduled at 10:00 am on Saturday.
He began to frantically ask questions like.. What can you do? What do you have in your inventory that you can pull together? How much will the cost be for a one day staging for the photo shoot? Anything will be better than this, he exclaimed! I did NOT have time to view the property because it needed to be staged that very next morning....so he and I went and viewed his pics via email that he was able to send me.
WOW, I could not tell what room was what but as we walked through the photos together I realized that I was able to pull enough pieces from my inventory to help pull this off and work within HIS BUDGET..remember the seller/investor WOULD NOT PAY!
These condos are set in South Amboy, NJ and are beautiful and affordably priced, perfect for the young professional, or new couple just starting out.
Here is what we came up with on such short notice, and the realtor AND INVESTOR were thrilled. We also staged the Kitchen and downstairs bath to coordinate with the rest of the house. I was thrilled that we pulled this staging off WITHOUT SEEING THE ACTUAL SPACE.
BEFORE..This space looked tiny and the floors were not cleaned. This is what their photo shoot would have looked like (MINUS MY COUCH). Who would buy from this pic?
AFTER...THIS NOW BECOMES A HOME..OR AS THE REALTOR SAID, WOW, IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE LIVES HERE NOW!
THE CONDO WAS A SMALL UNIT AND PRICED TO SELL BUT WHERE DO WE EAT???
NOW BUYERS CAN ENVISION THEIR TABLE SET UP READY TO ENTERTAIN GUESTS!
The STAGING was only suppose to be for the purpose of a photo shoot, but it has now become a home that will remain STAGED and ready to sell!
REALTORS, BUILDERS, INVESTORS, SELLERS...DON"T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON EMPTY ROOMS THAT LEAVE BUYERS FEELING COLD AND EMPTY, WONDERING HOW TO SET UP THEIR SPACE. STAGE YOUR LISTING, TAKE YOUR PHOTOS AND WELCOME THE BUYERS HOME!
CALL RESTYLED TO SELL HOME STAGING NJ @ 732-995-3425 AND LET US WORK TOGETHER TO GET YOUR HOUSE SOLD!
I am not sure if this is happening in your area but in the past month I have been on several consultations where the SELLERS EXPECTED THE REALTORS TO PAY FOR THE STAGING OF THEIR HOME!! Is this happening to you, and if so what should you do??
Let me first say that I truly belive that realtors should be pay for the consultation of the home stager. I think that it is important to team up with a professional Home Stager and have us as part of your marketing team. We can review your clients property and be the "bad guys" as we tell them that the dated wallpaper and doggie beds need to be removed PRIOR to listing the property.
When you team up with a Professional Home Stager in your area ask if there is a Preferred Agent Discount if the Realtor pays for the consult. All my agents get a 20% discount off the original cost of the consult. This adds value to your listing presentation and the sellers SHOULD NOT have to pay for this fee. This now becomes part of your marketing plan....BUT what happens after the report and Proposal have been submitted??
Over the past month I have heard that the sellers are asking that the realtor pay for the cost of staging. Remember this could involve removal of wallpaper, painting, adding new light fixtures and oftentimes the cost for rental furniture. WHY WOULD A SELLER EXPECT THAT FROM THE REALTOR?? These are improvements that are necessary and must be made when preparing your home for sale in ANY MARKET!
What if a realtor pays for this service and you DECIDE TO NO LONGER SELL?? Remember, when selling your home it is absolutely necessary that you prepare it for SALE. WHEN YOU DECIDE TO SELL YOUR CAR, WHO PAYS FOR THE DETAILING?? Sellers, this is your responsibility.
What I have seen over the past month or more has been very upsetting as I watched sellers DISMISS HIGHLY QUALIFIED, PROFESSIONAL REALTORS as their agent because they did not pay for the staging. I have also worked with some agents who have agreed to pay BUT because they are also limited they are giving Stagers VERY LIMITED budgets with which to stage.
Yes, a Professional Home Stager will pull out all the stops to ENHANCE a home...but if the budget only allows for partial furnishings and enhancements and DOES NOT COVER the cost to remove moldy wallpaper and stained carpets, what have we accomplished here.
As the market grows tougher it is important to remember these facts:
1. ENHANCE YOUR HOME when preparing it to sell. That means review each room with a keen eye and make all necessary repairs from the outside broken doorbell and light fixture to the dog stained carpet in the living rom.
2. CHOOSE AN EXPERIENCED REALTOR. Don't go with a discount broker, in the end the money you think you were going to save could have cost you thousands. A TOP AGENT that I work with just lost a listing because she chose NOT to pay for the staging. The seller went with a realtor that said she would pay for the staging. When we checked out this realtor, we were surprised to find out that in the past year, they had only SOLD ONE HOME!
3. PRICE THE HOUSE ACCORDINGLY...Listen to your realtor when they tell you the value of your home, they have based this price on the CURRENT pricing for your area.
4. STAGE YOUR HOME and pay for the necessary enhancements. We staged a home yesterday where our hands were literally tied. The seller refused to pay for the staging....the cost was very reasonable $1,500.00 which included removing VERY OLD, dated wallpaper that was stained and peeling in his kitchen and bathroom. The bathroom was BEAUTIFUL BUT for some ODD reason they had the ceiling and crown molding painted PINK. They refused to address these items and the realtor had to do something so she asked us what can we do on a $500.00 budget??
We did our best to HELP THIS AGENT out and it did look BETTER! Here was the sellers response. He did NOT want to pay for the removal of the wallpaper and the painting, but he would be willing to accept $400K for his house....DOWN FROM THE ORIGINAL ASKING PRICE OF $449K.
$1,500 for PROPER STAGING OF YOUR HOME.....NOT! $49K PRICE REDUCTION..YES! What's wrong with this picture? Is this a growing trend?
If you are considering placing your home on the real estate market, TEAM UP with a Professional, experienced agent who works with a Professional experienced Home Stager...
The team of ReStyled to Sell can help in ALL ASPECTS of your sale...Call today @ 732-995-3425
This weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to view the movie Fireproof with Kirk Cameron. While the main stream hollywood world may not nominate this movie for any academy award, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you make the time to see it.
We live in a throw away society today. The values that many of us were raised on as children have dwindled away and society has paid a price for it. This movie has a POWERFUL message and I believe that if many would follow the guidelines recommended in this film they will surely prosper in ALL THINGS!
Want to read more? Go to www.fireproofmymarriage.com. If you are a fireman or know someone who is, treat them to a dinner and date night. We did that this weekend with a very special couple and I am ALREADY seeing the fruits of that labor.
This film is playing in selected theatres ONLY...that is a shame as it should be BLASTED FROM THE MOUNTAINTOPS..FINALLY a movie that carries a message of HOPE for this dying generation and an ANSWER TO ALL THEIR PROBLEMS
God Bless you, Phyllis Pafumi
When Staging smaller rooms with large walls, I always recommend painting an accent wall to my clients. This fabulous 2 story condo is located in Westfield, NJ. The beauty of this condo is that it was about the only two bedroom, two story condo for sale in this building. SO we needed to play up these features!
As you review the before and after pictures, you will see that by making small changes and adding a warm color on the walls the room is taken to a whole new level.
The tall drapes left the fireplace looking small and of no significance. 
Breaking up the sectional and replacing the area rug with a lighter colored round rug opens up the space tremendously. Painting the walls Jackson Tan by Benjamin Moore adds warmth and drama to the room.
The sectional blocked the view to the fireplace. One piece was moved to create a reading nook in the office. That's the beauty of working with a sectional. Don't be afraid to use pieces elsewhere throughout the house.
Staging does not have to be complicated. By enhancing the items you already own with paint, accessories, artwork and some rearrangment of furniture you will take your rooms to a WHOLE NEW HEIGHT and WELCOME BUYERS HOME!
For your in home staging consultation, call ReStyled to Sell Home Staging NJ today @ 732 -995-3425!
As the Owner and Founder of ReStyled to Sell Home Staging in NJ, I am proud to say that most of our business comes from staging occupied homes. While I LOVE staging a builders vacant model home, I have to admit that the challenge of transforming an occupied home is most fun to me.
Over the years I have seen many homes ranging from beautifully, decorated with stylish furniture to outdated and at times often scary...Here is one that we were called in to consult on!
THIS IS FOR REAL!! This was someone's bathroom and I need NOT SAY MORE! This takes depersonalizing your space to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL! We never got the opportunity to stage this house as it went into foreclosure. BUT I HAD NO DOUBT THAT THE TEAM OF RESTYLED TO SELL WOULD HAVE SHED A NEW LIGHT ON THIS SPACE.
The next photo is of a kitchen that was completely, tired, dated and just way too cluttered. At first you would think that the space would need to be gutted...BUT, with a little elbow grease (well, actually alot), my great team backing me up and a whole lot of paint, we took this kitchen from SCARY
....TO LIGHT AND AIRY!
Selling your home does not need to be a HARROWING EXPERIENCE...Call on the team of ReStyled to Sell Home Staging for your in home consultation today @ 732-995-3425. We do the work, so you don't have to.
ReStyled to Sell Home Staging can change the way buyers view your home!
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ReStyled to Sell NJ comes alongside sellers and their agents to assist them in all aspects of preparing and improving their home's marketability. Programs to fit all budgets. A Staged Home sells
Staging Homes...something that Phyllis has been doing all her life for family and friends,
has now come full circle with her company called ReStyled to Sell.
ReStyled to Sell Home Staging NJ is a FULL SERVICE STAGING COMPANY.
Phyllis and her team of professionals will come into your home and tackle all your
"decorating" dilemmas. The overwhelming task of beginning to sort through years of STUFF is
too much for most clients to even think about. Most don't know where to begin.
We help you BEGIN THE PROCESS so you can have less stress on moving day.
We specialize in Staging Occupied Homes, Vacant Homes, and Model Homes.
BUILDERS...DON'T THINK OF SELLING YOUR HOME WITHOUT STAGING...LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE STAGING MADE IN THESE ROOMS!
We are currently serving areas of New Jersey ranging from Manchester
and Toms River in Ocean County, NJ all the way on up to Westfield, Scotch Plains,
Clark, Basking Ridge, Warren, Atlantic Highlands and Bridgewater,
NJ just to name a few. ReStyled to Sell Home Staging NJ is based in Matawan, NJ
which is centrally located to the Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean County areas.
Before you put your home on the market, contact Phyllis @ 732-995-3425
ReStyled to Sell Home Staging, NJ has a team of contractors, painters, cleaners,
movers, plumbers, electricians and landscapers that can do all the work for you.
We will come to your home for the initial consultation and not only give you a
detailed report of all areas in your home that will need to be addressed prior to listing,
BUT we will give you an itemized proposal of what it would cost you if our contractors do the
work for you. We save you TIME AND MONEY!!
My team is professional, courteous and always ON TIME!!
We accomplish our work in a timely manner so your house can be listed quickly and SOLD!!
The greatest compliment we can receive is the sign that says
SOLD on your front lawn!
I cannot say enough about my experience with Restyled to Sell. My house was on the
market for a year before my realtor recommended Phyllis to come and help. She and her husband,
Mike, came in and knew exactly what buyers were looking for. They did not come in and just
decorate, as I had originally thought. They surveyed my house and found any "issues" buyers
would have. Phyllis and Mike did not cover anything up, which would cause problems in the house
inspection. They fixed everything the right way so our buyer would be able to move right in. After
making these repairs, they repainted with beautiful colors and very simply decorated certain rooms
making the whole house look absolutely incredible. We put the house back on the market and had
6 written offers within 4 days, all well above asking price! Our inspection was basically flawless
because any problems had been taken care of. Furthermore, Phyllis was very sympathetic to the fact
that we had two mortgages and did not want to pour money into our vacant house. She worked
within our budget, was not pushy about anything and it was worth every dime. We agreed to all
proposed repairs and ideas and we are confident that is the reason we sold so quickly.
Restyled to Sell was the best decision we made regarding our house and we wished we made this
decision 6 months earlier. I would recommend Restyled to Sell to anyone selling a house!
Kelley Sponheimer
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The crew of Restyled to Sell delivered! I trusted their judgment about changes and rolled up my
sleeves to be part of the process. The gentle transformation on a moderate budget made me
proud to be showing my home; it sold quickly and for full price.
Jean J Luce
________________________________________________________________________
Dear Phyllis
Thanks for your expertise. I really believe it helped sell the house. We had nothing but compliments
on the house and how it looked decorated.
Nicole Rossi
________________________________________________________________________
I cannot thank you enough for how you helped me. I had completely redone my mother's home and
listed it. Everything was brand new and yet no offers. I asked about staging the home with the
realtor and was told it did not matter. Ha, it sat for 6 months with no offers. As the listing expired
I gratefully found you. You came so quickly and staged the home beautifully. You were so easy to
work with. I signed with a new agent you had suggested and within the first 3 hours I had a
contract. For all those people who are on a fence wondering if staging could help, all I can say is
call Phyllis Pafumi of Restyled to Sell, and close on your house now! If I had found you earlier I
would have saved thousands in carrying costs and interest. The most cost effective thing I did was
to find you. You made a believer out of me and many realtors too.
Thank you, thank you, thank you
Katie Metzger
_____________________________________________________________________________
Hi Phyllis,
Our home sat on the market for 9 months with no offers and the day we left for Greece,
(4 days after staging) while in the airport, we received a phone call from our realtor that we had
an offer. Thanks again,
Eddy & Nancy
_______________________________________________________________________
Dear Phyllis
When people try to sell their house they really have no clue as to what they're doing.
I for one knew my house needed to look better, but didn't really know how to achieve that goal.
Then my agent asked if I'd be interested in hiring someone to "stage" my house. Sure builders hire
someone to stage model homes, but it seemed like nothing more than an added expense.
In reality, hiring you wasn't an expense, it was an investment! Staging made the sale of my house
possible!
I thank you for all the hard work you put into my house. You treated me as if I were your only client
and never once asked for anything more than the original price you quoted. Because of your work,
I was able to get a price greater than what I had originally asked for. Thus, proving the money spent
was an investment not just another expense. Thanks again.
George Dumper, Old Bridge, NJ
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