Stephen Strickhausen

To stage or not to stage? That my friends is the question that plagues us all.

There are definite views on this subject, each with valid points. So often I have heard sellers tell me that they do not want to spend the money on staging because they are not trying to impress anyone with their style, or they do not have time. Whatever the reason, (or excuse) they feel that the return is not worth their time.

Look, there is a simple question to be asked that can help the seller decide if they want to stage their home. Simply ask them, "Do you want to sell your home?" If the answer is "yes" staging is imperative. Countless studies have been conducted that have all told us the same thing. That is that staging helps to sell a home. The process is often made to be much more difficult, and expensive, than it needs to be. Lets be honest... How expensive is a can of paint? You can buy paint for ten dollars a gallon. It is important to make sure your seller knows that there is a huge difference between staging and doing interior design. Interior design is done in hopes of living in your home. Staging is done in hopes to leave.Sellers need to know that no one is coming in and telling them that there house in poorly decorated or ugly. It is simply being advised on how to sell their home.

As agents, it is our responsibility to bring the bad news to the seller that they may want to consider moving the life size Elvis statue out of the dinning room. (Yes...that is a true example) Staging should not cost more than 100 dollars. I prefer clear all decor and wall art out of the rooms and set up a store in their home with their own items for them to shop in. Looking at what they own with a fresh eye will be very helpful. As far as furniture goes, work with what they own. move a couch. Angle a table. Remove a rug. You are not creating a masterpiece. You are simply trying to create a mood. Is the home warm, welcoming, cozy and family friendly? These areas can all be addressed by simply moving couch away from the wall. NO NEW COUCH NEEDED. Sellers do not need to be afraid of staging. It is our job make sure it is not expensive and complicated. In most cases it is not bringing something into the room. It is taking something out.

People get very overwhelmed when you start talking about moving their furniture around and painting. Maybe do one room and use the buyers feedback to convince them that doing the rest of the house would be beneficial. The only opinions that matter are the prospective buyers. Let them win your argument for you. See if they comment on that rooms feeling, size or condition when all you did was put in the old rug that was under the sellers bed. Lets try to undo the damage that design shows have done to the public in making them think staging involves four trucks, a crew of eight and piles of cash. Its just not the complicated.

Strickhausen Team

KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY

9175 Carothers AVE. Suite. 110

sstrickhausen@gmail.com

615-778-1818

http:\\www.sstrickhausen.com

Disclaimer:
Franklin Homes for Sale, Nashville homes for Sale, Nashville home search, Property in Brentwood TN, Franklin TN Real Estate, Franklin TN Realtor, Franklin MLS search, Nashville MLS search, Green Hills TN Properties for sale, Spring Hill TN Homes for sale, Belle Meade, Middle Tennessee, Music City, Stephen Strickhausen, and Keller Williams do not necessarily reflect any of the views or beliefs held by Active Rain or it's employees.

The longer I am in the Real Estate game the more I hear the phrase "what if?".

I think this phrase can be very useful. For example, "What our financing doesn't go through?" "What if the inspections come back and we don't want to deal with the headache of fixing all the problems?". These are all "what ifs" that can save a lot of heartache in the future. I am a big supporter of that phrase and practice it myself with many situations in life. That phrase can save the day!!

On the flip side I have seen that phrase just KILL DEALS and opportunities. Months ago I heard that phrase in reference to mortgage rates... "What if the rates drop lower than 4%?" That was a BIG what if considering that we were staring down historical lows in the face! My question was "What if they go back up tomorrow?". Of course I liked the fact that they were that low BUT it was bound to go up.

Those SAME CLIENTS are now asking the question "What if the government extends the First Time Home Buyers Credit?". My question to them...again, "WHAT IF THEY DON'T?????". I am not a pessimist by any stretch of the imagination. I am also not the one to say "I told you so". I wish I was because now is the time to say "I told you so" along with "What if you had bought 2 months ago?". You are still buying...just at a full point higher than you would have. Once January comes around we sure might see an extension of the tax credit....but "WHAT IF WE DON'T?"

Stephen Strickhausen

KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY

9175 CAROTHERS PKY SUITE 110

Franklin TN

615-778-1818

Sstrickhausen@gmail.com

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Disclaimer:
Franklin Homes for Sale, Nashville homes for Sale, Nashville home search, Property in Brentwood TN, Franklin TN Real Estate, Franklin TN Realtor, Franklin MLS search, Nashville MLS search, Green Hills TN Properties for sale, Spring Hill TN Homes for sale, Belle Meade, Middle Tennessee, Music City, Stephen Strickhausen, and Keller Williams do not necessarily reflect any of the views or beliefs held by Active Rain or it’s employees.

I live in an area in Nashville TN where there are A LOT of homes for sale. In fact, there is a neighborhood called "Lenox Village" that has close to 60 homes on the market!! Out of the 60 homes that are listed many of them are "For Sale By Owner". I PITY the FSBO that thinks they have an edge over an aggressive listing agent!! (In the best Mr. T voice I can muster up)

Let's talk about exposure. I know that some FSBO's get smart and figure out a way for their home to be listed in the MLS... CONGRATS! For the rest of you, aside from the occasional drive-by who else is going to see your home? What about the family in Florida who needs to move to Nashville because of a job change? Are they going to see your home? NO! They are going to call an agent who in turn is going to look at his/her favorite database....THE MLS.

The #1 reason why someone would chose not to use a listing agent is to save money. That of course is a great thing to do especially in this economy. Let's look at some interesting facts;

1) Homes listed with a Realtor sell in half the time of those who are trying to sell on your own. There are many reasons for this but I will cover the basics. Staging (a good Realtor will tell you what needs to be done to the home in order for it to be ready to sell. Green walls, clusters of candles, and 6 cats aren't appealing to every person walking through the home....take some advice.) Marketing ( If you think the MLS is the ONLY place to have a home listed then you are sadly mistaken. How many people are using things like Facebook, Myspace, Craigslist, Twitter, ACTIVE RAIN, and simply Googling areas? The answer....MILIONS.) Pricing (I am sorry but a home that was bought 2-3 years ago is probably not worth $20,000 more in 2009. Ask an agent what your home is worth...not what you THINK it's worth. This may prompt a decision to RENT as opposed to sell....for now.)

2) FSBO's sell on average 15% less than those that are listed with agents. Let us start with negotiations. A GREAT listing agent knows what you need and knows how to get it. Some of us are masters of negotiations. Here is where the fun begins....

Please keep up. Let's say that you have a mortgage of $1,500 a month and you "need" to get out but don't want to pay a listing agent to sell your home. I am going to stay conservative here for arguments sake but realize it could be much worse. Also, (for those that have a home in the MLS) let's say that you are only saving 3% as opposed to 6% because the person that brought you your buyer is a Realtor (which will require his/her 3%). On a $250,000 home your goal is to save yourself $7,500 by not paying a listing agent. That is the number we are working with... with me so far?

Again, on average, a home listed with an agent is likely to sell in half the time of a FSBO. In Nashville, let's say that on average the listing agent will have a $250,000 home on the market for 3 months and then it sells. According to stats (in this situation) a For Sale By Owner will have their home on the market for 6 months before it sells. On a $1,500 note you are now saving $3,000 by not using an agent ($1,500 a month for 3 months is $4,500. $7,500 - $4,500 = $3,000).

So now the number we are working with is $3,000. Let's refer back to paragraph 5... "FSBO's sell on average 15% less than those that are listed with agents". Again, for arguments sake I will keep that percentage low. Let's say that an agent can get only 1.5% more for a house than what a FSBO can. On a $250,000 home that is over $3,500. In this scenario the For Sale By Owner is now saving $500. I wanted to keep my numbers low for my next point.

Now, if it is going to cost someone the SAME amount of money to list it themselves as opposed to using an agent why wouldn't they?? Aside from the most important thing (price), there are MANY things to take into account. Inspections, appraisals, title, negotiations, open houses, marketing, HOLDING DEALS TOGETHER, all these things are the jobs of an agent. Why wouldn't a family of 4 with school, work, church, soccer, etc etc etc NOT want to hire a listing agent? According to the numbers....I have no clue.

Stephen Strickhausen

KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY

9175 Carothers Pky Suite 110

615-778-1818

Sstrickhausen@gmail.com

Disclaimer:
Franklin Homes for Sale, Nashville homes for Sale, Nashville home search, Property in Brentwood TN, Franklin TN Real Estate, Franklin TN Realtor, Franklin MLS search, Nashville MLS search, Green Hills TN Properties for sale, Spring Hill TN Homes for sale, Belle Meade, Middle Tennessee, Music City, Stephen Strickhausen, and Keller Williams do not necessarily reflect any of the views or beliefs held by Active Rain or it’s employees.

I know I know.... "If a home is priced right then it will sell". Let's say though that the home is priced "right" but just not a killer deal like most buyers are looking to get. This is where I believe the next step in marketing your listing will come in. I decided to place my daily video Blog on AR today. Hope you enjoy. 

Stephen Strickhausen

KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY

9175 Carothers Pky Suite 110

615-778-1818

Sstrickhausen@gmail.com

Disclaimer:
Franklin Homes for Sale, Nashville homes for Sale, Property in Brentwood TN, Franklin TN Real Estate, Franklin TN Realtor, Franklin MLS search, Nashville MLS search, Green Hills TN Properties for sale, Spring Hill TN Homes for sale, Belle Meade, Middle Tennessee, Music City, Stephen Strickhausen, and Keller Williams do not necessarily reflect any of the views or beliefs held by Active Rain or it’s employees. 

If you have ever driven downtown Franklin you will notice that even as the area is growing, the town has done everything they can to keep it original. The city was founded in 1799 and still has the same feel of a historic town. It has the 19th century look but with the 21st Century conveniences. This is what the residents refuse to give up!

A new...yes NEW neighborhood has gone up in historic downtown Franklin called "The Brownstones". The neighborhood still has the historic charm of the original buildings but with many exquisite updates to the interior. The development which will be 26 townhomes have a starting price of $1.5 million. Most of these boast 4,000 sf or more and include amenities like elevators, 3 car garages, security cameras on the front porch, large porches, professional style kitchens with Sub Zero refrigerators, Viking ranges, and wine coolers. The Brownstones are the perfect place for those who want to live in historic Franklin but still love the amenities of the 21st Century.

If you would like more information regarding this incredible neighborhood then please contact The Strickhausen Team. There are a few units currently on the market!

Stephen Strickhausen

KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY

9175 Carothers Pky Suite 110

615-778-1818

Sstrickhausen@gmail.com