Teresa Meyer-Home Staging Cincinnati-OH. Stage a Star: Home Stager Cincinnati

The part of my job I love the most is the opportunity to work with wonderful, savvy real estate professionals that really understand marketing their listings to get them sold quickly and retain as much of the equity in their client's house. They use powerful marketing tools such as staging and professional photography to achieve that goal.  I wanted to share this powerful testimonial from Jennifer Cox of The RealCincyGroup as she shares her perspective on using staging to help sell her listings. 

"I was introduced to the concept of staging several years ago, just as the market was starting to slow, and home sellers were trying to understand why their home wasn't selling as quickly, and for more money, than the neighbor's had the previous year. Inventory was increasing, sales were slowing, and precious few homeowners wanted to talk to the realtor that had a glimpse of the future, now present, real estate market. Fortunately, I did have clients that wanted to know more. They wanted to try something that would set them apart. They did so, with success!  Embracing the concept and seeing the powerful results of staging, I was fortunate to be on a WKRC Money Alert segment in 2006, just as the idea of Home Staging was starting to really take off in this area.

Here's the thing:  Many home owners still just don't "get it" that by investing in a few hours, and potentially a few dollars into their home, prior to going on the market, the result will be a quicker sale and, bottom line, put more cash in their pocket! I suppose it's up to us, the real estate pro's, to really impress upon our clients that this is in their best interest.

I want to share the story of one couple who did "get it".  Dustin & Kristina Haggard, former owners of 8 Oriole Court, located in the Sedona Ridge subdivision, in Amelia.  The Haggards owned an adorable 3 bedroom, 1 ½ bath, 1 car garage home, no basement, but nicely decorated and updated, in a neighborhood of 2 full bath, 2 car garage homes.  Unfortunately, in this subdivision, and the adjoining, competing neighborhood of Quail Creek, homeowners often find that they are competing against short sale & foreclosed on properties. We knew we had our work cut out for us.

When pricing this home, we had to be cautious to not price too high, so that we were not competing with homes that are structurally more appealing, with 2 full baths, a basement and an additional garage space. We also wanted to send a message to the "deal hunters" that this is not a distressed sale. The sellers were not in a short sale or foreclosure scenario and simply, and correctly, refused to sell in the price range of those homes.

 Knowing that we were going to need to strongly appeal to those who did tour, the Haggards worked closely with Teresa Meyer of Stage a Star, following her instructions perfectly! They stained the deck, removed the personal photos, re-arranged the living room furniture and placed inexpensive decorative items to highlight the focal points of the home. Knowing that the pictures and online promotion would be critical to a successful sale, the owner's wisely accepted that if we took our time and prepared the home, following Teresa's ideas and instructions, prior to listing, our selling time would be reduced, and the stress of being on the market and preparing for showings, would be shortened. I am adamant with sellers that the month of the year, or the day of the week that they enter the market has far less impact than the condition of the home from day one.

The results? Dramatic! Showings were non-stop! We had 2 low offers within the first 2 weeks. Offers made by customers shopping outside of their comfort price range, but hoping to take advantage of the current market scenario. Of course they loved this home and you can't blame a' guy for trying! We often tell sellers that the first offer will be their best, but in this case, we knew differently.

The 3^rd week on the market, I received a call from a gal who wanted to view the home. It was a perfect fit. The "house" on 8 Oriole was clearly going to be her new "home". The customer asked that I help her purchase this home and we were under contract on Day 30. 30 Days on the market, with a 96% list to sell ratio. The seller concessions were minimal:  a small contribution to title insurance. 

The sellers and I absolutely consider this a Staging Success Story!"

The homeowners did a fabulous job preparing and staging their home. A Staging Consultation with Stage a Star gave them the "plan" they needed for a successful sale.   They were under contract in 30 days in this challenging market.  Staging works!   Are you ready to finally get your house sold?  It's easy. Give Stage a Star a call and we can discuss how staging can help you too!

To Your Staging Success!

Teresa Meyer is the Owner and Lead Staging Designer at Stage a Star, Cincinnati's Premiere Real Estate Staging company located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Teresa is an ASP, Accredited Staging Professional and CSPE, Certified Staging Professional Elite and Ohio Certified CSPE Trainer to real estate professionals in Cincinnati. She is a member of RESA, Real Estate Staging Association and currently is the State of Ohio RESA President.   Teresa can be reached at 513-379-5488 or by email: teresameyer@fuse.net to answer your questions about the staging process and looks forward to assisting you in preparing and staging your house for the Cincinnati real estate market.

Wow..it's been awhile since I've posted on my blog. I've missed the writing and sharing with all of you but Spring Selling Season is upon us and Stage a Star has been very busy staging homes and consulting with homeowners to prepare for selling. I've got a ton of great before and after photos and success stories to share and hope to start posting these very soon.

A few weeks back, Stage a Star was contacted by Amy Howell, the editor for the Home & Style section of The Cincinnati Enquirer. She had taken a peek at some of our "Before & Afters" on our website and loved one of our bedroom makeovers. She was writing a fabulous article on "3 Days, $300" to help homeowners get some ideas and tips on how they can refresh their home over Memorial Day Weekend whether they are selling or not.

2 of Stage a Star's staging projects were featured with photos. I was happy that Amy wanted to also feature our "Window Seat" makeover because this was one of my favorite projects.

Kate Hart of Hart Staging was a featured contributor as well. Who knew she'd end up helping Cincinnati homeowners too!

To see the full article, just click on this link: "3 Days, $300. Cincinnati Home Staging/Makeover Tips and Ideas On A Budget"

I hope the article will inspire you to take a few days over Memorial Day and transform a room. It doesn't take a lot of money; just the "know how" of what a few key things to invest in to make a big impact.

Happy Staging!

Are you a Cincinnati homeowner that needs some help making over those spaces for selling? Contact us today to get started so you can get your home sold quickly and for the most money possible! Call Teresa directly at 513-379-5488 or visit our website at www.stageastar.com

Teresa Meyer is an Accredited Staging Professional and Owner/Lead Designer at Stage a Star, Cincinnati's Premiere Real Estate Staging company. Teresa is a member of RESA, Real Estate Staging Association and OHIO President of RESA. Her work has been featured on WCPO Channel 9 News, Home Improvement magazine and The Cincinnati Enquirer.

I've been wanting to get this out since last week but finally have a moment to sit down and share the fabulous news! Stage a Star had the opportunity to stage a house last week and I shared the before and after pictures in my last blog post "Grandma's Stylin' Now: See What Staging Can Do With Dated Furnishings"

Well...I'm happy to report that the first buyer that viewed the property made an offer!  ONE DAY after it was staged and then professionally photographed, it was listed and UNDER CONTRACT!   And even better...the offer was for 99.96% of the asking price!  It doesn't get any better than that!  

One of our very best Realtor clients was the driving force behind this successful sale.  She knew that in order for this property (that was filled with dated furnishings) to appeal to buyers, staging was the key.    She was right on the money too. The first buyer that walked through made a great offer.  It's set to close in a couple of weeks.  She and her seller clients are THRILLED!  

After the staging, I received this kind email from the Realtor:

Teresa,
The seller is thrilled with the staging.  The seller sent me an email after she saw the photos and wrote, "It looks like a model home".  We had several showings scheduled for the day after we listed.  The first buyers that viewed the home made an offer and wanted an answer within hours. They knew there was several other showings and didn't want this one to get away.   I'm happy to tell you that it is under contract. Staging made all the difference!

Thank you Teresa.  It's so great that you have this God given talent!  You are the best!



Take a look at those before and after photos above.

• Did Staging and Professional Photography make an incredible difference?
• Do you think the potential buyers would have been impressed and fallen in love with this home if they walked into the "before" photos instead?

I don't think so.

If you've been on the fence about staging your property or listing, this staging success should convince you that staging does work. It really does folks!


Happy Staging!






Selling a home in the Cincinnati area?  I'd be happy to answer your questions about how staging can help you get your home SOLD.  If your ready to move on instead of sitting month after month on the market, give Stage a Star a call.   We'd be happy to create a staging plan for your home to help get it SOLD.  Call Teresa directly at 513-379-5488 or visit our website at www.stageastar.com

Stage a Star had the privledge of staging a beautiful home this week for one of our top clients. The house itself has wonderful selling features and is located in a fantastic area for empty nesters and retirees. The staging challenge was working with grandma's furnishings as much as possible while bringing in some key accessories to blend with the furniture as well as highlight the selling features.

Take a look yourself and see how STAGING can make a remarkable difference in the marketability of a home.




Which set of photos do you think will convince potential buyers to come and take a look and make an offer?

Or This?

Big difference, right?

An experienced Home Stager knows exactly what to take out and add, rearrange and strategically place to best highlight the selling features of a room. This house doesn't feel dated and worn out anymore. It feels refreshed and new...ready for its new owners!

Happy Staging!

You've heard the saying "You never have a second chance to make a great first impression" right? If you are selling your home or will be shortly, you need to take that little saying to heart. I'm going to share with you my top staging mistakes to avoid and hope that you'll apply what you've read today and be on your way to a successful sale.

Staging Mistake #1: BAD MLS Photos

Did you know that over 85% of buyers are looking on the Internet first to find a house to buy? First Impressions start here folks! How do your photos look? I am amazed a lot of times when working with sellers that currently have their house on the market that they have not even bothered to take a look at their pictures online. I think it didn't even occur to them that this is a critical marketing tool that pulls those buyers in. GREAT PHOTOS are a must! Professional Photography makes all the difference in capturing buyers attention and getting them in the door. Great photos capture ALL of the room, have good color and clarity and show interesting angles of each room. I see bad photos all the time. Blurry. Dark. Boring. And the worst is when you can only see a small portion of the room. I don't know about you but I could care less what the sellers BED looks like...what about the room? Potential buyers want to see everything in the room in one shot. Do make sure you have at least 15 pictures advertising your house on the Internet/MLS. Buyer's really want to see as much of the house as possible.


Staging Mistake #2: Disappointing Curb Appeal

Ever get fixed up on a blind date? Remember the anxiousness you felt as you anticipated meeting this person for the first time? If your date went anything like mine, I was REALLY disappointed with my first impression of him and wasn't even sure I wanted to proceed with the date. When selling your home, don't disappoint your buyer! When they pull up to the front of your house, they carry with them their hopes and dreams that this home could be the one! Shouldn't you do whatever you can to impress those buyers so they will want to come in for a closer look? It's amazing how a green, freshly cut lawn, new mulch, shiny new fixtures and a fresh paint job on the front door can sing "Welcome Home" to your potential buyers. Doing these basic items make all the difference! And don't forget a new welcome mat and doorbell too. Believe it or not, these are the 2 items that get overlooked all the time.


Staging Mistake #3: A Dirty, Cluttered House

Have you heard this one before? "The way you live in your house and the way you sell your house are two completely different things." Sellers can throw up their hands and say, "But I have to still live here!" so remember...you're house is not YOUR home anymore. When you put it up for sale, it became a PRODUCT. In order to sell a product, it has to be packaged beautifully so it sells! Your buyers expect to see an immaculate house with no visible signs of dirt, dust and hair. It's no different when you go on vacation and you've decided to stay at a very nice hotel. You expect that when you walk into your room that the bed is made to perfection, everything is sparkling clean and they've even left you a little something that says "Welcome", right? What if you walked into the bathroom and you spotted hair in the sink and you couldn't tell if the towels were used or not? If that were me, I'd be calling the front desk and demanding a new room! Your buyers are really no different either. Dazzle them with a sparkling clean and clutter free house to buy! Clear away all your clutter so that the selling features in each room are highlighted and your house becomes the STAR, not the people that currently live there.


Staging Mistake #4: Making Your Buyers Feel Like A Guest

Ever walk into someone else's home and as you look around at their family photos and decor, it is apparent that this is "their" home. Their personality is in every room and even if you squeezed your eyes shut and tried really hard to imagine living there, you just couldn't do it. Trying to imagine your stuff over top of all of their stuff is just impossible to do. This is how potential buyers feel when they walk into a home that is full of family photos and taste specfic decor. Those buyers immediately feel like a GUEST in your house and this is one mistake you don't want to make! That is why it is so important to pack away your family photos and neutralize each room to appeal to a broad range of buyers. That also includes your collections, religious items, personal awards and trophies, your family calendar and those fifty million magnets, invitations and "TO DO" lists from the refrigerator. Don't forget your taste specfic decor as well. You may LOVE your kitchen bright yellow because it goes so well with your sunflower collection but its got to be neutralized so buyers can SEE your kitchen with its 42" cabinets and corian countertops. They need to be able to visualize themselves cooking and entertaining in there! See what I mean?


Staging Mistake #5: Decor That Fails To Connect With Your Buyers

I see this one a lot. A homeowner has lived in their home for the past 15 years and the last time it was decorated was when they first moved in 1994. Lots of oak furniture and dried flower arrangements. Dated decor, empty rooms and random furniture pieces scattered throughout can make any house no matter how nice the selling features feel TIRED, DATED and OLD. Think about it this way. You know how it feels when you get your hair done? Not just a trim but when you go all out and get a new hair color and a trendy haircut? When your hair designer is done, YOU look and feel like a million bucks, right? You look YOUNGER and FRESH and everyone you see that day smiles and their eyes light up as they take in the NEW YOU!

You know, you're house is really no different. It is amazing what a few key decorative items can do for a room too. You want your buyers to have that same reaction...their eyes lighting up as they view the room becoming more impressed as they tour your house.

One of the biggest misconceptions about staging your house is that you need tons of new furniture and decorative items to make your house look like a model home. You can relax now when I tell you that it isn't true.

If you are living in your home while it is for sale, working with what you have plus maybe a few new items with a minimum investment is all you need. Consider working with a professional Stager that are experts at working with what you have using their creativity to re-purpose it and sometimes blending it with a few newer items. This gives older furniture and decor a fresh new look and feel. I am always amazed at how a few key accessories can make all the difference in highlighting a selling feature and breathing new life into a room! Slipcovers, new pillows that pop color, updated lamps, a rug or some inexpensive window panels might be all that is needed to turn unimpressive decor into a fabulous new room that your buyers will love and connect to!

Of course, I will say that if your house is vacant or you have empty rooms because you never got around to buying that dining or living room set, you will want to consider options like renting furniture. Most professional Stagers carry beautiful furnishings you can rent and will work with your budget.



Stage For A Successful Sale

Selling your home and getting it ready can be a pretty overwhelming task that is stressful to say the least. Did you know that working with a professional Home Stager can take that stress away and let you focus on the other important things about your move like finding YOUR dream home? They can create a staging plan for you that is unique to your property. You can have complete confidence in knowing that you will not be making any major staging mistakes with a Stager on your team while you sell your home!

Happy Staging!