MRoseSellsNJHomes

 Once my house was beautifully staged and had put on its "best face," the next step was making sure people saw it!  These are the steps I took to ensure that my home had many visitors and that I made the most of each visit:

•  What I did:  I determined that every time someone was going to see the house, whether it be other realtors or buyers, they would have yummy treats and made to feel welcome.  Whether it be cookies, muffins, juice, soda-- whatever can be put out on a pretty plate with matching paper cups and napkins makes buyers want to stay and enjoy your home. 

•  Buyers' response:  They were thrilled and so were their agents.  After touring many homes on a hot, sunny day, they loved those refreshments!  And later found out I was the only one to have snacks for them! 

•  What I did:  The two dogs and the cat were packed up and taken for a ride during every showing.  Most people do not have pets, therefore I cannot expect them to feel at home with mine.  All evidence of them (bowls, bedding, etc.) was hidden away.

•  Buyers' response:  They were shocked when they realized we did have pets.  All they saw was a clean, well-kept home.

•  What I did:  I created a feeling of a serene, comfortable, home.  Soft music played in the living room and master bedroom.  Everything was in place.  The buyers had no idea of the mad scramble to catch the cat, or that the nervous dog with the bladder problem had an accident, there was a large party the day before, the laundry that didn't get done, or the coffee that spilled!

•  Buyers' response:  The feedback was, "I feel such a sense of peace in this house!"  and "Phenomenal!"  Overwhelmingly, the buyers loved it. 

•  What I did:  I never, ever turned down a showing!  Never!  Even if it was last minute, I made it work by asking them to give me one hour.  On the weekends, the house was always ready-- just in case, since that is the time when most people are out looking.  And open houses?  YES!  Did them too!

•  Buyers' response:   They  were able to see the house on their schedule.  In fact, the buyers who ended up buying the house, also visited the open house the next day.  The house's availability to them was most important in their final decision!

 The Results:

 Of the last four showings, we had four offers; the accepted offer was just over asking price!  In a local market that is riddled with short sales and foreclosures, and houses that are just languishing, this house easily sold!  Was it worth all the craziness and work to get it ready?  Absolutely!  In fact, I have watched our competition continue to sit on the market .  Why didn't they stage?  I don't know-- but I'm glad they didn't!

Kitchen Before (from previous owners)                           Kitchen After Staging

Part One:  The Preparation

Part Two: The Staging

Michele Rose is a Realtor and Professional Home Stager in Burlington County, NJ.  She has been assisting both buyers and sellers with their real estate needs for the last 5 years.  In 2007, she formed Rose-Colored Staging to help sellers market their homes with professional home staging.

Disclaimer:  This is the true story of a somewhat obsessive home stager.  The level of staging in a home is set by the homeowner-- you can do as much or as little as you like.  I chose the "all-out, go for broke, I'm gonna sell this house if it's the last thing I do" approach.

My first hand experience with staging my NJ home continues!  Now that I have de-cluttered, it's time to actually stage the house. 

 First Challenge:  No Storage Space

When a seller has packed loads of stuff to store until moving day, they have a couple of options:

•  Rent a storage unit or store it with a friend or relative until moving day.  This is not always an option.  So, the next best thing--

•  Designate a space in the basement or garage where storage bins can be neatly stacked, away from the main living areas of the home.

Uh-oh!  I do not have a garage or basement-- a good reason why I'm moving.  I not only have my own stuff but a ton of staging accessories for my home staging business.  What to do?

So, sad but true, I broke my own rule, and used an extra bedroom to store everything.  Now, the bedroom is the same size as the one next to it, which is good.  I contained everything neatly against the back wall, taking up less than half the room.  And-- I certainly did not include pictures of this room in my marketing!  My hope was that the buyers would be so "wowed" by the first floor that once upstairs, they would overlook the one room that wasn't "up to snuff." 

Second Challenge:  Staging with Pets

Any evidence of our beloved furry members of the family must be hidden.  It's true.  And it's difficult.  Bedding, toys, food and water bowls, litter box, hair, chews, and the pets themselves.  Here's what we did:

• The bedding and clean litter box were hidden under beds; toys into storage trunks.

• We took both dogs and the cat for a car ride during every showing. 

NOTE:  Hiding things under the bed only works if the bed skirt is long enough to cover.

If the skirt's not long enough, you're not hiding anything!

 Third Challenge:  Living Staged

Now, all was in place-- the rooms were decorated to appeal to buyers, everything was clean and smelling fresh.  Now, how to keep it up?

The best thing I can tell you is:  baskets and storage benches/ottomans are your best friend!  You can quickly and easily toss stuff into them before showings.  Toiletries, laundry, toys, mail and bills, remotes and chargers, shoes, just about anything that can add clutter can get tossed into a bin and hidden.

Living staged is a bit odd.  I have towels and table settings that are only for show.  I routinely hide all evidence that anyone eats here, sleeps here, or uses the bathroom in any way.  The house needs to be ready for those agents who give very little notice when requesting a showing.  I have become a master of hiding things, cleaning quickly, and freshening a room.

It is exhausting.

Statistically, homes that have been staged spend less time on the market so that's really good news for me!  I have to say, when the house is really clean, beautifully decorated, and you're careful about the upkeep, it is a very nice way to live!

 Stay tuned for my next post:

My First Hand Experience with Staging my NJ Home-Part Three:  The Showings!

Part One: The Preparation

 Michele Rose is a Realtor and Professional Home Stager in Burlington County, NJ.  She has been assisting both buyers and sellers with their real estate needs for the last 5 years.  In 2007, she formed Rose-Colored Staging to help sellers market their homes with professional home staging.

I have been selling homes as a Realtor in Burlington County for 5 years and have been staging homes for the real estate market for 2 years.  I have helped many sellers determine what repairs to make, what needs to be updated, and what it would take to market their homes with staging.

 And then it happened... (queue the scary music)

My own home is for sale!  I know the stats-- staged homes sell faster and for more money.  As part of my marketing plan, I needed to stage the house!  So-- would I be able to take what I dished out?  Live what I preached?  Take my own advice?  (Here's where my clients gleefully cheer, "ha-ha, now SHE has to do it!)

OK, first things first.  De-cluttering.  We all hear the word; we all know we have to do it, but until you're selling your home, you usually aren't forced to do it.

What needed to go?

•  The family photos:  Packed away!  People are distracted by faces and I want them to focus on the house.  Also, my goal is to help buyers see themselves living in my house, not me.  Family photos may give buyers the sense they are invading on my territory.  I did leave out a couple of travel photos-- my theory is that pictures of me in exotic locations may help buyers envision a lifestyle that can be theirs!  (Because my life is soooo glamorous... )

•  Extra furniture:  I determined what I really want to move with me.  Did I buy it in the last decade?  Have the kids and pets wreaked havoc on it?  Do I use it?  Is there really room in my new home for it?  If not, it was sold in the moving sale or on Craigslist, or donated. 

•  Anything that doesn't bring on my "happy face":  I use this method all the time in de-cluttering.  When I consider the item, I take note of what my face does.  Do I scrunch up my face and think, "oh yeah, Aunt Mable gave me that."  Do I get a worried look and think, "what am I going to do with that?"  Or-- do I smile and say, "Oh, I always loved that!"  I pay attention to my face and if the item doesn't make me smile, it is outta here!  I keep only the things that bring me joy!

Once I determined what I'm keeping, I packed away anything that is not useful or beautiful and left out only my best items for staging.  I packed anything smaller than my hand-- it's a much cleaner look to have one beautiful item on display rather than several small ones.   

OK, now that's done and I have a lot less I have to deal with!  I can tell you it's a really good feeling to unload stuff that's just been taking up space!  What wasn't packed or sold, got donated or trashed.  It is also much easier to keep everything clean since there's not nearly as much stuff!

Next on the list:  Repairs, painting, and updating.  Carpets and windows were replaced, bathrooms updated, painting done just about everywhere.  A ton of work, really.  Still recuperating.  And this was all BEFORE the actual staging of the home began!

 Am I going to be able to keep this up?

 Stay tuned for my next post:

My First Hand Experience with Staging my NJ Home-- Part Two:  The Staging

Michele Rose is a Realtor and Professional Home Stager in Burlington County, NJ.  She has been assisting both buyers and sellers with their real estate needs for the last 5 years.  In 2007, she formed Rose-Colored Staging to help sellers market their homes with professional home staging.