I've never staged a house I've sold and I've done really well. My thought is clean clean clean. And finish any unfinished projects. If you've done work and there's one tiny thing you never got around to finish it people notice that stuff. Most importantly clean people love a clean house they can move right into.
I am so glad I watched your videos. In England the agent would normally say don’t change anything the buyers would do it when they move in anyway. Miles, behind USA. The girl who is home staging for me said, not to worry about doing the clean and organising the cupboards and wardrobes inside. I am doing it anyway, leaving some empty spaces to show there is enough storage. UK is about fifty years behind USA in property selling. Thank you.
Yes, its always a good idea to present any house in its best light. Organizing cabinets and closets gives buyers the impression that the house has been well maintained. How is the sale of your home going? Best of luck...and thanks for watching.
Also a Brit and agree with you 100%. I was house sitting for a friend in his late mother's house with the aim of getting it cleaned, decorated and staged prior to it going on the market. He invited a couple of agents round to get initial valuations when I was about halfway through the process. I explained I hadn't got around to the outhouses yet (they were attached to the house) and explained that they would all be painted and staged, and the same with the third bedroom which had ghastly 70s carpet. One agent gave my friend a valuation which was way below market because he said some areas needed 'modernising'. 🤔🙄 My friend invited the same agents back when I had finished, and the agent who gave him the low valuation was in awe of the transformation, 'oh wow painted floorboards are really in, and I love the walk in pantry and how the front outhouse looks like a boot room. If I remember you had a workbench and tools everywhere last time I came.' He gave my friend a much higher valuation. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 If an AGENT didn't have the imagination to see the potential, how would buyers? I'm glad you are doing the wardrobes and cupboards. I know we Brits don't open cupboards and wardrobes as much as the Americans do, but if the house is looking gorgeous, they might be tempted. 😊😊 Good luck!
Audra, you are just amazing. I have learned so much from your videos. The amount of time and energy you are willing to spend to benefit those of us who are not real estate agents is hard to believe. I “like” every one of your videos and I wish I could subscribe more than once cause you deserve it. Your energy and personality come across so well on RU-vid. Don’t ever change.
Hi Ruby, you really need to do your research before hiring a staging company. I had to go through several staging companies before I found the good ones. I would definitely ask to see samples of their work..and/or visit homes they recently staged. If they haven't recently staged any homes, that is a red flag. Sorry to hear about your experience. Not cool. Thanks for sharing.
I had a stager for my last house. I was concerned that our furniture was too traditional as most of the staged houses I saw had very modern furniture. My husband was skeptical as to the value of a stager, but when he saw the video, he said the house looked great. The stager was able to use our furniture, but she moved it around and set things up in different rooms. She even used some of our decor, just differently from we had it displayed. The people buying our house actually wanted to buy it with everything in it. 😂
Love to hear this...thanks so much for sharing! Professional stagers can work with what you have and create an emotional experience for your buyers. So glad it worked out. Well done!!
We went to a virtually staged home, but we didn't know it was all fake before we got there. Boy, were we disappointed. We couldn't even consider the house after the shock of what it actually looked like.
Audra. I love your enthusiasm. I could listen to you for hours. As a former realtor, I completely agree with what you're saying. Many clients don't see the value in spending some money on staging
My realtor insists there can be nothing on the counter in the kitchen. I have seen million dollar homes with some items on the counter top -including the Ford (yes the car manufacturing family) have some items like neutral colored canisters and a cutting board there. (i am a member of a real estate photographer group on Facebook since I also do RE photography). Are you for nothing there or some items that hep provide size context?
Regarding the comment about staging: Yes the staging company does have the same fixed cost to setup the furniture and take it down. But the scenario where the furniture in needed for only a week vs 3 months is quite different because of their OPPORTUNITY COST. If they remove it in a week, they can set it up and make money elsewhere on that same furniture so they should prorate to some extent if the contract is for 3 months and the furniture is only needed for a week or two.
I hear ya...but most staging companies (at least the ones I work with) have plenty of inventory on hand...in fact, every time I call to make an appointment for staging and/or de-stage a property, I always have a week or more to wait because they are in such high demand. The staging companies I work with have a contract you sign agreeing to these terms. The point of staging (if done right) is that your house sells quicker...and it usually does. Staging companies won't take a discount if they property sells quicker...its what you're paying them for.
As a guy I did not see any value in stagging, but after seeing your video, I am sold on stagging. . Kind like seeing a women with and without makeup. Great presentation.
Great video, thanks! It would be great to see a smaller, not so fancy house that is staged. One of my pet peeves in real estate is the use of wide angle lenses when taking pictures. It’s hard to tell what rooms really look like and what size they are. It’s very deceptive. I insisted on taking my own real estate pictures when we sold two of our houses and I did a great job without making things look so distorted. Another thing is, why are we still karate chopping throw pillows? They look like fat, bunny heads.😂
I am learning so much from your videos. However, I am in the midwest and looking to sell my 2 bedroom 1939 bungalow (if I can ever find a house in the town I want to move to!j Hardly any inventory.) Price range under $150. Some of the tips for selling (and buying) and staging apply across the board, but especially in staging, I wish you could also represent that section of the market, not just all huge mansions. Thanks for all you do!
I recommend you leave the pictures of the things you are talking about up longer. Talking heads videos are counterproductive when you are discussing visual aesthetics. Otherwise, a great video!
Most drapes look so ugly since they cover 30% of the window and block light. People like to live in the dark but I dont! I made my own drapes and valances but if I was to sell my house Id probably remove them since they are my taste and probably not someone elses.
Ahhh..I appreciate your compliment. I would love to help you but I am not licensed in Texas. Just do your research on your realtor..its really important. You got this!!
HI Kevin, sorry for the delayed response. Once you fill out the form, the checklist should download into your download folder. If it still doesn't work, just email me at audra@lambertgrouphomes.com and I will send it directly to you. Thanks!
I totally get the removing of the rugs. I've just gone to a bunch of open houses in order to see what people do. My question is where do I put them during a showing?
Making sellers pay for staging is a scam. Your paying money so the realtor doesn't have to do their job and actually sell the house. Instead. If the agent pays then its an entirely different story and good for them actually doing their job preparing the house.
