Lately it seems like we have been physically staging a lot of occupied or lived in homes- this means a lot of decluttering and packing up client belongings! Typically we do not do hands on staging for occupied homes, instead, we provide a home staging consultation and the client completes the plan that we recommend and then we come back for fine tuning or to add a few accent items.
For our most recent project in Villanova Pennsylvania we were asked to do the physical staging and rearrange the home seller's items to make the home presentable for sale. When I first visited the property to provide the client with an estimate I was surprised to see that he did not have much furniture at all to rearrange. I recommended that we use his items and treat his home like a vacant property and add furniture and accessories to show the best purpose for each space.
While I was there I also made some recommendations on things the client could do to make his home show even better such as remove the wall to wall carpeting that was covering the hardwood floors, remove the dated window treatments and repaint the walls to remove any wear and tear. As I was leaving he asked me if there was anything else he needed to do- Knowing budget was a concern, I casually made a comment that since his bathrooms and kitchen were dated that he needed to consider updating them to make his home more competitive. I showed him the unused space in the hallway between the kitchen and powder room and how the future home owner could expand the kitchen. A few phone calls and emails later we had a deal to stage the home.
When I arrived today I was shocked! The home was not the same home that I had seen a few weeks prior. The home seller had done all the things I recommended- he removed the carpet, polished the floors, removed the window treatments and repainted. But that was not the best part- he had remodeled the kitchen and even took down the wall to open up the space! I was shocked, excited and overjoyed- he had done his home staging homework!
Below are some before, during and after photos of this property. I am so impressed with his understanding of staging and that he needed to do something to make his home stand out in today's market. After we completed the staging he agreed to add a new refrigerator too to make the kitchen even more of a selling feature! See if you can spot how we used the home seller's things!
Great photos , I want a seller like this. Way to go and thanks for the post. I am sure you will get offers on this home as it looks so good
What a great seller you have-this one should sell quick. I know you were happy to see the changes and it does feel good when a seller takes your advice it makes for a easy transaction. Good luck on your sale.
Impressive! It inspires me to do some tweaking to my own house while I'm here to still enjoy it.
I love when clients do that. Selling it should be a snap.
How much more do you think his home is worth now? What a difference.
Great Staging!
WOW Kate - I too want this client. Well actually, I want a bunch of these clients! It looks SO MUCH BETTER and you did a great job staging it as well.
What a difference! It must be pretty rewarding when a client fully listens to you. Great call on exposing the hardwood, it makes the house look completely different...and fantastic.
Congratulations. I am currently working with a seller who is willing to do quite a bit as well. Lots of painting especially. Her boyfriend came boy with no clue what staging was about. I gave him the "detail your car for sale" analogy and he got it immediately, and went to tape off the hot pink bathroom for painting. Yeah!
Isn't it both great and amazing when they actually listen?? Good luck on a quick sale!!
What a great seller. We should all be so lucky. Also, I need to remember the post that suggested comparing staging a home for sale to detailing a car for sale. Good analogy!
I love when this happens! I've seen where they've had their list and have marked through as projects are done. These types of clients are serious about getting their homes sold.
How rare this is, sadly. But how wonderful when it happens!
You're "duriing" photos just made me realize how valuable such shots are for Realtors who think they can stage with a minimum pieces of furniture and no accessories. We've been showing vacant and staged, but not the midpoint, which could be used as an example of how staging is more than just a sofa and love seat.
Your job is so much easier when your client listens to you.
It makes a great difference when sellers recognize the importance of staging. Great work.
Hi Kate! Great work as always. I often wonder when folks want to get into staging if they know that it takes a certain personality that is way beyond having decorating talent. It takes tact, diplomacy, confidence building and the art of persuasion to be successful. The fact that they did it all shows that you, my dear, have it all!