STAGING PLAYS A MUCH BIGGER ROLE

Many realtors looking for a way to compete better have developed a number skills and relationships over the past 3 years that they hadn't needed so much prior to 2007. Yesterday I had lunch with two very successful agents and I told them I had written a blog on Wednesday about what I am being told agents are doing to upgrade the exterior of homes so they have better curb appeal. We got into a great discussion as they too feel that they have to be the very best REAL ESTATE RESIDENTIAL CONSULTANTS in their area and to be that they have to do these things.

1. Know every single house in the area of expertise that is on the market. Know the size of the rooms, the number of the rooms, the condition of the electrical, plumbing, carpets, drapes, window coverings, storage, master suite, kitchen family area and ground all around the property. Some video, some take photos, but all keep visual references of the houses they know are on the market in the are where they have listing for similar houses.

2. Explore what it will take to make the home the most attractive in its class the one with the nicest grounds, the best storage, the best interior and that shows the best, so it can sell quickly once it is on the market. 

3. Several have a team to use for handyman kind of work, re-staging interiors, cleaning out the home seller's person stuff, making the rooms look less personal, thinning down all the objects on presentation from magazines to t-cups, as today less is better, putting interesting displays on the coffee table, dinner table, kitchen table and even renting a few furniture pieces where needed to upgrade the look of the interior. Upgrading of sinks and counter tops in the bathrooms, the changing out of toilet bowls, things that don't cost very much but that can take a bathroom from a 1940's bathroom into looking like as good as it can get. One realtor told me that he bought used cabinets and metal racking and put it in the garage so the home would have more storage space for the new buyer.

In this tougher real estate market, real estate agents are finding themselves more as consultants recommending to home sellers things they can do to make their home look more appealing to the viewing audience which can result in higher prices and a faster sales time. A few agents I talk to know the cost of sinks for the kitchen and the fancy nozzles. She also knew the cost of toilet bowls and counter tops and she had an idea from her handyman what it cost to install these things. So she could speak with authority when talking to home sellers in terms of the investment to make the house better and easier to sell.

So it is a lot more than cosmetic improvements these days and many of the agent I speak with say it has to be done on every house they are selling so they can believe we have something to sell hear thats more than just a 4 bedroom house. We have a better story than that and the consultant presenting the property will have a lot more to talk about because of these "Repackaging" ideas to increase the appeal. 

Good Fortunes