Archive for September, 2007

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Reader’s Comment: Staging is A Complete Waste of Time

Sunday, September 30th, 2007

In my previous blog (Reader’s Question: Staging is Used to Hide Problems?), I mentioned my new friend Pamela, a real estate agent in Saint Louis, Missouri had asked me to pitch in on her blog There’s No Place Like Home to answer her readers’ questions in regards to staging.

(photo courtesy of Pamela’s Blog: There is No Place Like Home)

Her reader,
Bob said…
Home staging is a complete waste of time. Its ridiculous. It’s just another useless profession trying to make money off of someone who’s got enough on their plate already.

September 23, 2007 11:50 AM

Pamela said…

Hi James and Bob. I appreciate your feedback and would like to post these questions on a larger platform for other agents and stagers alike to also answer your questions. No judgement here. I think stagers are great and do help sell a home and faster than if it was empty. Please email me and let me know if that would be ok. Thanks.

September 23, 2007 11:53 AM

Bob said…
Hi Pamela. Thanks for sending me the link to your AR blog and though I think you made some good points I am not surprised that home stagers couldn’t defend themselves and prove me wrong.

Well, here is what I said:

Bob, as a stager, I would love to defend myself and my profession! Prior to becoming a full time stager, I was working as a buyer’s agent. Needless to say, I had seen a lot of homes, staged and unstaged, good staged homes and bad staged homes. I work in San Francisco bay area, where the market is very competitive, and sellers definitely need that extra edge to shine through the pile of listings.

There are definitely merits to my job, or I wouldn’t be able to stay in business for almost 2 years and investing more money and time on continue education and building a community. Real estate is also a harsh and high turnover industry, people are in it for the money are quickly washed out. You have to truly love what you do to be able to sustain yourself in this business. Also if I were a quick money schemer, I would’ve picked online gambling.

Earlier this year, in San Francisco bay area, it took about 62 days for a home to move off the market. Using my own staged homes (about 40 under my belt), I moved my (more…)

Posted in A Stager's Commentary, Ask Cindy, Home Seller Advice | 1 Comment »

San Mateo County Wide Battery & Cell Phone Recycling Collection Starts 10/1/2007!

Sunday, September 30th, 2007

Good news came in the form of postcard today! Now single-family residents in San Mateo County can all enjoy the program of recycling old batteries and cell phones! I still have cell phones that I used in college and that’s a long long time ago! I pulled the following info from the South Bayside Waste Management Authority (www.rethinkwaste.org) and it’s shocking how a town of roughly 30,000 people along during the pilot program, can recycled over 1,600 pounds of batteries & cell phones!!! Craziness. It makes me ponder how much difference we can all make by doing something so simple like recycling.

“In the first three months of the curbside battery and cell phone pilot program, San Carlos residents recycled over 1,600 pounds of batteries and cell phones. According to a recent survey, 39% said they used to dispose of their household batteries in the trash. Now that the state universal waste law has gone into effect, they know this is no longer legal. The survey also showed that of the residents who have used this convenient new service, 85% were “extremely satisfied.” They are especially thankful they don’t have to drive to a store, city hall or recycling center anymore!

Some residents asked what happens to the batteries and cell phones. Allied Waste drivers take the plastic zip-type bags off the top of the mixed paper bin and place them in a special container in their truck. The heavy metals or toxic components of batteries such as cadmium, nickel, zinc, mercury, manganese, lead and lithium are separated and recycled. Cell phones are reused or recycled.”

Useful websites: www.rethinkwaste.org & www.alliedwastesanmateocounty.com

Posted in Community Events & Sales, Green & Eco | No Comments »

Client Open House This Sunday!!!

Saturday, September 29th, 2007

1BD/1BA Condo located in charming Burlingame neighborhood

777 Morrell Ave #203
Burlingame, CA 94010

Price: $418,000
Main Features:
1 Bedroom,1 Bathroom,Interior: 880 sqft

More Info: http://listings.realbird.com/Real_Estate/Burlingame/CA/5997.aspx

Description:
* List Agent: Joann Reidy
*Office: Alain Pinel Realtors
* Office Phone: 650-375-1111 * MLS#: 719134 (REInfoLink)
* Listing Price: $418,000 * Square Footage: 880
* Floor: Tile Floors; Wall to Wall Carpeting * Laundry: Laundry Area – Inside
* Parking: 1 Car Garage; Electric Door or Gate Opener; Guest Parking Area; Off Street Parking
* Air Conditioning: No Cooling
* Heating: Radiant Heat
* Appliances: Washer; 1 Dishwasher; 1 Refrigerator; Disposal; Dryer; Free Standing Range/Oven; Microwave Oven
* Amenities: 220 Volts in Kitchen; 220 Volts in Laundry Area; Cable TV Available; Ceiling Fan(s);
Double Pane Windows; Fire Sprinkler System; Intercom
* Other Features: Breakfast Bar Living Rm/Dining Rm Combo

**************************

Gorgeous West Portal Home For Sale

2600 14th Ave
San Francisco, CA 94127


Price: $899,000
Main Features:
4 Bedrooms,2 Bathrooms,Interior: 1697 sqft

More Info: http://listings.realbird.com/Real_Estate/San_Francisco/CA/6646.aspx


Description:
Offered At: $899,000This charming, detached home is
located in the highly sought-after district of West Portal. There are 4
bedrooms, 2 baths, gleaming hardwood floors, plenty of natural light
and a two-car garage. Situated on a corner lot, the architecture of the
home takes advantage of the sunlight with curved windows in the living
room to obtain maximum exposure. The main floor includes a combination
living-dining area with wood-burning fireplace, large eat-in kitchen,
one full bathroom, three good-sized bedrooms, a coat closet and linen
closet. The lower level offers a bedroom with separate entrance that
could be used as home office or media room, full bathroom, laundry
room, large storage area and two car garage. The location
of this home is absolutely the best San Francisco has to offer: Two
Blocks to West Portal for fine dining & shopping; close to Muni
Metro for speedy transportation to downtown shopping and financial
district; five blocks to 280 freeway & 19th Ave for access to the
North / South Bay; close to many schools, public & private, as well
as playgrounds and West Portal Public Library; five blocks to Safeway
on Taraval for grocery shopping and much, much more! * 4 bedrooms / 2 baths
* 1697 square feet, per tax records
* Steps to West Portal for fine dining & shopping
* Close to Muni Metro for speedy transportation to downtown shopping and financial district
* Close to 280 freeway & 19th Ave for access to North/South Bay
* Close to many schools, public & private, & West Portal Public LibraryTherese & Ed MilestoneKeller Williams
Therese’s Cell: 415-994-5969

Agent Web Site: http://www.EdMilestone.com

******************************

Charming 2BR/1BA Eureka Valley condo

172 Hartford
San Francisco, CA 94114

(This photo is courtesy of Agent’s Website)
Price: $949,000
Main Features:
2 Bedrooms,1 Bathroom,Interior: 1372 sqft

More Info: http://listings.realbird.com/Real_Estate/San_Francisco/CA/6649.aspx

Description:
172 Hartford SF CA 94114
Listing Price $949,000
3BR/1BA Edwardian Condo/Townhouse
MLS# (SF) 331496
SQFT: 1372Pacific Union Real Estate

A charming condominium in the heart of Eureka Valley. Located in a
wonderful neighborhood, close to many shops and restaurants. Period
detail with modern upgrades, this three bedroom condominium is a
classic San Franciscan residence. Excellent hardwood floors and partial
carpet throughout. A very functional layout with formal living room,
dining room, butler’s pantry and kitchen. Shared garden with pond.
Separate and private storage space below. Built in 1900.

Posted in Staged4more News | No Comments »

Agent Reader Question: I have heard of an empty house doesn’t sell as well as staged?

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

An real estate agent reader, Tony, of my Active Rain blog had the following comment on my Blog Carnival Announcement post:

i am not sure that i have enough ideas to add to a “carnival” but i do have one thought – i have heard that an empty house does not work as well as a staged house?

my experience has been that sometimes the staging detracts from the space we are selling

i have sold lots of empty houses and sometimes i wish my clients would move out, so i can sell their homes!!!

please comment on that

also i sometime battle in convincing my clients to change their living habits and the way their house looks – do you have any ideas as to how to get them to listent to my council?

***************

Hey Tony

These are very excellent questions. Let me show you a home I staged last Monday:

Before & After Staging (2600 14th Ave SF)

It is true, empty homes don’t sell as well as staged homes, here are a few reasons:

  1. Buyers generally have difficulty visualizing themselves living in there
  2. Our brains generally perceive an empty space as smaller than it really is
  3. Staged homes present itself well and puts its best foot forward (See Post: Making the Blink Count Here, click to read more)
  4. Good staging can help buyers realize the potential of the home when there is a tricky floor plan (See Post: Staging a Tricky Space, click to read more)
  5. Staged homes have less Days On Market (DOM) in both hot and cold markets. It can also potentially bring more equity and commission dollars to sellers & agents. Earlier this year, I complied some stats from my staged homes. Average speaking, in San Francisco bay area, homes typically sat for 62 days. My staged homes averagely speaking sat for 31. That’s 1 month’s mortgage difference.

On staging sometimes distract buyers: This is something you need to look at a few stagers. Look at their portfolio before you hire to see what their style is, because not all stagers are created equal. You also need to figure out what will show well with your listing and a good stager should know that. The stager shouldn’t place oversized furniture into the home, nor they should create a theme room that most potential buyers (more…)

Posted in Agent Tips, Ask Cindy | 5 Comments »

Announcing Real Estate Home Staging Blog Carnival

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

I had started a blog carnival earlier this year but wasn’t able to keep it up since life was getting a little bit crazy, also not that many stagers were blogging. But now it’s a little bit different. I have been seeing more and more stagers blog about their passion and love for staging and how staging can better the industry. So I want to bring the carnival back! To help establish a presence in the community and introduce staging to others.

The carnival will be in place every 2 weeks. And we will see how it goes ;)

The 2nd Edition of the carnival will be published on Monday, October 8th, 2007. And all entries will be due by 5pm pacific time, Friday, October 5th, 2007.

You can submit to Blog Carnival directly via this link here, just click to enter. Anyone can participate, as long as your entry is about staging! You can be a realtor, stager, a consumer, seller, buyer, whoever has something to share about staging. Click to View the first edition of the we *heart* home staging Blog Carnival here

Blog Carnival submission form - carnival of real estate home staging

Posted in Community Events & Sales, Real Estate, Staged4more News | 1 Comment »

Reader’s Question: Staging is Used to Hide Problems?

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

My new friend Pamela, a real estate agent in Saint Louis, Missouri had asked me to pitch in on her blog There’s No Place Like Home to answer her readers’ questions in regards to staging.

Both are excellent questions. I think I will touch on James’ question first in this post.
James said:

Hi Pamela! I think this is a great idea. I have some questions about using a home stager. Is it really worth it? I have seen some articles by real estate agents stating its only used to hide problems. Is it true? Thanks!

Here is my response:

NABEA (National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents) recently published a report How to not Get tricked by staging– and potentially save $5,645 when you buy your home, which I wrote a blog post in response to it: Apparently, A Good Stager Is the Buyers’ Biggest Enemy and We May Cost You $5645. It was featured on the real estate community Active Rain and you can access the post here.

Here are some of the comments that I received from the real estate community on AR:

It sounds like the report does not emphasize that buyers should always do home inspections which would uncover most problems (would not uncover problems that are intentionally concealed). Buyers should appreciate staged homes as they provide more opportunity to look at a home in its best light and make sure they get the home thoroughly inspected and all should be fine. Intentional non-disclosure of material facts will come to haunt the seller and seller’s agent when the time comes.

8/16/2007 by Ken Realivent   (more…)

Posted in A Stager's Commentary, Ask Cindy, Home Seller Advice, Staged4more News | No Comments »

I am too busy to prep the home for sale

Wednesday, September 26th, 2007

In case you missed it, I am running a 5-part series on Seller Objections:

  1. “I don’t believe in staging”
  2. “My kids are preventing me from staging”
  3. “I don’t want to pay for it”
  4. “I am too busy to keep the home staged”
  5. “I am too busy to prep the home for sale”

***The final conclusion post next Wednesday will conclude these 5 posts, as well as showcasing people’s comments on the blogs.***There will be a new series starting soon on Why Staged Homes Don’t Sell***

Me and significant other both work & We have no time to stage/prep the home for sale

Have you ever showed up at your client’s home, after you had already gave your sellers a full list of to-dos and deadlines, and nothing or very little has been done? When you tried to be brave and tell the already annoyed seller, they told you: “I got no time to do these crap.” Then they look at you with this message in their eyes: “Why don’t YOU do it?”

Selling a house is a very hectic process. As a seller, s/he will encounter many people through his/hers door during the process, not only professionals like agents, mortgage brokers, photographers, stagers, home inspectors, and also buyers. There is a lot of prep involved in planning in order to have a successful sale. If your sellers are strapped for time, it almost seems impossible to follow their professionals’ directions on how to prep their home and get it ready for sale. Here are a few tips that can help you as an agent:

  1. Get written commitment up front: Sit down with your seller and establish a “Working Agreement.” As a professional, here is what you do and what you don’t do. You absolutely will not market their home until it’s ready to make the best impression for buyers. Buyers will only look once, if they hate it at first look, they are not going to come back. Explain why these are your professional policies. Have them write it down themselves, it affirms their commitment mentally and physically.
  2. Plan your sale with your sellers on a calendar: These calendars are very easy to create, you can DIY one yourself via Microsoft Word, or just hand write one if you feel so inclined. It’s a visual presentation that will give them a solid idea of what is going on and when things need to be done in order for the next action to be taken. It is also a great way to tie everyone in a real estate transaction (loan officer, stager, contractor, handyman, painter, agent, etc.) together.Here is an example:

    SEPTEMBER 2007

    1

    2

    3

    painting starts

    4

    5

    6

    painting finishes

    7

    flooring starts

    8

    9

    10

    carpet installation

    11

    12

    cleaners come

    13

    14

    15

    16

    17

    staged4more does their staging magic

    18

    virtual tour shoots

    19

    open house invites go out

    20

    21

    public open house

    22

    public open house

    23

    24

    25

    broker’s tour

    26

    27

    28

    29

  3. Listen to what’s important for them: Sellers have lives too, so your deadline may not work for them. They may have a very tough week coming up at work, they just physically cannot obey their bosses’ demands while you adding more things onto the backburner. While you are planning, have your sellers open up their appointment book to see if they will be able to accomplish the preps realistically. (more…)

Posted in Agent Tips, Wednesday Series | No Comments »

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