For the last in our series of Home Staging Tips for Sellers in Portland OR, we'd like to show a recent example of a home staging success story.
This lovely home in one of Portland Oregon's convenient Southeast neighborhoods was listed on Thursday Aug. 20th and had an accepted offer two days later for over asking price!
The sellers and their agent had a home staging consultation with our company about a month before listing this home. We provided them with our suggestions for easy cosmetic improvements that the homeowners could take care of themselves, which among other things included deep cleaning of all surfaces, touch up painting, light landscaping, removal of excess furniture, and how to arrange the remaining furniture to highlight the home's best features and allow for a smooth traffic flow.
Staging is all about making the home look its best. You wouldn't try to sell your car without cleaning and detailing it, would you? The same goes for your home. With so many other homes competing against yours, why not do everything you can to make sure yours is more appealing to your target buyer? Professional stagers would never agree to hide any flaws -- we advise sellers to repair anything that might become an issue in a home inspection -- before listing.
Everything here already belonged to the seller ~ it wasn't necessary for them to rent or buy anything new. Here's some Before & After photos of this SOLD home:
In the great room above, we advised the sellers to pack up all the toys and clutter, and move the large TV away from the windows to let in more light. Removing personal family photos and excess bulky furniture also made the space seem brighter and "move in ready." Which version would you rather spend time in?
In the dining area above, the large fish tank was removed along with a cabinet on the far right of the photo, and general clutter picked up. Now buyers can imagine sharing a meal with family and friends!
Above we can see in the kitchen that how you "live" in your home is not how you should "show" it when it's on the market. Clean every single surface and clear the excess clutter off the counters. Let buyers "see" what you're selling -- your home, not your "stuff."
Following Home Staging Tips from your professional home stager will make your home stand out from others that your buyers will be viewing, both online and in person. At just $150, a home staging consultation is a very cost-effective tool to help both the sellers and their agent ensure the home sells as quickly as possible.
This post is #6 in our Series on Home Staging Tips for Sellers in Portland OR. Here are the previous posts:
Home Staging Tips for Sellers in Portland Oregon: Enhance your Kitchen
Home Staging Tips for Sellers in Portland OR: Appeal to your Target Buyer
Home Staging Tips for Sellers in Portland Oregon: Use Color when Staging a Child's room
Home Staging Tips for Sellers in Portland Oregon: Stage your Dining Room to Show its Purpose
Home Staging Tips for Sellers in Portland Oregon: Don't Show This but DO show That
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Sellers in the greater Portland Oregon area can find professional staging advice from Room Solutions Staging. Our staged homes have sold in an average of 31.7 days this year! Give us a call at 503-246-1800 for a free home staging proposal for your occupied or vacant home.
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Congratulations on the quick sale. Another testimony that staging certainly does work!
Another wonderful example of how to show a home for sale so a buyer can see past the owner living there and see the possibilities the home holds for them! (Although the dog peeking in the sliding glass door does look quite friendly!) Fabulous results!
Great post, Maureen. I can see why this home sold so quickly. The changes you implemented thru home staging make it appear so much more lovely.
Congratulations. Your post is being featured in the group Staging Before & After Pictures.
Kathy
Leolinda ~ It's so nice to hear from an A/R agent who supports home staging! Thanks for your feedback.
Margaret ~ There were two of those very large friendly dogs ... but wisely the sellers built a dogrun for them in the back yard!
Kathy ~ Thank you! The sellers of this home worked hard on their list of Things To Do and their efforts paid off handsomely.
I love the fact that they worked so hard and so quickly to complete their recommended to do list. That says volumes to you regarding the value of coaching that you provided to them!
Karen ~ Aren't motivated sellers just the best kind to work with? Having a quick sale so that you can move on with your life is always worthwhile. I know your clients appreciate your expert advice as well.
The living room is what surprised me the most. In the before photo is was had to see the fireplace
Virginia ~ Yes the fireplace was a "hidden" focal point before, wasn't it? Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Maureen- congrats on getting the quick sale and an even bigger congrats for getting the Seller to move their fish tank!! Who knew there was a fireplace in the great room?!?
Maureen - once again you have posted an amazing success story that continues to validate the absolute necessity of professional home staging when selling a home in today's market. These sellers were so fortunate that their agent advocated for staging and now they have money in the bank and an easier transition to a new home as a result.
The sellers did a great job of following your great recommendations! I imagine they are thrilled since all it took was professional guidance and some effort on their part. This story reiterates how important a professional stager is on the home selling team!
All of the red was confusting and distracting, I'm glad they agreed to change it out with more neutral colors, and added red as an accent color.
Kathy S. ~ The fish tank was not a selling feature, but the fireplace certainly is! Isn't it nice?
Kathy A. ~ These sellers have a very smart agent who includes my staging consultation service as part of her marketing package. Our results this year are very quick sales for the homeowners, as you said so well allowing them to transition to their new home with ease.
Liz ~ The team is what it's all about, as you know from your own experience. These sellers were Motivated with a capital "M" and their hard work really paid off.
Cindy ~ You're right, red as an accent is good ... too much red, not so much.
Wow, congratulations, Maureen! Having motivated sellers who believe in the value of preparing their home for sale makes all this difference in the world. How fortunate for this smart agent, savvy seller, and spectacular stager!
Mary ~ It's a win-win partnership for everyone involved, as you mentioned. The homeowner gets to move on, the agent has done their job, and the stager is happy their clients had a quick sale. Thanks for your enthusiastic feedback.
Maureen this is the PERFECT wrap-up of your series! If they are listening, (and I bet they are,) they will read all of the series then see this house as the end result. Good thinking, along with the great work.
Hi Maureen, congratulations, the result looks very nice and the most important thing it sold quickly
Ginger ~ Well I'd like to say it was planned that way ... but it just sort of worked out. Glad you like the grand finale!
Hi Barbara ~ Thank you -- the sellers worked really hard to implement those changes, and of course are happy with the quick sale.
Maureen, these befores and afters are fantastic! What a difference! Having seen many, many MLS photos that look like the befores, I love that these sellers were motivated and willing to do what it took to sell. I'm sure the great relationship you have with their agent must have also helped! An agent on board with staging is a treasure! Great work!
Michele ~ yes, this agent IS indeed a treasure! She includes a consultation with me as a value-added service for all of her sellers. The homeowners get the best of both worlds -- a smart & savvy agent and a home that's move-in ready and well presented. No wonder they sell so quickly ... appreciate your feedback here.
WOW!!! Great advice was given to this seller. I'm sure they were so happy they hired you and listened to you. It turned out beautiful. Another great success story for your company. Congratulations.
Thanks Chrissie! Their agent actually included my consultation for her sellers about a month prior to listing. That gave them time to take care of the easy cosmetic things to make their home ready for potential buyers. They worked diligently and did a great job.
Good for you Maureen! No question your staging made the difference. Congrats!
Michele ~ The sellers did all of the work and reaped the benefit .... all I did was let them know what buyers would be looking for. Thanks for dropping by!