Welcome to the December 2006 issue of Staging Strategies! This month, we'll introduce our new Focal Point Staging service, and show you how it can improve the presentation of your vacant listings.
It's hard to believe 2006 is almost over! I hope the year has been a successful one for you, and you can look back over the last 12 months with a sense of accomplishment in what you've achieved.
One of my goals over the past year has been to help you help your clients, by sharing issues, ideas and opportunities with you in how decorating and staging affect your listings' sales potential. When you are well-informed and can apply this knowledge to your own listings, your clients benefit, not only from the value-added service you provide, but also in the results you produce in getting those properties sold more quickly.
This month, I wanted to share with you about a new service we're offering, targeted at mid-priced/mid-sized vacant listings. Read on for more details on what Focal Point Staging is and how it can help win buyers over in your unfurnished listings.
Wishing you all the best for the holiday season, and for an exciting and prosperous 2007.
Sincerely,
Andria Wallace, IADA, RES
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A Vacant Look In Their Eyes
When a seller moves out of a listing, it typcially doesn't show as well when it's no longer furnished. There's always a bit of a let-down for buyers when they walk in the front door and are faced with...empty rooms, one after the other. Yes, they know it's a vacant listing, but that doesn't lessen the emotional response of walking into a space that has not been prepared to welcome them. Part of making a positive impact on buyers is in having them be able to picture themselves in the space. Buyers want a warm, welcoming and cozy house. But when the rooms are empty, they have to do all the work to picture that. And as you are well aware, buyers are often short of the vision and imagination to see how it could work for them.
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A Floor, A Ceiling and Four Walls, or
What Room Is This Again?
Imagine you are walking through a four bedroom vacant listing. The master bedroom is obviously a bedroom, but what are the other three rooms? Identically empty. With nothing to draw your eye, you quickly glance in at them and continue walking by. Now imagine that one of those bedrooms suggests a study, an office or a child's bedroom. Not only does this make the rooms more interesting and engaging to view, but it helps spark the buyer's imagination on how the rooms can actually be used. It's not an empty room, it's a potential guest bedroom. As a buyer, which house would you like better?
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What's Half-Way Between Empty and Expensive?
So what's the solution when you are not dealing with a high-end listing and a client willing to foot the bill to furnish it with rental furniture? That's where our new Focal Point Staging service comes in. This service does not attempt to furnish rooms. Instead, a focal point is created in each room using small furniture pieces, art, lighting and accessories. This adds color and interest, and helps buyers relate to the room. It also shows them that they are being welcomed into a house that has been prepared with them in mind. Because we are not trying to actually furnish the house, this is a very affordable option for the average homeseller. Pricing is structured based on the square footage of the listing. There is a one-time delivery/staging fee, then a monthly usage fee to cover use of the inventory items. We also have SUPRA access, for convenient installation. Interesting in finding out more? Give us a call at 314-359-9127 to see how this can benefit the presentation of your listing.
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Quick Tip:
Do you have a listing with busy wallpaper in one of the rooms? Try hanging a large mirror on a wall that faces a window or doorway. It will give the eye a rest, cover up wall space with something that doesn't compete against the wallpaper pattern, and bring extra light into the room.
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| Coming Next Month:
The new year bring thoughts of goals and good intentions. Next month, we'll bring you our list of Listing Resolutions, and how you can use them to turn good intentions into great results throughout the year. |
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Want to make the most out of
your marketing time and efforts? You may only think of "staging" in terms of rental furniture for a vacant listing, but you can also stage your furnished listings to give them a stylish and updated look that leads to better showings and faster sale!
Staging is more than just "moving the couch". Not only are rooms displayed more attractively, but strategic placement of furnishings makes better use of space and shows off the house from a buyer's perspective, helping them more easily imagine themselves in the house.
Why invest money in marketing materials, spend your valuable time at open houses, and expend efforts in promoting your listings before they've been prepared to maxmize their appeal to buyers? Let us help you prepare your listings so you can focus your expertise in what you do best...marketing the property to get it SOLD.
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For more information on how these services can help you move your listings, please call 314-359-9127 or visit our website at www.contentedrooms.com/realtors. |
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Using the art of decorating to make the most of your listings for optimal showing, buyer appeal and faster sale.
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In the News St. Louis Post-Dispatch 10/29/2006 Small Business Monthly October 2006
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