In this example I would like to show Realtors and Homeowners that when you own a piece of the waterfront and want to list at the top of the market comparables you would do well to invest in a consultation by a Professional Home Stager.
This two bedroom condo facing Kempenfelt Bay on Lake Simcoe in Barrie had terrific home furnishings to start with. The challenge was taking it from a swinging bachelor pad to an image of a cool urban lifestyle that either a single person or a couple would be attracted to. Nightlife, art galleries, shopping and the harbour at your doorstep are all fabulous selling features. But to stand out from the many other units for sale in the towers along the bay, you have to market the lifestyle aspect inside as well if you want to top dollar.
All I did in this condo was add artwork, props and accessories and declutter. It was the last 20% that was missing in the marketing of this condo.
When buyers were looking at the listing photos for this property they could see the lifestyle that they were dreaming of and quickly put this listing on their must see list. This property sold in short order for near list in a very saturated market.
Advantage Staging will market your property to stand out from the competition every time.
It's your money... don't leave it behind!
Wow, all you did was a great job! It looks 10 times better. Many sellers don't realize how much decluttering helps the home show so much cleaner. It is their 'stuff' and they don't see that it can look messy to potential buyers. Looks great!
Wow Michelle - What a difference your staging made!
Nicely done! I love seeing these simple, but effective transformations. Was that a pet snake in that aquarium? Eeeeek!
Great work. I seem to have trouble getting my sellers to agree to home staging.
Hi Jenn, Boys will be boys! I recently met a a friend of one of the condo owners. I had never met this half of the homeowner team. He told me that I basically came in and left a list of what to do in the next 24 hours before I showed up to Stage and they did it as they knew they wanted top dollar and a fast sale. It worked!
Hi Wanda, Nothing like before and after photos to tell a story is there!
Hi Maggie, Simple and effective is my motto. It was a lizard on the kitchen counter. Like I said, boys will be boys!
Hi Nate, It is all in how you present the idea to them. I coach Realtors on what to say in a given instance. Please contact me if you would like some simple, effective ideas on how to do that.
Michelle,
Nice job! Not only with the end result, but also with getting the client to cooperate with your concept. This would most definitely make a difference in the houses appeal during showings and on the MLS. First impression is lasting impression.
Judy
Great job and impressive change. May I suggest taking better photos of such a good job...Kelly
I would never say all you did was....you mad an amazing transformation in this home!! It looks fabulous now. Staged to sell quickly. Nice work MIchelle!
Hi Judy,Getting the homeowner to buy in was easy on this one as he way a young urban male who had great taste in furnishings. I think most Realtors today realize they have to do something to make their listings stand out on line. It's another thing for Realtors to learn the skill of how to present the idea to the client so that they are willing to at least have a consultation done to get an action plan of where to start in the Staging process.
Hi Coco Plum (love that name!) Thank you Kelly and Jim for the stopping in to see my work. These photos were taken by myself and not my usual professional photographer. Please check out my other posts to see what my photographer can do.
living room
master bedroom
childs room
bathroom
master ensuite
Hi Cathy, it was fun working with this young man. He was so gung ho and was very pleased with the results. I am going to do his new home as well.
Definitely a 'Guys' pad....complete with the snake arboreal....
Well that made a difference. Staging and cleaning up your house seems to work wonders.
Looks really nice. I prob. would have removed the stuffed animals in the bedroom but maybe it gives it more of a homey feel. Great staging!
All it takes is remove a little of this, add a little of this,,,,great staging!
Great Job Michelle! I wish more sellers would understand that doing a little cleaning and/or re-arranging could make a big difference in how quickly their home would sell.
Hi Rich, Something tells me this brings back fond memories for you!
Hi Brian, Isn't it the truth. Most homes need to start with a good clean and declutter. Works every time.
Hi Kristi, I wanted the stuffed animals to go as well. I read in Dear Abby once that grown adults that have stuffed animals on their bed still think of themselves as needing to be taken care of. These belonged to the girlfriend (who did not live there). Her way of marking his territory?
Hi Rebecca, Homeowners try to do this by themselves and they either don't take enough away or they invariably take away to much. It is a fine art this Staging thing. You will find that most busy Stagers have an art or marketing background of some sort that they bring to the job.
Good job, excellent transformation.
Hi Debbie, I wonder how we can work together as Realtors and Stagers to get Homeowners on side with this idea that if they put a modest amount of effort into marketing their largest investment they will reap the monetary benefits.
I always leave them with the thought.. It's your money- you decide. But I know if it was my money and I had made all those mortgage payments, paid land taxes, paid to improve the property, I would want to get the maximum equity out of the house possible.
No way would I leave that money on the table just because I didn't have a game plan to get the proces started and completed before listing photo day. I'd make it my business to find out what I had to do to get the property sold quickly and for the most money.
I was arranging some radio advertising this week and my rep said that if he was selling and his Realtor told him Staging was a waste of time, he would get another Realtor that understood he wanted his property marketed effectively in this over saturated market. He was pretty adamant about it.
Hi Tom, It truly was a transformation. You can't see the "bar" that was on the counter to the right of the fridge. Just putting that away made a tremendous difference in the look and feel in the designer kitchen. We did leave out a wine rack with two bottles in it's place to show an entertaining lifestyle without going overboard. Everything in moderation they say.
wow! That's an amazing job..a great transformation. and great photos to prove that YES staging can and must be done.
The golf clubs by the side of the bed were classic! Nice work on showing us how the right changes can really have an impact.
That is a great job! It is amazing what staging does to help homes sell!
Michelle ~ Nicely done! You really made this a home to be on the "must see" list. I love the kitchen - minus the snake! : )
Hi Laura, The homeowner was pleased as he was able to move forward with major lifestyle changes he had set in motion. The sale of this property allowed him to enroll in the military to continue his education.
Hi John, Ah yes! The golf clubs. The lizard, The Frank Sinatra posters. The extensive bar on the kitchen counter. It was a manly man place.
Hi Tony and Darcy, My motto is - Find a Professional Home Stager and watch your reputation grow as a Realtor that knows how to market homes effectively to have fewer DOM and which sell for top dollar. Now that's a nice reputation to have.
Aloha Michelle,
Absolutely love the starfish on the wall! Congratulations on the feature and a job well done.
Peace,
Wow! This really shows how decluttering can make a difference! Like the art touches...
Thanks
Cindy
Hey Michelle,
Whenever you make it out to Las Vegas, feel free to call me to clean up my anything goes Bachelor Pad..
By the way... what kind of creepy crawly was under the heat lamp in the kitchen??
Great job...I'm still laughing at the bag of toastitos and the golf clubs.:)
Michelle- Great job! We run into the same issues when shooting video home tours. Many sellers don't realize that people can't see past the clutter so you need to stage to bring the best foot of the home forward. What a difference :-)
Hi Michelle,
Girl, you sure know your stuff. Btw, ditto on Paul's comment above. I can't begin to imagine seeing something like that (especially) in a kitchen! For me it would be an immediate turn off, yuk.
Congrats on a job well done and your feature.
Michelle, thank you for taking the 'before and after' photos at the same angle. It makes the impact so much clearer. Also, I do love the starfish the most of everything!
I wish we could get all realtors to understand and realize the whole business of decluttering and staging. I hate it when you see a lovely home all cluttered and messy. I tell my clients the truth, with as soft an edge as possible but the truth all the same. You did a great job. keep up the informative posts.
Michellle - Great job! I think the condo looks 100% better and will attract more buyers.
Thats how u stage a condo home. Wow
Michelle,
Good job; your "decluttering" makes everything so much more inviting!
Mike in Tucson
Fantastic makeover ! ... love the before and afters ! Great job !
Michelle - Would you like to work on my listings here in Austin? :)
If people won't agree to staging, then the next best thing is consultation with a stager who can give them tips on how to prepare the house for sale, rearrange furnishings, use what the sellers have to the best advantage. For that, I offer to pay for the consultation, and the sellers seem to like that so much better.
I can't understand why you didn't think the tostitos bag should stay. I thought it was a great knick-knack...
Nice before and afters.
All you need is a good girlfriend and she will clean up your act in no time!! Thats all I needed and now I live in an orderly environment whether I like it or not.
Beautiful job. It is definitely an apartment any buyer would like! Great job! Love those before and after photos!
Your pictures not only speak a thousand works, they speak volumes. Commentary really isn't needed, as the transformation speaks for itself.
Was that some kind of animal (like a turtle) house on the kitchen counter? Unbelievable!
You do exceptional work Michelle.
Fantastic work! There is a saying about "cleanliness is next to godliness" and there is no doubt that taking the clutter out makes rooms feel larger and more inviting. Thanks for sharing your transformation photos Michelle, really a job well done! Take care and happy blogging!
Funny.
To me that looks more like you shoveled the place out instead of staging it.
Michelle, excellent work! Fantastic photos and a job well done.
Fabulous job, Michelle, once again. I love the starfish on the wall. I have lots of starfish, how do you make them stay on the wall??? Inquiring minds... I want to copy you and you know that is the sincerest form of flattery!
Gosh, these photos were great. Do you mind if I forward this to some clients?
Michelle, Great before and after pictures and a beautiful job all around. Glad it sold!
Hi Kimo, I knew when I saw the starfish I just had to have them. It is another way that I convey the lifestyle of condo living to potential buyers. They take your mind back to the last time you visited an island. Just lock the front door and fly away to your newest adventure.
Hi Cindy, Decluttering rules! The artwork in the bedrooms I provided. The client knew an artist personally and he provided the abstract art in the condo. Another way I conveyed the cool, urban lifestyle of this lakefront condo.
Hi Paul, Decluttering is my thing. Can't start a job without doing it. I've been to Las Vegas twice. Can't say that I won't be there again. Be careful what you wish for! LOL!!!
Hi Neal, I know what you mean about the Tostitos and the golf clubs by the bed. A man has to keep his friends close by.
HI Tara, I know when the videographer shows up I like to be there to do the final primping of the property. Nothing like that stray box of kleenes or a toilet seat up to highlight the features of home!
Hi Lynda, thank you for the kind words. Being featured is always the icing on the cake here at AR. Like most people here on AR, I post to educate and inform on the merits of using Professional services but the kudos of being featured are always appreciated.
Hi Sharon, I try my best to take enough photos on the before visit so that I can match them up later with the after photos. It is a pet peeve of Realtors when Stagers do not show the same angle of a shot to get the maximum effect from the change.
Hi Carol, you are on the right track. Most times it helps to have an outside professional introduce the idea of change. You have worked so hard to gain the trust of your listing client that it is nice to be able to introduce someone that has the same goal as your client- to get the most equity out of the house to move onto their new dream.
HI Robert, the condo sold under the average DOM and for a near list. The clients were motivated to do their part in preparing this property for maximum gain.
HI Ben, When you live in a condo it is for the lifestyle that it can provide you. Just lock the door and live the downtown life- nightlife, ease of travel, boating at your doorstep, skiing, diving etc. I hit on all the motivating factors to a buyer that wants that cool life. You know the boy scout motto- always be prepared.
HI Mike, always declutter, no exceptions. :)
Hi Sheldon, thanks for stopping in. It was the Brittish home staging shows that got me into this industry. I have met Ann Maurice of House Doctor and of course the boys in the kilts, Colin and Justin.
http://activerain.com/blogsview/638726/Colin-and-Justin-meet-Michelle-at-the-Toronto-Gift-Show
HI Jason, I would work on your listing anytime! I think we would make an awesome team. We both have big ideas.
HI Pacita, you're absolutely right. Every listing should include at the very minimum a consultation to start the process. Homeowners are already overwhelmed with the process of moving and staring to look for their new home. They need a clear, consice action plan to get their property ready for the listing photos and showings.
Hi Melina, you don't want to know what the other knick knacks were! I imagine the males reading this already know as they have all lived the single life at one point.
Hi Morgan, I know what you mean. But then again, there are a proliferation of organizing shows now and magazines. I think it is something that most people struggle with. When I am stressed out I clear out a closet. Sad I know. I should find a sport to take the place of that!
HI Eileen, I love your photos on your AR profile. Beautiful. I think we could work very well together if that is the look you like.
HI Chris, yes that was a lizard on the counter. I grew up in Australia and you find lizards, spiders, snakes and 4" cockroaches in every mailbox (try reaching in for your mail and finding that), or in between your sheets when you go to bed so it was no big deal to me. But to prospective buyers, not so much a good thing.
I agree, let your portfolio speak for you. Photos are the only story that needs to be conveyed to clients. That and your stats for DOM.
Hi Jason, cleanliness is the least expensive thing a seller can do to improve their property. I don't know why listing clients are so resistant to it. I actually had a client tell me that they would never have white cabients because then you would see all the dirt. I have actually had a flooring company tell me that they advise their clients not to put in hardwood floors as you have to clean every day as the dirt is more visible. Carpeting is much better as it hides the dirt. Holy cow! Can you say YUCK!
Hi Jim, if you want to see a job that really needed shovelling out take a look at this link. I believe it was from a Home Stager in Calgary Alberta Canada. It was not my job, blessings come in all forms.
HI David, Your listing photos are what is going to get your properties onto the "must see list" of buyers this year. Get it right and have a successful year in 2009. Hire a professional product photographer. They know how to get the money shots of a property.
HI Joanne, thanks for the love! The starfish are on tiny brass nails as there is a tiny loop at the top of each starfish.
HI Janice, Anyone is allowed to reblog my post. Everyone has to get credit for what they do. As you know from many disucssions here on AR, always disclose where your info came from, in writing. As in the beer can photos above, it was forwarded to me and the only information that came with it was that it was a home stager in Calgary Alberta. If anyone knows whose work it is, let me know and I will gladly post a link to their website.
Hi Barb, The clients were very concerned that there was so much competition in the 6 condo towers along the waterfront. They were so glad that their Realtor suggested the consultation as the condo sold in good time and for what they wanted.
Wow what a difference a little cleaning and well placed accessories can make.
Great job!
Nice work Michelle. I love the "Sid" photos you used in the spare room.
NICE - you met Colin & Justin huh !!!! ... I bet you had a blast with them !!
... great job again on this terrific post, and congrats on the feature !!!
Very impressive!! It doesn't look like the staging cost much, but there's a huge improvement!
Wowza! Looks great! The kitchen was a HUGE difference. Great job! The entire condo seemed so "put together" when you finished. Head on over to my house :)
Wow, Michelle - huge impact you made here. Staging is such an important aspect and we need to educate sellers to the potential earnings!
I liked the starfish on the wall nice touch. And EW with the drink cans filling the room, I think I many have just left!
What a great job! By the way...what was in the tank under the light in the kitchen? (I am almost afraid to ask)
Hi Michelle,
Great job. A couple of questions. What is a SID picture?
Also in the second bedroom the electric cord. Would it have been better to move the chest over and hide the cord? I hate cords. In my next life I will invent a way to get rid of them.
Very nice! You really had a good property to work with, you just had to add the pizazz!
So simple, and such a huge difference! De-cluttering allows the features of the home to show through.
Nice job!
You did a fantastic job!
Good job, Michelle! Could you come do that to my house? It's not a bachelor pad, and I'm not moving. But I sure could use a little fix-it-up!
Hi Donna, When I walk into a place that needs decluttering I know that is one property that will look good in my portfolio.
Hi Marina, I agree, the Sid photos have just the right look.
Hi Sheldon, I think you can tell by the smile on my face what a good time I had with Colin and Justin. I was like a giddy school girl. I still smile when I think about that day.
Hi Brenda, I try to catch all the cords in my photos. It is a pet peeve of mine as well. In this case it was just a case of being rushed at the end of the job. Another lesson in taking the time to hide the cords.
Hi Dan, this whole job came in at $ 950 for labour and one month rental fee for the inventory. A bargain to get it sold fast and for near list.
Hi Elizabeth, that's what I try to convey to my clients. I get the last 20% of a homes look together to market it for sale. When I am done the homeowners always say, I wish I knew you when I first moved in. This is how I always envisioned my place looking.
HI Kris, you are right. It is a matter of educating our clients that it is in their price point to Stage their home for sale. Keep interviewing Professional Home Stagers until you find the one that can do the most work for the budget and keep the the standards high. That will be a Stager that has their own inventory paid for.
Hi Lauren, Ah,,,, the life of a Stager. If you don't like mucking about in the minutiae of other people's lives you won't like to be a Stager.
Hi Donna, When I walk into a place that needs decluttering I know that is one property that will look good in my portfolio.
Hi Marina, I agree, the Sid photos have just the right look.
Hi Sheldon, I think you can tell by the smile on my face what a good time I had with Colin and Justin. I was like a giddy school girl. I still smile when I think about that day.
Hi Brenda, I try to catch all the cords in my photos. It is a pet peeve of mine as well. In this case it was just a case of being rushed at the end of the job. Another lesson in taking the time to hide the cords.
Hi Dan, this whole job came in at $ 950 for labour and one month rental fee for the inventory. A bargain to get it sold fast and for near list.
Hi Elizabeth, that's what I try to convey to my clients. I get the last 20% of a homes look together to market it for sale. When I am done the homeowners always say, I wish I knew you when I first moved in. This is how I always envisioned my place looking.
HI Kris, you are right. It is a matter of educating our clients that it is in their price point to Stage their home for sale. Keep interviewing Professional Home Stagers until you find the one that can do the most work for the budget and keep the the standards high. That will be a Stager that has their own inventory paid for.
Hi Lauren, Ah,,,, the life of a Stager. If you don't like mucking about in the minutiae of other people's lives you won't like to be a Stager.
HI Debra, it was a lizard in the tank. Sunning and warming himself on a heat rock. Just another day in the life of a Stager. I have had rabbit pens in the living rooms of $600,000 homes with a 3D horses head hanging off the bedroom door. Shades of The Godfather. You just never know in my job.
HI Diane, your are right, it was a very spacious 2 bedroom condo. Here is the view out balcony to the lakefront.
HI Joe, I wish I could come and Stage for all you Realtors that get how important it is to Stage. It would be a powerful team appoach to marketing properties for sale.
Hi Debi, simple and effective changes are my brand.
Hi Patricia, if it was a little warmer in Washington I might just take you up on it tomorrow! Oh Yeah, You are going to be really busy with Obama tomorrow, maybe another day! LOL!!!!
Rock on ! Great before and after photos. We have a condo that we own personally professionaly staged as we believe in it ! We always recommend vacant properties be staged as it looks sooo much better than your competition !
Michelle - Holy clutter Batman! This one should be featured on TV. Spectacular job....hope they promote your skills to everyone they meet. Ralph
HI Christopher ans Stephanie, Philadelphia is lucky to have you both marketing their properties to get top dollar. It is the one way you can make your listings stand out online. And this year, it is going to pay off handsomely.
Hi Ralph you old dog you! I thought you of all people would appreciate the pictures of this one man's kingdom. At least he was smart enought to have it staged before you wrote a post about it! Did you love the picture above of all the beer cans in another house? He rented the house for 4 years apparently. Never complained once, always on time with the rent. Landlord never had to visit him. The perfect tennant. He just never returned a beer can for the deposit. He was a health nut though. They were all "light beers".
I would love to have my own TV show if anyone is listening knows someone out there that can connect me to someone in the biz. My work has been featured on HGTV , The Unsellables just this month. But I am really game for my own show. I am ready for anything good that the universe would like to bestow upon me.
So simple yet so dramatic!
Michelle, You do wonderful work---all the time! Sometimes it takes a little and sometimes a lot but you worked with what they had and it looks fabulous. (You might have liked those cans...I can't imagine what you'd get to recycle all of them :) Congratulations on a wonderful feature.
Your staging definitely made a big difference! Seems like you also had quite a bit of cleaning up to do after that bachelor! Oh, and how old is he... what's his number if he's cute...lol!
A picture is worth a thousand words. The before photos simply said "potential" whereas the after photos said "buy me!"
OMG!!! I so can't believe you made that leopard print shower curtain work, but you DID! Great job!
HI Jonathan and Corrine, I love before and after photos. It gives me goosebumps everytime.
Hi Carole, thank you for the very kind words. It was a bonus to be featured and very much appreciated. At five cents a can, I think whoever returned the beer cans definitely got a bonus at the end of the two days.
HI Emily, yes this bachelor was very good looking, very laid back personality, and an adventurer of the world. I think you can see that by his taste in his personal belongings and surroundings. He was a dream to work with. As most Stagers will tell you, bachelors are our dream clients. They always say the same thing, whatever you say let's do it.
Hi Margaret, As you say, the listing photos are supposed to say exactly that.. BUY ME!
Hi Pangaea, That is the first time I have let an animal print stay on a job. I have to agree with you. It worked out in the end. The orange floral is a plant that would grow in a jungle with a leopard so maybe that is why it worked.
Yeah, lizard on the kitchen counter? not good for showings!
Wow that view out the balcony door is amazing! As for the lizard....not in my kitchen. Big ewwwwwww! Don't mind the lizard but not in the kitchen especially for showings. Ick! Great job again on the condo!
HI Amy, it's funny, boys never seem to see the big deal in stuff like this putting off potential buyers.
Hi Debra, I am so lucky to live in such a beautiful city like Barrie, Ontario. Kempenfelt Bay which is on Lake Simcoe at our doorstep. There is a 5km boardwalk around the bay. Nightlife galore, shopping, art galleries, music festivals each month through the winter. As for the lizard, well he got the view of a friends house for the duration of the showings.
Michelle, I wanted my Client to buy that unit so badly! It showed beautifully! She waited too long. It sold from under our noses. We had to wait until this week to find something as nice in one of those two buildings.
All the best!
Hi Joanna, that's too bad about your client. Hopefully they were able to get something comparable. I have seen a few of the units in those towers that look like grandma lives there. They definitely did not market the lifestyle aspect of living downtown on the bay. They may have sold, but they didn't go for top dollar thus leaving money on the table for the client and the Realtor.
Hi Michelle,
Great job, clients really need to understand staging is so much more than simply de-cluttering, it's adding that special touch, that "wow" factor be it colour, art, furniture or accessories. Beautifully done.
Hi Anne, thanks for stopping in today to see this fabulous condo. It was a beauty to start with but it definitely lacked the cool factor. As you say, it takes a Stager with a vision to bring the design all together and Stage it to Sell!
When I walked in this property I could see the final vision almost immediately. The final results speak volumes as the property was a hot commodity and sold quickly.
You do such beautiful work. The place looks fantastic. Great job.
So no Super Bowl party there? LOL
HI Chrissie, Thank you so much for the kind words on my work. I love what I do and it is a pleasure to help clients get the most money out of their properties.
Hi Jim, now that's not nice! We also don't have warm weather. That's two strikes against us. We always celebrate the super bowl though. It's a good excuse for a party in the dead of winter. Don't suppose you ever celebrate The Grey Cup down there?