Staging New Hampshire

Back in February, in my post "Dreaming of Jeannie at the Prom" I asked for creative help with decorations for a high school prom with an Arabian Nights theme.  A friend of mine was on the decorating committee and asked for my assistance.

 The comments that I received were forwarded to the Prom Committee and they were very grateful.

Here are some photos that were forwarded to me today of the completed project:

A good time was had by all and they sold all the decorations on Ebay for $2000!

Thanks again to those of you who sent in suggestions!

 

In a recent post "Realtors Have it Easy" I wrote about just how overworked and under appreciated Realtors are.  It seems to me that partnering with a professional home stager, who they could recommend to their clients, could ease some of that pressure.

I am wondering...

Would a Realtor's job be a bit easier and less stressful,  if a stager assisted the sellers in the preparation of their house for sale? 

Maybe, but the realtor would miss out on the opportunity to tell the seller that 

there is a foul smell in the den and

 they wouldn't get to be the one to break the news to the seller that the priceless Star Wars collection needs to be removed from the dining room. 

The Realtor wouldn't be the one

 creating the seller's to-do list and justifying

 the expense investment of

the necessary improvements.  

  

Would the MLS photos be more appealing if said house were professionally prepared? 

 

 

Let's think about this one

because...

maybe the peeling paint on the front door is charming

and adds character.

 

 and maybe

painting the bathroom would make the room appear less dramatic than the flocked velvet wallpaper that is there now.

New home owners today are into that retro look and besides if the seller makes  all those improvements, the new buyer won't get the opportunity to make it their own style.

Potential buyers like using their imagination and they love home improvement projects, right?

 

Would said house sell faster if it were more emotionally appealing to buyers? 

Why's everyone in such a hurry?  If you wait long enough,

 just the right guy who happens to be looking

for a home decorated in

 "1979 bachelor pad" decor will come along and offer a

pretty penny for this charmer.

 

 

I'm sure a young couple that doesn't mind water stained ceilings and holes in the wall will come around eventually. 

A family that appreciates animals will have no problem with the three large dog beds

in the master bedroom.

Would the seller make more money and consider the Realtor a hero and a marketing genius if said house sold sooner, rather than later?

Sure, but they are in no hurry to sell.  They have plenty of money to pay two mortgages and they understand that if it doesn't soon get an offer, they can just lower the price again.  And besides, who wants to live up to the reputation of being a hero? 

Would the commission be higher if said house sold sooner and without a price reduction?   

Sure it would, but it's not always about the money!  

 

 

Realtors don't even care about the commission, right? 

 

It's the joy of the whole experience that makes it all worth it. 

 

 

 

Realtors make a lot of money for not really doing very much.  Four, five, six percent commission for what?  They put up a sign, have a couple open houses, place some ads, do a little paperwork...on a $650,000 sale they make $32,000.  Easy money.

If you are a Realtor, you are familiar with this mindset.  Many people share this opinion.

Before I started my Home Staging business, a couple of years ago, I too thought that Realtors had it pretty easy.  I, like many others, had no idea just how invested and consumed by their job these poor people are.

My step into the real estate world has changed forever my concept of this profession.  Here are just a few of my observations:

They have no set hours...on call 24/7...evenings, weekends, holidays, vacations.

They have to be part psychic, part psychiatrist, part marriage counselor, part life coach.

They feed pets, water plants, take out the trash, move furniture, and provide taxi service.

They advise, encourage, and comfort.

They are expected to be able to read minds and tell the future.

They spend their own money up front on expenses, which usually are not reimbursed.

Somehow upon signing a real estate contract, slavery becomes legal once again.  Is there somewhere in the contract that states the home seller actually becomes owner of the realtor? 

I have witnessed Realtors going to great extremes on behalf of their clients, going above and beyond what would be considered their job description.  I never knew the extent of the hours and dollars spent by Realtors leading up to their commissions earned. 

 

For all of you who work so hard to earn your commission...you have earned my respect. 

 Easy money?  I don't think so!