Recently I reconnected with someone I had done staging/design work for in Colorado. I had originally staged their home to sell, but the owner decided to keep it. They asked me to consult and oversee a total remodel, which included the furnishings and even a Christmas tree at the time! Since then, they have moved and need to sell this family home. Once again I was asked to stage this large, high-end home for sale. There are not a lot of buyers in this price range, so I needed to make this home stand out among other listings. I want to tell you a staging adventure story first, then I will tell you the incredible results.
For this house, I needed my favorite thing for one of the living spaces—you guessed it—an electric fireplace. There is no substitute for the cozy feeling you get when entering a room centered around a fireplace. The problem is: BigLots! is my go-to supplier for my favorite designer pieces at the very best price! But BigLots! is closing stores all over the country and currently the closest store to me in Colorado Springs is 50 miles away in Pueblo. Not to be deterred, I rented a truck, grabbed a work colleague and drove down to get a fireplace.
Our adventure included working during the drive, getting an incredible bargain on the fireplace, and getting everything finished up and posted on Super Bowl Sunday! Whew! Within one hour of posting we had 400 views and 40 saves, which is incredible. One day later there were 7 appointments for showings, one offer already, and people are driving in the snow to see it! Staged homes sell 73% faster than unstaged homes. Statistics show that staging attracts more buyers and can increase the sale price by 1-5%. But remember, most buyers make up their minds in the first 7 seconds, so you need a plan.
For practical steps to staging houses in the real estate market, get my book, 7 Seconds: How To Leverage The Seven Second Rule In Your Home Designs and Real Estate Investments Second Edition. You can find all my tips and tricks with beautiful before-and-after photos and checklists that every homestager needs. Get yours today!
Looking for new suppliers,
Karen Conrad Metcalfe