Sep. 26, 2006 - 18. Very Highly Recommended

I absolutely recommend that every real estate agent take the StagedHomes.com Staging Class.  I was lucky to have Barb Swartz herself teaching my class, and she's a hoot.

What you learn is that most people have just about everything you need right there in the home.  They just have the things in the wrong places, sometimes in the cupboards or in the China Closet.  Sometimes a picture looks better somewhere else.

Walk through the home like a buyer.  Take photos and move the very best things that the owner has so that they show when you are walking around, rather than when you are sitting in, the room.  It truly does make a difference.  I listed a home that had been on market for six weeks.  I moved some of their things around, took new photos and had two offers within 5 days.

Going to the expense of full staging...I really think the price is often prohibitive to pay an actual stager to come in with furntiure.  But every agent should have staging skills and offer this service to their seller clients.  Take a day or two before the property goes on market and actually help the seller stage the home. Many good listing agents do this for their clients.  Don't just tell them what to do and then complain when they don't.  Reach up, grab that picture and move it yourself.  Roll your sleeves up and get it done.

That is the biggest lesson of the class.  Yes, you CAN touch their stuff and yes they are happy when the house looks great when you are done.  I find it goes faster if you send the owners away, that's what they do in the class.  It's a lot harder to touch everything in someone else's house while they are standing there watching you and asking questions.

If the house is already in good shape, it  takes 8-10 hours.  If it really needs help, it could take as long as a week.  But don't list a home until you have done everything you can to put it in top showing condition.  People can usually keep it that way once you do it, but many can't see their home with the objective eye.  So take notes or photos at other great looking properties and keep a supply of staging things.  You can move them from one property to another, so the initial expense is well worth it.  Your listings will sell faster, and that alone is worth the expense.

Sep. 26, 2006 - re: 18. Very Highly Recommended

Aug. 27, 2007 - re: 18. Very Highly Recommended

Aug. 28, 2007 - re: 18. Very Highly Recommended

Hi Casey,

You should take the class to get better at what you do...not to market yourself.  Someone recently asked me to stage for a separate fee, but no.  I'm an agent, first and always.  Actually I'm a Broker.  As of yesterday I'm "The Broker" :)

Oct. 15, 2007 - RE: 18. Very Highly Recommended

Ardell,

Thanks for your comment "I'm an agent, first and always."  Your focus on learning to be a better agent rather than trying to figure out how to draw the spotlight is a great concept.  Lately I've been trying some new things... like blogging... and I find that I need to trust my instincts more.  I want to learn from other agents/brokers and I want to offer solid advice to consumers, not just play the game of blogging for points.  You've given validity to that for me.

Signed:  "Old real estate agent ... New blogger!"

http://activerain.com/nw_fl_beaches

Oct. 15, 2007 - RE: 18. Very Highly Recommended