First, let me say I'm a Sussex County NJ real estate agent who adores working with stagers whenever possible. In fact my first outgoing AR referral was to distant stager, Sharon Tara - who did a great job for relatives. I firmly believe that those with a home for sale should seriously consider the modest investment for staging. (I stopped hiring the stager myself once I realized owners didn't actually implement as many of the suggestions if they weren't paying the fee.)
Just got some feedback from a Sussex County NJ seller to whom I gave the name of 2 locals stagers. One reason for her decision to go with Stager X is that Stager Y's website implied she works ONLY on mansions. The seller's home for sale in Branchville-Frankford NJ is a modest one (not in the photo).
Now I know that stagers do wonderful work on every kind of home. Had one work miracles on this great-grandmother's house filled with 40 years of knicknacks and photos - shown in photo. And it helped get us offers and sell this Sussex County Scenic Lakes community home! So, I can personally attest to the great value stagers bring to every type of home for sale.
I'll freely admit that a staged million-dollar home will look better than one priced at the low end of your market. But guess which end is moving in most areas - certainly in Sussex County NJ. And today I learned the intimidation factor. If a stager doesn't have pictures of a modest home on his or her website, a potential client may be intimidated - rightly or wrongly:
- My home isn't worthy.
- I can't possibly afford someone like that.
- She won't be interested working in my humble abode.
So while mansions will look better in the pictures, please be certain you show a "cheap" home on your website too. I'll steer potential business your way but I then need your help to reel 'em in. Unless you strictly do high-end, expensive homes, don't send them running for cover. Let them know I'm NOT crazy and that you offer value to all homes for sale. Put a few photos on your website that will make hard working blue collars want to hire you - and realize they can afford it. And, yes, I shared private feedback to Stager Y, who will be making a change to her site.
Copyright © 2010, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post represents Irene's personal musings.
Considering selling a vacation home or looking to buy a Sussex County NJ getaway property? Benefit from creative marketing, top negotiating skills and vast real estate knowledge by contacting Irene via the data to the right.
Irene Kennedy, who is a NJ real estate agent with Weichert, Realtors, lives in Sussex County & works from the Hamburg office. Her primary market includes: Augusta, Branchville, Crystal Springs, Frankford, Franklin, Hamburg, Hampton, Hardyston, Highland Lakes, Lake Mohawk, Newton, Ogdensburg, Scenic Lakes, Sparta, Stockholm, Sussex, Vernon, Wantage.
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