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.
Update mid-March 2010: This Frankford NJ ranch home for sale is now professionally staged.
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.
Hi Irene, This is precisely the debate my former partner and I had when we were having our web-site developed. She wanted only the best glam shots, and I wanted to show the full range of work we did -- most of which was humble, "normal" abodes. We parted ways over other issues. My web-site now reflects the type of homes and rooms we do most of our work in, not just the ones that look best in pictures. I appreciate hearing your take on this. -- Tanya in Montreal
I agree that people can come to conclusions based on what they see. It makes sense to show the full scope of your work!
Irene - I think that is a great suggestion. I can see where they would get the opinion. Of course I can see where the stagers would want to attract the larger, more expensive houses as well.
Tanya - Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I hope your current website is pulling in the clients - in all brackets!
Bill - My seller's comment surprised me but I realized she raised a point worth sharing.
Gary - If I had my druthers, all our deals would be over a million dollars! One modest home in the mix, however, might just help a stager's business - and therefore my own.
Great advice, staging is for everybody! A second opinion on your homes' best assets with furniture placement won't hurt either. Mansions show better for pics but people live in real homes.
Excellent post and advice, Irene. And I'm not just saying that because I'm mentioned, LOL!! I have heard this reasoning before and it is exactly what sellers think if they only see mansions as examples of the stager's work. Thanks for the mention!
If your car is too fancy, you may make some buyers or sellers uncomfortable. I suppose the same goes for stagers and their advertising.
Lyn - I loooove letting stagers' be the bad guys who tell granny she needs to pack up the photos of the 43 little one!
Sharon - I never thought about this angle, Sharon, but it sure makes sense. Wish you were closer!
Melissa - Made me think about my online presence too. Was I "pigeon-holing" with an over-concentration that might give someone the wrong idea about who/what I serve? My Prius intimidates no one...
Irene, You brought up some wonderful points....marketing should be for everyone and you can limit yourself by just staging for a "certain type of home." I'm glad you've had wonderful luck with Sharon, staging can have a tremendous impact on the sale of a home.
Carole,
You're the queen of showing a variety of places where your Feng Shui work has done wonders. I've learned it really does make a difference to our consumers!
Makes sense for any business web site to show a full range of services and not give the impression that you only serve a segment of the population......unless you want that segment only.
Al,
It does make sense although I never thought of it until now. We should all consider into what unintentional pigeoholes we might put ourselves.
Irene, I so agree with you. I have suggested that clients use a stager and they say the same exact things. Great post.
Irene- I just read the reblog of this post by Nancy Maurer in "Stage It Forward". Thanks for a good tip for all of us Stagers. It's only natural that we want to display our "grand" efforts but we still need to remember who we're marketing to.
June - I've had stagers help with EVERY kind of home, so know a palace is not required!
Kathy - Clearly we all love to see the spectacular mansions and dream. Everyday folks also benefit from staging and make up most of my market!