Lise Desormeaux's Blog

In the prestigious Druid Hills neighborhood of Atlanta, GA it’s a fact that a home has not sold in a very long time within the 1.5M-2M price range.  As terrible as that sounds there is one piece of goods news I can offer.  A home RMR staged in this neighborhood is under contract in less then 4.5 months, the only home in more than a year and a half. 

Although it’s always hard to know for certain if home staging played a roll in the sale of this home, it does create an opportunity to ask  ’Are the facts and numbers regarding the reduced time on market for staged homes a reality?’

Your guess is as good as mine but as property after property sell that are staged in an otherwise dismal market I’m comfortable reporting the facts and leaving the decision up to you!

Congratulations to Peggy Hibbert with Sotherby’s Fine Homes!  She is an excellent Realtor who’s knowledge about this historic neighborhood is that of an expert.  She being a resident of this well know area of Atlanta made her the perfect choice for the job of selling this magnificent home.  She deserves much more praise then Realtors sometimes receive and I’m pleased to have had the opportunity to work with her.

While enjoying a career in Home Staging in Atlanta since 2002 I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a seller say they didn’t want to spend money on home improvements because a buyer might not like what they select.  This is a very big mistake if your home needs updating.  Leaving the buyer to handle the time and expense for updates in a home will cost you more money then you can imagine in the end, guaranteed.  

Look at it this way, your house sits on the market because the updates needed turn off buyers looking at your home.  Keep in mind 90% of people can not envision the changes on their own, therefore they can’t imagine the updates you think they’re better qualified to make.  Yes, you sacrificed the price to accommodate the updates but this is what happens.  

You allow for 5K in your listing information to make up for needed repairs and updates.  A buyer can’t envision the changes.  Qualified buyer after qualified buyer turn down your home.  Months pass or maybe years and mortgage payment after mortgage payment pass by too (don’t forget taxes and insurance and maybe PMI).  You finally get a buyer who wants 30K less then your target price.  You take the deal, after all what other options do you have?  

Let’s see, 2,000 dollars a month on mortgage payments over months or maybe years.  30K less then your target price.  Oh, and let’s not forget the many price reductions you made because your house wasn’t selling.  This money adds up to nothing but a bad approach.  

Make the updates and make them with confidence before you put your house on the market.  If your the seller I just described risk a speeding ticket (disclaimer attached :) to get to your nearest home improvement store now.  Let’s say you need new faucets for the kitchen and bathrooms.   Ask 2 people from the appropriate department which faucets sell the best and Voila, you have the one most people will like.  Follow this easy step for all your updates.  It’s that’s simple.

Please Mr. Seller, stop feeling fearful about choices you will make when help is just around the corner.  You have nothing to fear but fear itself and you have plenty to lose if you don’t.  Get aggressive, make the updates, hire professionals if you need to but get the updates done now.  Your realtor, banker and your bank account will love you for it.  You may even feel some love for this advise when your home sells for top dollar in less time.

Hope this helps!  Lise

RMR Home Staging

http://www.RMRHomeStaging.com

Atlanta’s Premier Home Staging Company since 2002 Home Staging Atlanta and the World!