CBS News Today --- Staging: Home sellers' secret weapon

This Sunday's video on Home Staging has people talking, and I can see why.  First off, I've never known any Stager who was paid $30,000 to Stage a house.  Not to say homeowners don't some times need to make improvements to their home that can add up -- but the Stager does not get paid for this work, the contractors do.  More about this below.

Although I don't agree with everything that was said, I do agree with this:  Home Staging is a home seller's not-so-secret-weapon for getting their home sold faster and for a higher price.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7366894n

I wonder if it is geographical differences because my friends in the business in other markets, including Chicago, can certainly charge more for their service than we can here in Charlotte.  For this reason, I wasn't too thrilled with the over generalized statement that "home staging costs about 3% of the listing price."  The cost to Stage can vary wildly.  My guess is that when this statement was made, they were including all  the expenses of getting a home ready for the market, including painting, flooring, repairs and upgrades.

Although I've seen statistics stating that Home Staging costs can range from .5% to 3% of listing price, I honestly don't know any Home Stager who bids their jobs based upon a percentage of the listing price. It's more about where the house is located, whether it is a vacant home staging or an occupied home staging, the houses's condition, the style of the house, and and how many rooms are to be staged that factor into the cost of real estate Staging.

What I LOVE about this broadcast segment is the Chicago real estate agent, Ian Schwartz, who said, "You have 2 choices, either stage it or not. And if the answer's "not", I'm not working with you". He states that he cannot waste time on ugly houses and doesn't want to have to apologize for any of his listings. So, "Bravo" Ian Schwartz! Ian is one of the top real estate agents in the Chicago area, and now we know why.

So thank you, CBS Sunday Morning for informing home sellers of the importance and benefits of having your home professionally staged. Yes, hiring a professional home stager and hiring the right real estate agent are definitely a home seller's not-so-secret weapons when selling a home!



www.ballantynehomestaging.com | 980.322.5825 | carol@ballantynehomestaging.com

A Perfect Home on (Apparently) a Not-So-Perfect Lot

UPDATE:  This house has gone under contract Day 22 after Staging. Previously on market for 8 months!

I recently began working with a young couple who has been trying to sell their former home in Waxhaw for quite some time. When we first meet at the house, they tell me that the driveway was a huge objection.  It is a sloped driveway – but it is sloping upward, not down toward the house thereby inviting rushing rainwater into your crawlspace or to pool outside your front door! (I've seen this before.) Yet, since some buyers want a flat lot, I shot new photographs of the exterior so any Realtor® or potential buyer could clearly see that the home sits up on a small hill. And since some folks actually like their homes sitting above street level, this new photo may help us out more than we think.

They also shared feedback from prior showings about Cuthbertson Road, a 2-lane country road that sees more traffic than it ever had before thanks to the enormous housing boom Union County experienced the past 10 years. But the road runs in behind their neighbors’ backyards, not theirs. Perhaps road noise was the objection? In any event, we cannot move either the road or the house. 

So, we go inside the home and I see beautiful hardwoods throughout the entire first floor and staircase. An upgraded cooktop, upgraded faucets, granite countertops, a large kitchen island, stainless steel appliances, double ovens, a vegetable sink, a wine cooler, upgraded light fixtures in every room and wrought iron spindles! With 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, I was falling in love with this house and started going through names of people in my mind who would love to live here.

We walk through the screened-in porch the owners had added onto the house, then out onto a paver patio with a fire pit, and into a professionally landscaped and irrigated back yard. Perfect for children to play in as the adults grill out on the pergola-covered deck attached to the gourmet kitchen. I envision my son and daughter-in-law entertaining while our not-yet-born grandchildren frolic about. Yes, I think we can put the swing set right over there. My mind is whirling.

Okay, get it together, Carol. Your son lives in Ohio, for crying-out-loud!

This house is located in the development of Lawson, with a state-of-the-art swim complex, tennis courts, fitness area, a community lodge, covered picnic areas and a nature center. Kids can attend the highly ranked Union County Schools. The brand new Cuthbertson Middle and Cuthbertson High School are across the street from the development.

If you or anyone you know is looking for a fabulous home large enough for a growing family to put down roots, prefers the security of a cul-de-sac home, likes the idea that the house actually sits on the high spot of the lot, and wants their kids to attend good schools – please have them visit 1105 Periwinkle Drive in Waxhaw! Listed at $349,000 and all serious offers will be considered.
www.ballantynehomestaging.com | 980.322.5825 | carol@ballantynehomestaging.com

M/M Homeowner: I'm here to make you $

Home staging is the act of preparing a private residence for sale in the real estate marketplace. The goal of staging is to make a home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers, thereby selling a property more swiftly and for more money. ...Wikipedia.org

Well, yes.  But it is always about the money!  Money for the homeowner and Realtor®. 

1. A Staged® home sells as much as 80% faster and 7% higher on average than it's non-staged counterpart.
2. The faster a home sells, the faster the homeowner gets out from under the mortgage, taxes, insurance, HOA fees, utilities, and maintenance costs. This can save them tens of thousands of dollars.
3. The cost of Staging a home is almost always (if not always) less money than the first price reduction.
4. Realtor's simply do not get paid unless and until a home sale closes. They invest time and energy marketing a property, but it must actually sell before they earn any money. Staging their listings brings higher offers and faster sales, which enables them to work on securing their next listing.

RISMedia published a report in 2010 illustrating the signifcant impact Staging has had on the real estate market.  Of the 500 Realtors® from across the country surveyed at the National Association of Realtors Expo:

• 96% believed buyers react better to Staged homes than vacant ones
• 94% believed vacant homes take longer to sell than Staged homes 
• 94% believed vacant homes sell for less money than Staged homes
• The majority of Realtors surveyed agreed that vacant homes take twice as long to sell and sell for at least 15% less than a Staged home.

Occupied homes also do very well when Staged. Within the past 10 days we have had one Staged occupied home go under contract on Day 15 at 95% of list price, and another went under contract on Day 5 near list price!

Home Staging is really about making money for the homeowner. With typical ROIs of 250% to more than 300%, it simply doesn't make financial sense to try to sell a home without the assistance of a Professional Home Stager.



http://www.ballantynehomestaging.com/ | 980.322.5825 | carol@ballantynehomestaging.com

Oops...You Shouldn’t Have Done That

Has this ever happened to you?

You get to the appointment and walk into a home with an unusual mix of styles, colors and upgrades. The proud homeowners are beaming with pride and it is up to you to (as gently as possible) burst their bubble?

It’s a terrible position to be in, and I wish we could band together to stop homeowners from bad, equity-draining home repairs and/or upgrades before they happen.

Problem #1: The do-it-yourselfer. This is perfectly okay if a) they actually pulled a permit if it were required and b) they are capable of doing the work properly themselves. Doing work that requires a permit WITHOUT a permit can cause quite a bit of pain when it’s time to sell. Although painting is a good way to update the house, please seek professional advice on colors BEFORE you paint.

Problem #2: Kitchen & bathroom upgrades. They aren’t always the best place to spend $$. Before a homeowner spends thousands of dollars on upgraded appliances, granite countertops and the latest fad sinks and tiles, let’s consider the ROI for each improvement. What style is their house? At what price will it likely sell? Does their competition offer these? Will these “upgrades” appeal to the likely demographic buyer? Are these upgrades necessary to sell their house at the price the market will bear?

Problem #3: The Right Stuff. Did the homeowner update their house too cost-effectively? (Yes, there is such a thing.) Nothing says poor craftsmanship louder than badly cut crown moldings, paint roller marks on the ceilings, gaps between the vent covers and hardwoods, and missing quarter rounds. Oh, and in the $450,000 home, nothing says cheap more like a vinyl floor that looks like wood!

Since not all home repairs and updates are created equal, let’s help home owners and sellers make wise choices.

www.ballantynehomestaging.com | 980.322.5825 | carol@ballantynehomestaging.com

Short Sales and Staging

This afternoon I met with a Realtor and we were discussing the plethora of distressed properties in the Charlotte market.  And we both agreed that even sellers of short sale homes typically receive higher offers and sell faster if they stage those short sales before putting them on the market.

Yet we all know the problem: most, if not all, short sale sellers are upside-down on the mortgage and dont' want to spend money to get their house sold. I understand this completely because all these homeowners want is to get out of the house and out from under the mortgage.

This, paradoxically, is why they need the help of a Stager. 

We’re all guilty of it. When we live in our houses for a while, we tend to overlook – or truly do not see -- the things that need attention. Yet with so much distressed inventory on the market, even short sellers have only seconds to make a good first impression. Even short sale properties should be q-tip clean and memorable.

Hiring a professional home stager for a consultation will help a seller understand:

1. What should stay, what needs to go, an dwhat can be repurposed
2. Space planning – how to make the most of each room
3. Proper furniture arrangements
4. Proper accessorizing

Never underestimate the impact of proper color combinations, which can almost always be done with accessories the homeowner already owns, or from discount stores in the area like Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Kirkland’s and Ross. Don’t forget about second-hand stores and garage sales, too! Of course, the most cost-effective way to accessorize is to borrow items from family or friends.

To improve the curb appeal, a short seller can use a little sweat equity to make a big difference. Paint the mailbox & porch lights, straighten the flagpole, clean the gas lamp, replace burned out light bulbs, weed the flower beds, trim the shrubs, clean out gutters and – for the cost of a quart of paint – paint the front door with a high gloss finish.

Sell Higher | Sell Faster | Sell Smarter

http://www.ballantynehomestaging.com/ | 980.322.5825 | carol@ballantynehomestaging.com

Local family hopes to adopt special needs child overseas

This is a copy of 2/26/2011 article on News14 Carolina:

MONROE - A family who has dealt with the challenges of having a child with Down Syndrome has decided to take in another child with the chromosomal disorder.  The Maddex Family is raising money to adopt a child from an eastern European orphanage. Laurie Maddex first learned about 3-year-old Danil on the Internet, from an international adoption ministry. With financial donations, Reece's Rainbow helps others like the Maddex family bring children with Down Syndrome to the United States.

“Something just kind of clicked in my heart that said ordinary people could do this,” said Laurie Maddex.
Her husband, Bryan, was against the idea to start but later had a change of heart when a co-worker shared personal experience of the conditions of orphanages overseas and the unimaginable fate of special needs children living there.  “Just thinking about Chase being in an institution and not having anyone to love him or hug him or hold him or give him every opportunity in life is really what pulled on me,” said Bryan Maddex.  The Maddex family has already begun the adoption process. They have started an online auction to raise the $25,000 needed to bring Danil home, selling everything from jewelry to homemade honey.

Danil is just five days older than Chase. Brian and Laurie Maddex plan to meet him for the first time when they visit Danil's orphanage over the summer. So far, the Maddex family has raised about $9,000 The online auction runs through the end of the month but you can make a donation anytime by logging onto Reece's Rainbow's website.

***********

Bryan is a friend of mine and we've been discussing ways to raise funds.  I've volunteered to donate $1 for every new like on my company Facebook page.  All you need to do is tell all your friends to LIKE Ballantyne Home Staging between now and April 15th!  That's it...you can unlike us later :-) but we hope you don't.

Thank you for your help in bringing Danil home.




www.ballantynehomestaging.com | 980.322.5825 | carol@ballantynehomestaging.com

Nanney & Bumgardner Join Ballantyne Home Staging

We are excited to announce that Mary Pat Nanney and Elizabeth Bumgardner have joined the Ballantyne Home Staging team in Charlotte!

Mary Pat Nanney





Nanney has a B.S. in Interior Design and has worked as an interior designer, visual merchandiser and advertising photo stylist. Her background enables her to take a critical look at a setting, ensure its features are enhanced and presented at its best to evoke a positive emotional response from the consumer. 

Elizabeth Bumgardner



Bumgardner earned her B.A. in Architecture from Clemson University and worked for a building design firm in New York City for more than three years. Her background includes developing floor plans, structural plans, kitchen and bath layouts, and assisting with the selection of
materials and interior finishes.

Ballantyne Home Staging is a licensed and insured company offering staging, redecorating and move-in assistance for residential and commercial properties in the greater Charlotte area. For more information on the company, visit www.ballantynehomestaging.com.

www.ballantynehomestaging.com | 980.322.5825 | carol@ballantynehomestaging.com