Home Staging Blog by Jennie Norris

I read that article Jennie!  I was excited too!  I don't even know why!  I just thought, "I know that many ActiveRainers are home stagers" and many people that suscribe to my blog are home stagers.  Good for you and the rest!

With all the publicity and articles about Home Staging, perhaps it will spur sellers to actually do it in order to be competitive.

Thanks for sharing this Jennie!!  It's good to see you too!  The word is out...I hope this article brings all of us more business! :)

I had not seen the article, though I did know it was out there.  I thought it was interesting that the prices listed were much higher on the EAST coast than the west.  I also found them to be nearly $1000 more than my average staging job here in Charleston.  I do primarily vacant staging also.  I'm not sure I would get any jobs here if I charged $3800 - ok, maybe the multi million dollar properties - which are few and far between.  Come to think of it though, my highest quote was $4000 and that was a $6.8M dollar property ...

Melissa Marro, www.StagingAndredesign.com - become a member today!

Thanks Jennie for bringing the Newsweek article to our attention.....I might have missed it otherwise.  Although the staging fees were much higher than what I've imagined!  I guess we're just more competitive here in Portland.  Thanks again.

Is this not a paid ad?

Jennie,

Thanks for letting us know, one more to put in my marketing portfolio.  M.

Jennie - Thanks for sharing.  Do you have any idea where Barb got these fees from?  Was there a study done across the country with respect to what the average "creative-service fee" is?  Also, the stat mentioned in this report  (7 days for staged vs. 87 for an unstaged home) is different than what is today on the Stagedhomes.com site.  I realize that the figures stated on the site are from 2004-2005 and perhaps this is the most recent.  Do you know factually?

Thanks for posting the article.

Kathy

 

 

Thank you for bringing this to my attention.  Newsweek is the summit!  We will all get a boost from this.

I have only one issue, in this neck of the woods one does NOT use the term 'trailer.'   Schwarz and Newsweek should know better.  They are 'mobile homes.' Such homes have not been called 'trailers,' for at least 10 years here in Va.  It is a put down and  it is not considered pc.   :-)  Carol

sure looks like a paid ad to me.  full of holes, too.  where did those numbers come from?  what is it based on? 

Just staged a house in Seattle?  That is the house she has based her advertising on for years.  I recall it happened just after 9-11.  6 years ago.  You've all seen the photos - its the ones she wants her students to use.

To the last poster - Interesting that you did not put your name at the bottom - lacking courage to be known?  It's easy to criticize or be jealous of someone else's success.  Do you think Newsweek wrote this without doing their homework?  Barb is recognized as THE expert in Home Staging - and that does not have to be a bad thing.  I get tired of people bashing instead of celebrating success and coverage in a MAJOR magazine!  And there are MANY recent examples of Staging where the houses are selling - in that same scenario so whether you want to think it's an "old" example - why not realize there are many of us out there from all different designations that are experiencing this same exact success.  This was NOT a paid ad either.  Aren't we all supposed to be supportive here?  Exposure for Staging is GOOD no matter who gets it - be HAPPY not critical - PLEASE! - Jennie

The stats for the article are nationwide - and in some regions houses are still selling faster and in others they market has totally slowed down.  Track your own region to get your numbers - use your own jobs, and maybe the other Stagers in your area will share.  SHC is currently updating the stats on the site to reflect 2007 stats.  I posted this blog to bring attention and kudos to the fact that a major magazine like Newsweek would feature an article on Staging.  This was not to get into a negative debate about stats or why they chose to feature one person over another.  Be glad our business and service is getting this type of exposure - whether it features you or me - it's ALL GOOD!! - Jennie

When you all get the word out on staging it will make my job as a stager easier too.  All for one & one for all

You bet - we ALL benefit!!  The public just sees "Home Staging" and then will seek out someone to work with.  When awareness is built it benefits us ALL. - Jennie

Fantastic article that benefits us all.

 

Wow! It is unfortunate that on a website that is meant to promote Staging in a positive manner, that we have to be subjected to such nasty comments as the anonymous poster.  I come to AR because I love the positive interaction and ideas amongst the Staging community. And I love all positive media coverage that helps to get the word out about Staging.   It benefits everyone. Please lets keep this a friendly and positive community of adults who love Staging. It really doesn't matter and shouldn't matter for the intent of this forum who any of us are affiliated with or learned staging from.

Can we all just be friends?

Or at least friendly..

O.k. at least polite... 

Teresa Chaney, ASP (yes, I am an ASP and even if I were not, I stand by my comments)

I try to collect as many articles on the benefits of staging to give to the agents I currently work with and those who are the ones I'm trying to form a partnership with.  It keeps my name fresh in their minds and shows how staging can only set them apart in the game!!!!

 

 

 

 

My only issue with articles like these is that the "average" prices they all quote are so way out of line and inflated for the majority of the country that it makes our job really hard.  I am an ASP, happy to be one, but because of all the articles saying Staging is THOUSANDS of dollars, I spend way too much time explaining to people that its not always the case, or dispelling the myth.  The THOUSANDS of dollar fee might have been what California and the Bay Area (where I am originally from & interestingly where Barb has an office) were able to charge a few years ago, or maybe what they can still charge, but people there have more money and they have more valuable homes so they are able to justify charging/paying that.  Also, the average DOM that SHDC quotes, being from 2004-ish when the market was insanely hot & over-inflated in CA are really no where near realistic in my opinion for most of the USA/Canada.  Here in Raleigh, the local IAHSP has spent 6 months compiling their own stats and I cant wait to see them.   

On a side note, my highest quote was a $1200 fee for a vacant $1million house here, and I got laughed right out the door. 

Sigh....  Other that that - RIGHT ON STAGERS!  Make it Happen!

Any time the general public reads about home staging or hears the words home staging is good, no matter who is featured in the article.  The majority of the calls I get from homeowners are because they have heard about home staging somewhere (unfortunately not from their realtor though).

As with any statistic, you get a range - and it is based on those numbers turned in.  And so my advice to you, Karen, is to get your own numbers based on your region.  When the article states the prices, it is very general, so very easy to share that your region does not garner that much of a price.  The East Coast is not the South.  The sellers should be happy the range is lower, however, I doubt you are having to give it away as I have heard that region is on the grow.  The DOM that are quoted are not from 2004 - as the stats were updated in 2006.  I did them personally so I know.  In Raleigh, whatever your DOM - then share those.  I don't look at an article and just because it says the DOM are low, I say, "Oh well, Staging does not work here because those stats are not the exact same for my market."  In my market, DOM are 200 for the median priced home.  Our median priced home is $300K-$350K.  I bet my market is a lot like yours - and Staging is on the grow, and people are happy to pay fees in order to get professional advice on how to Stage.  Keep working - and doing what you are doing to help educate the public.  You will see a rise in not only your fees, but an awareness of the need for Staging!  Articles like the Newsweek one only HELP us in this effort! - Jennie

Hi Jennie-

Thanks for posting the article from Newsweek. Individual company stats, and local stats are what people want to see here but it can never take away from the fact that no matter where you live geographically or the socio-economic level of home you have, staging helps sell homes faster  by providing the aesthetic appeal that buyers are looking for. Thanks for all your positive input. Mi

Trish

Hi Trish - great to hear from you - and I am looking forward to seeing you in June!!!  Definitely a great point above - those of us that have been Staging for any length of time and have Staged the modest house to the high-end house know that Staging works for all demographics and price ranges! - Jennie