Disclaimer: I feel that I’m regularly writing disclaimers now and I’m not sure how I feel about that. I mean no offense by this post; it’s simply my way of venting about the crazy things we see as home stagers.
Two of our most recent clients have really made us shake our heads. REALLY shake them. We’re not marketing experts when it comes to selling a property, that’s for sure, but we do know a thing or two about it. Let me put it this way: We know what the bare minimum should be. Included in this category would be: professional photographs & basic guidance on what to do and what NOT to do when clients get ready to sell.
Let’s take professional photography as the first topic to explore. To clarify, professional photos do not include those that are captured on an iphone or a point & click digital camera that goes on family vacations. Professional photos should be taken by a, wait for it, PROFESSIONAL photographer who has equipment, lighting and all kinds of fancy stuff that most people don’t know how to use. Sure iphones take great photos but not great enough for an MLS listing.
One of our clients over the summer worked oh so hard in getting her home ready to sell. We spent a day with her to finalize furniture placement, hang art and tweak each room before her listing went live. Her realtor had told her that he would take care of the photos so we left it at that. Until we saw the photos. Our stomachs sank to the floor. The photos were horrible. We called our client right away and she told us that her realtor insisted that he take the photos himself…and spent 3 hours doing so. On his phone’s camera. She was so disappointed in the lack of interest or viewings and couldn’t figure out what the problem was. ‘Is there something wrong with my house?’ she asked to which I responded, ‘Over 90% of buyers start looking for their new home online. The current photos are certainly not enticing buyers to even look at your online listing, let alone come to see it in person. Can we please bring our photographer over? We’ll give you copies of all photos that you can offer to your realtor’. She was THRILLED. The photo shoot is on Friday.
Cue small rant. For a home that is priced at just under one million dollars, what is the realtor thinking by not having a professional photographer come in? Taking the photos with his phone? Are you kidding? What kind of service is that?
End rant.
We received a call from a realtor a few weeks ago who wanted us to come and see her newest listing. Her client had insisted that a stager be called to help get her home ready for a successful sale. She needed to rent a dining room set, some art and needed a referral to a landscaper for her front yard. Additionally, she wanted to know what she needed to do to make sure her home showed as best it could. The realtor showed us the property and when we saw the bathroom, we just about fell over. It was blue. Not a soft, calm, spa like blue but primary school colour blue. All walls, including the ceiling were painted this incredible colour. It was actually the powder room which was right inside the front door, it was the first room you saw when you came into the house. We suggested that the small room be painted a much softer colour so buyers weren’t turned off by the shocking colour. The realtor said, ‘No, no, it’s ok. I’m going to keep this door closed during viewings so they won’t even see it’.
Right. Buyers won’t see it. C’mon. Can you imagine being a buyer, going to see your potential new home and not opening the door to the powder room? Did the realtor plan to guard the door so nobody would open the door?
We strongly encouraged investing less than $100 and painting it a lighter colour so it could actually be shown to buyers but the realtor scoffed at the suggestion. Again, for a listing priced just below one million dollars, should it not show like a million dollar property?
What happens to a listing that gets little interest? It sits on the market, becomes a stale listing and the next step is to reduce the price, usually by a minimum of $10K. In scenario one, that is likely going to be the next step, unless the MLS listing is improved drastically.
What happens when buyers see something in a home that they would immediately have to fix before moving in? They either walk away or make a low ball offer. For such an easy fix, there’s no excuse for not addressing it right away.
Moral of the story? Well, to be blunt, we felt that these two realtors needed a good shaking. When home owners are doing their very best to get their homes ready for a successful sale (which makes realtors’ jobs SO much easier), their realtors should be doing everything they can to sell their homes. Period.
Diagnosis: shaken realtor syndrome.
