| | | January 2009 | Vol 4, Issue 1 | | | | | Staging WORKS!
for lowcountry agents
| | | | | | Greetings! | | Happy New Year! We hope you had a great holiday season, and are prepared for a prosperous 2009. Many homeowners are ready to get their on the market for the new buyer season. We are here to help you prepare for their business, and stay on top of the market with the latest trends. | | More Great Statistics! | (click on MLS# for photos) Under Contract 53 Days After Staging! List Price $155,000 List Price $1,298,000 (only home in Kiawah to go under contract since July 2008!) | |  | | 2009 Reminders | Just a reminder of our great low prices! Owner Occupied w/ Consultation Report: $150 less than 3000 sq ft $225 greater than 3000 sq ft Vacant Home Quote: FREE! LUNCH & LEARN WED., JAN 28th 11-1 AGENT STAGING COURSE FEB. 9-10 Contact Bevin@StagingAndRedesign
com for details! | | | | | The Fixer-Upper is Out in 2009! |  We saw the trend starting in 2008, and it will continue in 2009. The "fixer-upper" is out! Home buyers are looking for move-in ready homes and the DIY days are gone. What does this mean for sellers? In order to sell faster and for top dollar, they must make the repairs and updates necessary to sell their home before putting it on the market. As agents, you can help. Have a prepared list or booklet of preferred service providers. How can you make this list for your clients? Contact providers you have used in the past, or ask friends and family for referrals. Then, meet with them, tell them you plan to have them on your list of 'preferred' service providers for your clients. Get their pricing and work schedules, as well as best contact information. Here is a list of some providers you may want to have on your list: - Kitchen and Bathroom Remodel Company
- Granite & Tile company and installer
- Residential Builder and/or Contractor for interior and exterior repairs/remodels
- Flooring Company (Carpet & Hardwood) - refinishing too
- Carpet Cleaning company
- Painting Company
- House Cleaning Company
- Moving Company
- Home Staging Company
Many of these companies may offer several or all of these services. This list can also work for home sellers and buyers. Having this list can make the selling and buying process much smoother and easier for your clients. This can be an additional service that you offer, that other agents do not, making you stand out amongst your competition. | | Why Stage Your Listings? | | Since many reports are claiming that home buyers in 2009 are looking more and more for completely move-in ready homes, and less likely to do any work themselves, it is more important now than ever to stage your listings! As home staging has grown in popularity, more and more homes will be staged and you must keep up with the competition. Staging your listings will help them sell faster and most often, for top dollar. A staged home shows much better to potential buyers. Staging applies to both owner occupied and vacant homes.
In owner occupied homes, staging makes the home de-personalized, de-cluttered and look and feel more spacious. Staging highlights the home's architectural features, not the homeowner's belongings. In vacant homes, staging makes the home feel larger, warmer and more up to date. It can also make the home appear more valuable to buyers. Our most recent success was a dated home in the Summerville area. First Impressions was hired to remove wallpaper, paint trim, walls & appliances, replace & update hardware in the kitchen, then stage the home with appropriate furniture for the buyer demographic. The home was listed on 11/13/2008 and went under contract approximately 53 days after staging! Click here for the remarkable Before & After photos. (MLS# 2833343) Staging helps homes look and feel more modern and well maintained. Staging allows buyers to imagine themselves living in the house, by showing its full potential as a move-in ready home! | | RESA Awards - Charleston is getting noticed! |  The 2009 RESA Awards are in progress with winners due to be announced at the end of January. Charleston has come out to be prominently noted in this year's nominations with a locally based nominee in three of the five categories. Melissa Marro of First Impressions Home Staging & Interior ReDesign was nominated for both Professional Stager of the Year and Staging Innovator of the Year. This is Melissa's second nomination for both categories. She was also nominated in the 2007 Awards. Michele Reneau and Matt Poole, both with Carolina One Real Estate, were also nominated for awards in the Staging Realtor of the Year category. Nominees were peer based and will be chosen by a panel of experts. A four page marketing piece that each nominee created on why they should be awarded these coveted titles is posted on RESA's website (www.RealEstateStagingAssociation.com). Last year, Bevin Googer of First Impressions Home Staging & Interior ReDesign, was awarded the Rookie Stager of the Year award. | | | | | This month's newsletter is all about getting the home move-in ready for today's buyers and getting more business and closed transactions in 2009. Congratulations again to our local RESA award nominees! Sincerely, | | Bevin Googer, Melissa Marro & the entire First Impressions Team First Impressions Home Staging & Interior ReDesign | | | | | |  |
