| | | | | | Staging Works!
for agents in the lowcountry | | | | | | Dear Melissa, | | Summer is here and it is HOT, HOT, HOT in South Carolina. Fortunately, so are our staged properties! We are really starting to see staging work here. Read below for more of our staging successes! | | What Our Clients Are Saying About Us |  (click on photo for before & after pictures) "We interviewed several staging professionals before choosing to work with First Impressions. Their professionalism, understanding of the real estate market, and pristine presentation of their work won us over immediately! We knew partnering with First Impressions would add tremendous value for our clients. One of our recently staged listings went under contract just 7 weeks after being staged, where other comparable properties are still on the market!
We constantly receive positive comments from other realtors and clients after staging our listings and firmly believe that proper staging can make a world of difference...especially in this market! We can't wait to see the next one! The team of First Impressions is a delight to work with!"
- The Chuck Avera Team, Keller Williams Realty
If you would like to see more of our active staged properties, click here. | |  | | Quick Links | |
Bevin Harmon Googer
843.425.0138 Bonnie Mizzell 843.628.8062 David Moon 843.367.7653 Melissa Marro 843.822.2622 Susan Hardin 843.609.7000 | | | | | Staging WORKS in Ion! | | This month we are featuring our 4 staged properties in Ion. And, we have even more successful staging statistics to share with you! Please note that the average DOM for sold homes in Ion is 195! (per MLS from 1/1/08-6/17/08) Originally Listed 10/16/2006 Re-listed 3/05/2008 Staged 4/10/2008 Under Contract 6/02/2008 - 54 DAYS LATER! Closed 6/16/2008 - 68 DAYS AFTER STAGING! Please view our other staged properties in Ion! **AGENT OPEN HOUSE IN ION TUESDAY, JUNE 24th 11:30-2:00. MEET THE STAGER AT 94 N SHELMORE! ENTER TO WIN $250 GAS CARD!** | | Proper Staging WORKS! |  We have seen a lot of great results in our real estate market lately as a combination of good staging, good listing agent, and the right list price. One of the biggest reasons staging has helped the homes sell is because it was done right! When staging is done properly it enhances the home's architectural features, is appropriate for the home, and appeals to every buyer that walks in the door. The staging needs to be set up so that there are no awkward spaces or traffic flow patterns in the home. If there is something architecturally awkward in the home, the staging should make sure to detract from this - not make it more obvious. The furniture is appropriate when it is the proper size and scale for the room. It must also fit the price point of the home to meet potential buyers expectations for the lifestyle of the home. Be sure to consider the amount of seating potential buyers will want in the main rooms like the living and dining room. Also, a true professional should not be afraid to change something that does not work. A properly staged home will almost always sell quicker than an un-staged home, and get higher offers than a vacant home. A poorly staged home may actually turn buyers off from buying the home, so make sure you are working with the best to get the home sold! | | Staging is a Professional Business |  As the staging industry grows and more and more staging companies are started every month, how do you decide who to work with? In the Charleston area we have seen the number of staging companies almost quadruple in the last year. Agents are getting multiple bids for staging a home now, whereas last year there were only a few options. How do you choose the best company? Research the company and see if it is a business or a hobby, or some fly by night "company." Make sure it is a legitimate, professional business. Check their website, marketing materials (flyers, brochures, business cards, etc.), and make sure they are top notch. See if the company has a business license, and has insurance to protect the home and the homeowners. Ask for examples of the stager's actual work, not a stock photo of what they "might" do, maybe view one of their staged homes in person. Ask for testimonials from previous clients. You can even contact those clients to make sure they are still pleased. Ask for statistics from other staged homes of the company - have they been successful? What was the turn around time once staging was complete? Be sure to look for honest answers to all of these questions. Do not be fooled by "pie-in-the-sky" promises of selling the home in 5 days or less. Trust your instincts and your logic - if the promises seem too good to be true, they probably are. Remember that not all staging companies are equal, and be sure to look into getting the best one for your needs. If you do have a bad experience with one company, please do not stop believing in staging! It does work when it is done properly, and by a professional stager. | | | | | As always, we appreciate your time and support of our business. Watch out for more updates on our staging statistics as we make the job of selling your listings easier! Sincerely,
| | Bevin Googer & Melissa Marro
The Entire First Impressions Team | | | | | |
