After a spring filled with multiple offers, bidding wars and quick sales, home sales slow this summer. This home misses the spring market but still manages to sell for more, thanks to home staging.
There are many challenges involved when selling this Heritage Hills condo—challenges that cannot be overcome by staging. The most desirable units in the development are single-level, two-bedroom, end-units with an attached garage. This home has none of these characteristics. Instead it’s a middle unit with stairs, three bedrooms (all on the upper level), with only a powder room on the main floor, and a carport that is a bit of a walk.
Nonetheless, the cluster is beautiful and comes with a real sense of community and wonderful neighbors. Our goal in staging this home is to balance out the negatives by showcasing the home’s positive aspects and potential.
Things work out beautifully for our client. Despite these challenges and the summer slowdown, a first offer is received just six weeks after listing. Holding out for more, a second offer is accepted just a few weeks later.
Listing agent Judy Johnson, President of Judy Johnson Real Estate in Somers, NY, sums up the process nicely.
“Susan Atwell was an “Angel” to my client who was an out-of-state Heritage Hills condo owner that wished to sell. Susan arranged for the condo to be repainted, choosing appropriate colors, have new carpeting and light fixtures installed, and she also was able to be rid of everything else the owner did not want. She kept enough furniture, artwork and accessories to make the condo eye-catching and attractive to potential buyers. After the condo went to contract, she sent the artwork back to the owner and had everything else removed and taken away promptly. She transformed the condo so well that the owner received a higher price than he would have otherwise gotten. I, as a Realtor, was very proud to handle such an attractive listing!”
The story of this success began last summer when Judy saw firsthand how staging makes a difference, as she brought in the buyer for another Heritage Hills unit we staged. Having seen that residence before and after staging, Judy is so impressed with the transformation that she calls to say so. So when this home is about to go on the market, Judy recommends us to the home owner from the start. Jeff, the home owner, is also pleased with the results, sharing the following:
Susan,
Thanks for the great work. I really appreciate all you’ve done, and how well you do it. Everyone is delighted with the before-and-after pictures. And thanks for your efforts to keep the total cost down; much appreciated. You did a great job (and I would be delighted to serve as a reference). Thanks!
Enjoy these before-and-after transformations of this staged home. It is a rare 1,400 square-foot, three-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath Washington model in Heritage Hills.
Kitchen – Before Home Staging
Kitchen – After Home Staging
Door, wallpaper and shutter removal, fresh paint and two new overhead lights, along with a good cleaning brighten this space.
Kitchen – Before Home Staging
Kitchen – After Home Staging
Living/Dining Room – Before Home Staging
Living/Dining Room – After Home Staging
Dark green carpeting, walls that had not been painted in many years and window treatments and lighting that had become dated are all replaced and made fresh. The sectional becomes a sofa and two new pillows are purchased for the space.
Living/Dining Room – Before Home Staging
Living/Dining Room – After Home Staging
Living/Dining Room – Before Home Staging
Living/Dining Room – After Home Staging
Dining Room – Before Home Staging
Dining Room – After Home Staging
Living Room – Before Home Staging
Living Room – After Home Staging
Master Bedroom – Before Home Staging
Master Bedroom – After Home Staging
Wallpaper, window treatments, and carpeting are all updated. The only item purchased for this space is new bedding.
Master Bedroom – Before Home Staging
Master Bedroom – After Home Staging
Master Bedroom – Before Home Staging
Master Bedroom – After Home Staging
Bedroom/Office – Before Home Staging
Bedroom/Office – After Home Staging
As with most of the rooms in this home, this room is staged just with items found in the home.
Bedroom/Office – Before Home Staging
Bedroom/Office – After Home Staging
Guest Bedroom – Before Home Staging
Guest Bedroom – After Home Staging
Futon from the smaller bedroom is moved here to create a guest room. Again, no items are purchased to stage this space.
Guest Bedroom – Before Home Staging
Guest Bedroom – After Home Staging
Master Bathroom – Before Home Staging
Master Bathroom – After Home Staging
This room takes the lion’s share of the 30 man-hours required to clean this home. Fresh paint, towels, a new shower curtain, and the home owner’s accessories finish this space.
Master Bathroom – Before Home Staging
Master Bathroom – After Home Staging
Powder Room – Before Home Staging
Powder Room – After Home Staging
Wallpaper removal, fresh paint, towels, and a deep clean show off this space’s potential.
Patio – After Home Staging
After removing the large dining table and umbrella and power washing the privacy wall, we stage this space with the home owner’s remaining chairs and side tables, along with a purchased plant to add some warmth.
