Emotional Connection is crucial when selling both vacant and occupied homes. The feeling you get when you walk through the house that says, "I'm home". "I want this lifestyle."
It is a driving force in many home sales. It is the draw that recently brought back buyers to a vacant home staged by Simply Staged Inc. FOUR times before purchasing. Do you believe a vacant home, they felt was slightly out of their price range, would have had that same draw?
Emotional connection has the power to change "must have" lists. Let's face it, emotional connection can change all the things you thought you knew for sure when beginning your home search, such as location, style, color, amenities, condition, etc. Emotional connection even has the power to extend what you thought you were willing to spend on a home.
Less than 10% of the population can envision the possibilities or potential of a home. Staging helps define space and offers potential buyers glimpses of how they may live in the home.
Is it a great home for entertaining?
Does it have a kitchen you see yourself preparing meals in?
Can you picture yourself enjoying a cool glass of lemonade on a hot summer day?
Can you envision yourself preparing for the day in this home?
Enjoying a morning cup of coffee?
Or perhaps a comfy chair to relax and catch up on your reading?
Most professional stagers will not utilize the same emotional connections in an occupied home as a vacant home. However, they are trained to highlight the home, occupied or vacant, in a way that showcases the property to its fullest potential making it easier for potential buyers to make that "emotional connection."
Simply Staged Inc. is a professional home staging and redesign company serving Rockford, IL and the stateline area. We specialize in staging existing, vacant and model homes in Belvidere, Byron, Caledonia, Cherry Valley, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Oregon, Poplar Grove, Rockford, Rockton, Roscoe and Winnebago. Contact us at (815)979-3027 or visit our website simplystagedinc.com
Simply Staged Inc. is a Professional Home Staging Company Serving Rockford IL and the Stateline Area. We specialize in staging vacant and occupied homes for sale. Contact us at (815)979-3027 or visit our website simplystagedinc.com
Michele, Great post and I love the pictures. Great job staging.Thanks for the tips.
Great photos! I was in a coaching class yesterday. The subject was the emotions and feelings of buyers and sellers.
Love the photos-great post. I am off the stage, in the pouring rain, and you inspired me!
Thanks Gita! Sounds like a timely post Wendy - You could probably add to this post after attending your class.
What wonderful compliment Cathy, glad to be a source of inspiration this morning. Feel like I was able to return the favor in a small way after being inspired by so many of your posts.
Michele
Love the photos! And I like your little "vignettes". That's the part of staging that is the most fun to create!
Thanks for sharing, Tessa
Michele, great pictures of your staging tips! Kudos to you for your success and I think high end homes need to be staged!
Michele ~ I love all your trays, especially the metal scroll one! Did you do the pantry in that one shot too? Great idea!
Michele the thought that you put into your vignettes really stands out in your photos. Thanks for sharing them here.
Thank you Tessa. Seems I am always looking for inspiration to create those emotional connections.
Thanks Caren! You may be surprised what staging can do for homes at all price points.
Yes, Kathy that pantry was one I staged for the Rockford Parade of Homes. Must have felt just like home because one the worker's helped themselves to a bottle of water and bag of chips! :)
Thank you Ginger! After looking at the photos, apparently I like to use trays and napkins! :)
Michele,
Great post! You are absolutely right, buyers need to make that emotional connection before they will even consider buying a home. Your staging touches have grabbed the attention of many buyers I am sure. Love the scrabble board... Do you glue the pieces on to avoid the touchy hands syndrome? ;o)
Michele ~ Lifestyle staging is really important in today's market. We need to show potential buyers that the life they strive for can be found, in this property. Most people just don't have the ability to envision this, so staging really helps them to "see" how the home can meet all their needs ... and then some. Great post and photos!
Thanks Michelle! Yes, I glue down scrabble pieces, chess pieces, even popcorn for a movie room once! I have not figured out a way to glue coffee beans in a mug????? Well, at least without looking awful.
I love your term lifestyle staging. "show potential buyers that the life they strive for can be found, in this property." beautifully stated Maureen.
Hello Michele, very nice post.. I hear Linda talk about "Lifestyle" staging a lot with her clients. It is deffinately the approach that opens the doors to the most potential buyers.
I love all your emotional connection points. I know how important that is, and yet I have been lazy and forgetting to do that. Thanks for the push to get busy. You do beautiful work.
Wonderful post Michele -- made me want to dip those strawberries! I'm just finishing a vacant staging and love adding some of those emotional touch points . . . makes a huge difference as your photos illustrate so very well. Congratulations on wonderful photos and post.
Thanks Chrissie! Glad it was a helpful reminder.
Be sure to post some photos Margaret.
I love the French Press with actual coffee beans in it. Very nice.
Great examples! I'm curious as to what you have spelled out on your Scrabble board...:)
Thank you Marina.
If I remember right Shelley, it was welcome, home, & together.
Michele: I am new to AR and I am getting my Staging business up and running. I always appreciate your posts as they are very informative and you seem to articulate what I'm thinking - thanks! www.debrasdesigningdetails.com
Welcome to AR Debra! I appreciate your kind words. You are definitely in the right place if you are just starting out - lots of useful information here. Best of luck - I look forward to your posts.
Thoroughly enjoyable post, Michele! Great pics!!!!
Thank you very much Abby!
Great post Michele!! I love, love all the pictures :)
Thanks Wendy! I had fun trying new angles:)
Michelle: Great post! - The home looks so inviting and warm. You are so right when you speak of the emotional connect. This applies in so may areas. Thanks for the great information.
Michelle - your staging groupings which include food and props do elicit visualization of action or activities of LIVING in the home...the buyers can picture themselves partaking in reading or cooking etc... not just look at the 'bones' of the home during the showing...excellent impact -no wonder they came back again & again !
although my Jeff would have written a reverse offer to those buyers after the second or 3rd showing for sure if we represented the sellers...LOL
Sincerely,
Grace
Thank you Gwenn & Grace! Emotional connection is exactly what I was going for.
Great ideas Michelle - loved the pictures. You are so right about the emotional connection and I loved that you did it with a few carefully placed accessories. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Shelia! I appreciate your comments.
Michele, amazing work! I just love the reading glasses on top of the book. I have to try that one myself. I often do the Scrabble or Trivial Pursuit set up, the coffee mugs with coffee beans, etc. but that chocolate fondue thing is about the best I've seen!! I'd be surprised if you didn't come back to see that someone tried to use it! :)
Thanks Annie! Yes, I am not sure I would be able to stay out of the chocolate if I had to host an open house. :)
Wow, I had not read your post when I wrote mine last night, but we are definitely on the same page! I agree, we don't do the same in occupieds as vacants, but the emotional connection vignettes are a lot of fun to come up with! Great ideas, and nice visuals!