When a home seller puts their home up for sale, they are much like kids about to go on a tricycle ride. But for this selling ride there are 4 basic elements impacting how smoothly the ride will go: Market, Location, Condition, and Price.
The Market is the sidewalk that the seller's tricycle maneuvers on. Sometimes the market is bumpy, sometimes smooth. Regardless, what the markets surface conditions are, the seller must just roll along for there is little they can do to impact the market path.
However, to get the tricycle ready for its travels, the seller must consider the 3 wheels that keep their home's sale rolling along.
PRICE is the big front wheel where, with the knowledge and expertise of a Realtor, drive and direction are most effectively applied.
But in order for the front wheel to maneuver properly... the two back wheels must be looked at and operate smoothly and in conjunction with the front wheel.
One of the trike's back wheels is LOCATION. The LOCATION Wheel is a fixed hard rubber wheel that will never go flat... it is what it is. The other rear wheel is CONDITION.
By the time a home seller gets ready to jump on their trike, sit on the seat and go for a sale-ride, they don't always want to look at the rear wheels... especially the CONDITION Wheel. However, over time the CONDITION Wheel's treads have worn down, it's leaked air and maybe even gone flat.
Home stagers go to work on the flat worn-out rear tricycle wheels. We pump up and repair rear CONDITION Wheels so that the sale doesn't end up being a rickety ride.
I encourage you to use home stagers to see just how smoothly your client's tricycles can roll.
Stage It Forward... Me
PS: I spelled "peddling" the way I meant it.
Do you rent out your creative mind only to sellers who need your service? I would love to be able to tap into just one iota of your talents. Thank you.
Ozarks Joan
Craig,
This should be made into a Brochure! Your creativity is incredible. The seat is the Seller in control of his selling experience:
Craig- I really enjoyed your blog...I'm trying to sell my own home. I have it listed. I thought that location was important....apparently where my house is it's not important...My home is the least expensive home within the best rated school boundary in Keller, Texas.
Hmmm. I agree "Are you sure you don't sell Real Estate" ????
Personally I think you get this stuff from all those meetings with Realtor Organizations that you attend with such 'regularity'...
I said 'regularity' the way I meant it. SVW (smiling very wide)
TLW...ROAR!
Judy & Karen... yes I do do all my own graphics. I "stage" blogs because I know what a person sees is important.
Bryant... shucks. I just be lil'ol me.
Maureen... I share what I share in the hopes that ALL stagers benifit.
Ines... use away.
Joan... RENT!!!!!? Hell now. Show me the money! LOL
Karen... I altered the "orginal" post to make your point MORE clear. THANKS.
Lauren... Location IS IMPORANT. But so are a few other things. That is what I was trying to say.
Judy... It is easy for me to draw staging into the story. I have seen HOW STAGING HELPS far to many times.
Me
Hi Craig, finally!! a person who thinks like me!!.. or even more vividly!! you're my right brained partner!!! i
love it! great analogy, explanation and the graphic rocks!. I may be using this to get the point across.
I can picture the sellers without great condition just riding in circles.. on and off the sidewalk. :) thanks for the mental image. I wish some you warmer weather dude!! :) wow, i almost feel normal now :))
Great analogy, thanks much! It's my buyers who need training wheels, lately.
Craig, fantastic analogy. Do you have this article on your regular blog that we can link to your blog from our blogs? Just today I added a post to my Reese's Pieces blog on a really, really bad photo and discussed staging prior to photography. (You would love the photo!) I'd also like to include this article (from your regular blog) as a sub-link under my main blogroll link to you.
Great analogy, Craig. Creatively written and easy to "get it."
Jeff
Craig,
I always enjoy reading your posts. I would love to see some of your work in person. Would you mind sending me links to some of the active listed properties you have done in Chicago. I'd like to set up a showing for myself (and hopefully a client) to see your work first hand.
Thanks again. Keep up the GREAT work!
Condition is such a simple concept. You get an ice cream for this one Craig. Could it be that real estate agents have been conditioned to accept less?
Craig,
Great analogy like many have said before me. Really appreciate all the ARers who share so much.....
Great post Craig and great photo! Can you please email that to all the FSBO websites? LOL I know it would take a lot of guts but wouldn't it be awesome?! Have a great week.
I love the analogy. For the legal side of things, it made me think of the trike just plowing into a wall (or getting run over by a train), because an agent, however well intentioned, decided to draft an addendum to the PSA rather than calling an attorney to do it.
Great diagram.
Craig...Thank you for the analogy and gentle explanation. Please OH please make a brochure that can be available for REALTORS to share with thier clients. it will be SO good for all of us!
Loved this illustration - sending it to some agents.
Keep them coming!
Since one of your replies said "Use Away" I have taken the liberty of downloading your post and the wonderful graphic complete with your name and where I found this posted. I intend to use it in presentations or as a handout. This is VERY great and I like your attitude of sharing. Thank you a thousand times!
P.S. any of my spelling errors are probably NOT the way I intended. LOL
Good Day Craig,
Excellant .....simple but effect Description and Graphic..Great idea for us all for our listing presentations. Its simple and to the point.
I too would like a copy of your graphic and explanation.
Cheers, have an awesome day!
I think that is the best blog so far that has the best example. Great work and I liked your piece alot.
Ben
I think you made a great point especially in today's market. "Staging sets the scene throughout the house to create immediate buyer interest in one's property. This will then lead to home selling for the highest possible price in today's market. Remember, "The way you live in your home, and the way you market and sell your house are two different things." Why do you think builders have model homes.... It is a " staged home" .
What a great analogy. Thanks for the post.
Love the Visual Craig!
Best,
Sean Alvarez
Watch My ListingsHome Stagers, paving the way to a smooth sale!
Craig,
Terrific Analogy - I agree with everyone on that. And what you say is SO true. I have and had a few home sellers that just didn't get it -
"Yes the house was comfortable for YOU but you don't want to live here anymore. We need to make it appeal to others!" ;-)
I too may borrow your post (with credit given of course!- say a link to your site w/your name and info) :-)
Craig,
Great article! Staging is a new concept where I practice Real Estate. I have done my own with Sellers, but don't have a professional do it. Staging, decluttering, and fresh paint go a long way towards a top dollar price!
Sheri
Craig,
I'd been playing with this concept--but would never have come up with anything so simple and effective. Thanks for sharing.
Deb
Craig
Nice post and good explanation. I am wondering and maybe you can help me on this one approximately how much does a home stager charge? And who pays them?
Good post. Graphics are always nice.
May have a seller who owns a furniture store. Have any ideas on how to structure a deal or partner to make this a long term win/win?