duPont REGISTRY Luxury Real Estate Blog - Latest Comments

Re: “What’s in a Name?”

Alex Beattie — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:29:52 -0000

Thank you Karen. I'm so thankful for the support of your associates. It would not have gotten here without you all... !

Re: “What’s in a Name?”

Alex Beattie — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:28:22 -0000

Thank you very much Laurie.

You are exactly who matters to me... This made my day :) !!

Re: “What’s in a Name?”

Karen Crystal — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:25:59 -0000

Thank you Alex for all the creative ideas, relevant new marketing information, and the brilliant community you created. My collegues at Sotheby's (with whom I network though facebook mostly - in my own community of sorts) have enjoyed sharing in your Luxury Home blog through me as well!
We will all look forward to following you Alex and contributing to and participating in your next conversation.

Re: “What’s in a Name?”

Laurie Lam'x — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:25:08 -0000

Alex, I will miss this blog. I just came upon it a couple of months ago and was pleased to see people writing about topics and ideas relating to our business (which is not even real estate). Best of luck in your next endeavor.
P.S. I totally agree--WordPress is the way to go!

Re: Luxury marketing and rocket science

Alex Beattie — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:42:30 -0000

There is no map. . . and if there were one, it probably wouldn't do much good, right.

Thank you for being fearless.

Re: Luxury marketing and rocket science

Karen Crystal — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:38:04 -0000

Thanks for inviting all of us to have the conversation Alex. Yes, it is scary to put yourself and your company out there, but for most agents it is getting past the fear of just "showing up" here that's the major hurtle.
Crowdsourcing: I like that word. I am beginning to see an elite luxury agent Tribe forming already, locally and globally, using each other's expertise and experiences and even sharing clients in order achieve their goals. Creative brainstorming and sharing forces you to step it up a notch...right? That's scary too I suppose..but what isn't?
There's no manual on how to succeed, or how to change with the market conditions or utilize new social media...but why would we expect one? There isn't even manual that comes with a newborn baby...you just have to figure it out.

Re: Staging Luxury Property | The Emotional Quotient

Karen Crystal — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:48:40 -0000

True! I would also add that particularly in this economic environment, buyers see an empty home and immediately assume "distress sale". Even if that home is being kept up nicely, the buyer is thinking that it must be a "short sale" with the bank, or an REO. Even if you say as the listing agent, "no, the sellers are fine, they just moved into their new home already"....the buyer assumes that the seller has "down-sized"...and needs to get out.
All this can be avoided with a better first impression of the home. Thanks for your comment Gracee.

Re: Staging Luxury Property | The Emotional Quotient

Karen Crystal — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:37:37 -0000

Thanks for your comment Lisa. You are really experienced in this arena having dealt with a variety of real estate brokers, and having purchased and sold a lot of luxury property. I know that you actually can visualize an empty room transformed, and yet you still see the value in staging for the "emotional sizzle". For "spatially-challenged"buyers like me (of which there are many I suspect), it is so important to see the size of furnishings in the room as well, and not have that left up to my imagination.

Re: Staging Luxury Property | The Emotional Quotient

Gracee Arthur — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:21:19 -0000

Great article.!It is often difficult to communicate to Sellers the importance of emotional appeal in selling their home. Particularly in a Buyers' market it is imperative to have your home stand apart from the others offered for sale.

Re: Staging Luxury Property | The Emotional Quotient

Lisa Wilcox-Cassidy — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:36:06 -0000

What home buyer doesn't dream of walking into a new property that they already "feel" that they are at home in? Having bought bought and sold both commercial and residential real estate over the years, I recognize that sale does not begin until the buyer can imagine themselves in the space. Many agents and brokers "show" real estate, few "sell" the property. Putting emotional sizzle into the equation allows the buyer to imagine real life personal scenarios unfolding in the new space.

Re: Staging Luxury Property | The Emotional Quotient

Deborah — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:16:29 -0000

Hi Karen -
A staged home feels warm & inviting and I agree it does instantly transform a room into a home...thanks Karen!

Re: Staging Luxury Property | The Emotional Quotient

Karen Crystal — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:39:21 -0000

Exactly! I only want to click on the photos on the internet that attract me with the "wow factor"......we all need to be drawn in!

Re: Staging Luxury Property | The Emotional Quotient

Cheri Hiatt, Realtor ID & WA — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:27:39 -0000

Karen, your story and photos are very powerful. Buyers decide in the doorway if they want to go into a room, they decide from a click on the internet if they want to see the next photo.

Re: Staging Luxury Property | The Emotional Quotient

Karen Crystal — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:46:15 -0000

Bruce. You would know, that's for sure. You have built many beautiful luxury homes in some amazing communities. Thank you for your comments. Your opinion is valued!

Re: Staging Luxury Property | The Emotional Quotient

Bruce Gale — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:34:30 -0000

Karen, I think you're spot on with this topic. I have built and sold many expensive homes. Some have been staged and some have been left vacant. There is no doubt that a correctly staged home feels great and buyers need to have a good feeling about a home in order to want to purchase it. The absolute best combination a seller can have in any market is a well priced home that has a warm feeling and can create the emotion.

Re: Staging Luxury Property | The Emotional Quotient

Roger Ewing — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:29:38 -0000

Staging is a critical part of any luxury home marketing strategy. Sellers rarely think about sale-ability. This is the quality a property possesses that causes buyers to become engaged in the buying process.
While determining the actual return from an investment in staging may be difficult, the sale-ability of the property is definately enhanced. Staging is a valuable investment that should be considered by any knowledgeable seller.
This is an excellent article crafted by an individual who clearly understands the luxury home market and the value that staging plays in the marketing process.

Re: Staging Luxury Property | The Emotional Quotient

harleyjane — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:25:31 -0000

I agree absolutely. If a house "feels" right and I can envision myself in it, I will go the extra mile and spend the extra money. It's so much easier to walk away from an empty house.

Re: Staging Luxury Property | The Emotional Quotient

Karen Crystal — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:51:50 -0000

Thanks for your comments Kevin. I know that you are around wealth in your industry and understand the needs of that clientele. Your point is a good one regarding the economy. Bottom line for me is this: I lke stacking the deck in my favor and the seller's favor when I am marketing their luxury home. If I am competing with a home of the same caliber that is beautifully and professionally decorated...and has chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven when the buyer walks through the front door....I do not want that buyer showing up at my large empty estate...no matter how nicely finished it is. It just won't have that "lovin feeling" the buyer gets emotional about. I say...make the investment and stack it in your favor, especially in this ecomomy.

Re: Staging Luxury Property | The Emotional Quotient

Karen Crystal — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:43:11 -0000

Thanks Barbara. You are an excellent realtor and have many years of experience with luxury buyers. I appreciate you comments and insight.

Re: Staging Luxury Property | The Emotional Quotient

timmclaughlin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:25:29 -0000

Great topic, Karen. I agree a staged house does help its saleability.

Re: Staging Luxury Property | The Emotional Quotient

Barbara Lipkin, CRS, GRI — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:33:51 -0000

I agree with you about staging. Most buyers cannot envision what a home would look like whether it is with furniture, accessories, or just rearranging the room. Even a luxury buyer needs to visualize themselves in the property. That often means taking away as well as adding to a room. A good stager knows how to appeal to the luxury buyer. If the home lacks emotion, it is more difficult to sell and will typically sell for less.

Re: Staging Luxury Property | The Emotional Quotient

marcusmartin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:34:30 -0000

The Idea of "staging" has come and it will become the norm in our industry.....Thanks for the great post!!

Re: Staging Luxury Property | The Emotional Quotient

Riley Jamison — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:05:35 -0000

Cool blog! I never realized staging was so important.

Re: Staging Luxury Property | The Emotional Quotient

Deena Nissley — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:56:44 -0000

Thank you, Karen, for your insight and expertise! Hopefully our clients will read your post and see the merits of showing their homes as a lifestyle and that the extra expense brings extra value and a more expedient sale.

Re: Staging Luxury Property | The Emotional Quotient

Kevin Elson — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:55:39 -0000

I couldn`t agree more with your article. I don`t think that a lot of buyers have the the time or imagination that really brings out all of the potential of an existing space. With the economy the way it is, waking the emotion is the tipping point to the rational side of the buyer.