Most of the realtors advertising here seem to be “throwing in” the staging, though of course it could be that they’re asking for a higher percentage / giving less of a discount because of it. In my neighbourhood there is definitely a big difference in staged vs. unstaged, but correlation is not causation. It could also be that the people who do staging are doing other things that contribute - not staging is so unusual now for this neighbourhood, so I’d assume it is people who just don’t want to deal and care more about speed vs. price.
I think if you’re hoping for multiple offers, then you want to tug on the emotional bits, which is what staging is good at.
Everyone has already answered, but I think it depends on the market. When we sold our first house in CA, the agent staged as part of her services. It looked so nice and definitely contributed to the 13 (I think) offers we got in one weekend (and this was before the Covid craze, but it was still a decently hot market). In SLC the agent suggested getting a few cosmetic things for “staging” but they were relatively minor and inexpensive (I spent maybe $100-200?) and I think that also helped me get the over asking price I got (and this was just when Covid was ramping up and no one knew what the F would happen). Oh, also I greatly reduced clutter when selling in SLC, so everything was very nice and clean and light looking. Less is more in terms of decorating.
I appreciate all of the answers on staging! I’m interviewing agents and so far it’s coming down to one person who never stages and one who includes staging as part of commission. The consensus seems to be that staging does make a difference and can be worth it.
I received a bunch of comps from homes sold in the last six months or so. I noticed the $/sq. ft. varied by a factor of 2 (from $200 - $400) and wondered if perhaps it was related to staging, or to house size, or something else. I started with house size: Here’s the plot:
FWIW, I also did a plot of $/sq. ft versus date sold, and there was not a clear trend.
Next I went through the Zillow or Redfin listing for each home and did my best to guess if the home was staged or un-staged. None of them looked awful, although a couple that I listed as un-staged had some decorating choices that even I questioned. I had to add a category for Empty. One had most rooms empty, except for one bedroom and a living area which looked kind of staged to me. I mean, my blankets don’t match my art.
I replotted to show which ones were staged or not (as best I could tell), and
The one with questionable decorating choices did score the lowest.
I admit I was surprised that it didn’t make a bigger difference than the graph seems to suggest, since so many people were in favor of it. It is a pretty crazy market though, and the plot might look different in a different market. There were also no houses that looked like a cluttered disaster either.
Most of my tea is loose leaf, but I use the equivalent of 2 bags for one pot/2 mugs’ worth. But then I usually make a second pot reusing them again because by 4 in the afternoon I’m a lot safer with re-used tea than making another pot of black tea
I only buy v strong tea. For bags, one for a mug and don’t reuse. I rarely use bags in a pot because I’m more likely to use loose- but usually one per cup ish. If I reuse in a pot I add one fresh. Spoons for a pot similar. If I reuse I like to have some of the original brew standing
Are all the houses on lots of the same/similar size? Lot size can make a difference, as well as whether the house is on a main street or more in a neighborhood (in SLC, houses on main thoroughfares were cheaper than those on tertiary and smaller roads, even those technically within the same “neighborhood”, all other things being equal)…
One bag/bag equivalent per cup, reuse depends on the brand. I often add more on the second cup if I’m drinking one of my own herbal blends, but more often I’m using a tea infuser that makes 2 cups and don’t make more.
AITA? My husband’s family lives across the country from us and we haven’t visited the last two summers due to covid. We were gearing up for a visit this summer early July and had it mostly verbally worked out with all interested parties and then today a family member announced they are getting married in mid-August. So I say, of course we’ll go to that and not come in July. Then my MIL lays a guilt trip on me saying we should come both times.
We have two little kids, it is going to cost us ~$4,000, there are no direct flights so it takes at least 10 hours from flight take off here to landing there (so 12 hours in transit including airport time), and we have limited PTO. I think that it’s ridiculous to ask us to do that twice in 6 weeks? I was completely unprepared for the guilt trip. Am I the asshole?
Not the asshole but totally expected that MIL is sad and melting down. I think a lot of people’s social skills have lapsed and you can give her time. In a month if she’s still being TA about only one trip she’s TA.
That makes sense. I was just completely taken aback. You know when you go into a conversation expecting it to go one way and then it’s completely different. Like, woah, I thought this was something upon which reasonable people could agree.
