Home staging takes center stage over last year

Stacy Carchman Leave a comment

Home staging, especially over the last year, has proven to be a good way for buyers to visualize and help Realtors sell homes faster. Not only that, buyers are turning to television shows depicting the homebuying process to help guide their decisions.

According to a new survey from the National Association of Realtors, 82% of buyers’ agents said that staging made it easier for a buyer to see the property as a future home. More than 7 in 10 agents find that photos, videos and virtual tours have become more important since the start of the pandemic.  Also, agents said television shows have impacted their business.

“Staging a home helps consumers see the full potential of a given space or property,” said Jessica Lautz, NAR’s vice president of demographics and behavioral insights, in a press release. “It features the home in its best light and helps would-be buyers envision its various possibilities.”

Both buyers’ and sellers’ agents agree that home-staging is important, according to the survey. Photographs, videos and virtual tours were also important according to buyer’s agents. Sellers’ agents noted that home staging increased the dollar value of a residence between 6% and 10% and none reported a negative impact on the property’s dollar value.

While deciding on what parts of a home to stage, living rooms (90%) and kitchens (80%) proved to be the most common rooms to display. Master bedrooms and dining rooms closely followed. Also, since the pandemic, staging of the office space or home office has also become popular.

Television shows may set unrealistic or increased expectations for buyers, according to the survey. Nevertheless, television shows greatly influence a buyer’s perspective of the home.

It is always important to find a trusted Realtor to get a reasonable sense of what’s out there, said Charlie Oppler, NAR president and a broker/owner of Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty, in the press release.

For more on boosting the chance of selling a home quickly, watch AgentEDU’s course on preparing a listing for the market. AgentEDU offers a 7-day free trial to let you start learning and start selling.

How top producers get referrals for life

Marci Sepulveda Leave a comment

Learn how top producers build their referral network with an effective client communication plan

Imagine what it would be like if your business were 100 percent referrals. Imagine that you have a steady stream of customers because they’ve been sent to you by past clients who sing your praises. Many top producers know how to create a referral network from past sales.

How do they do it?

The secret is in relationship building. When you build lasting relationships with every client, they send business your way, they write positive reviews and they rehire you when they move. And like all relationships, the good ones are rooted in quality communication. Without strong, clear and regular communication, relationships wither.

While other agents may get caught up in ineffective lead generation strategies, top producers understand that the strongest, most cost-effective way to build a business is to cultivate relationships with existing clientele. It is because of their commitment to building client relationships that top producers enjoy repeat business and a steady stream of referrals.

How can you enjoy the same success?

Build a communication plan

If you have long-term relationships in your life, you know that it takes some work to keep good relationships with friends, family and spouses. Remembering birthdays may seem small, but the gesture matters. Small gestures matter in a relationship. If you want your clients to consider you a trusted advisor and friend, you’ll have to be there not only for their real estate needs, but also for some of life’s important occasions.

It starts by setting the tone of the relationship from the first meeting through the first transaction. Then follow up. This experience will show clients that they can expect regular, clear communication from you. The problem for many agents is that they focus on doing the job and forget to communicate what they are doing. Top producers have this under control because they have a plan.

Commit to communication

If your communication methods fail or you don’t communicate frequently enough with your clients, they may feel frustrated and abandoned. To prevent disappointed clients, top producers follow communication plans that prioritize consistent and meaningful client interactions. But a communication plan is about more than just making clients happy and building rapport. A good plan leads to a lifetime of referral business.

Developing a referral network and gathering quality leads starts with your current clients. Not sure where to start?

Build a robust referral network and get ahead on success with the help of AgentEDU’s course, “How to create the most effective client communication plan.”

Get unlimited access to this and every other 10-minute video course on AgentEDU when you subscribe for only $19.99 per month.

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