skip to main content

Buying and Selling Homes

Staging for a second showing?

15 years ago

We have a second showing, and while I already decluttered, cleaned, and played soft classical music in the kitchen for the first showing, I'm wondering whether there are any special tips for the second. The prospective buyers are a young couple and are bringing their parents, who I imagine will have a critical eye, so what do you think? Music on this time or off? Bake the cookies or no?

Finally, a darn window of mine came loose this weekend and needs to be fixed. I should call my agent back and tell him--and I'm having it fixed--in case these folks start opening and closing windows, right?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

marys1000
15 years ago
If the father is at all handy I imagine he is going to be the one to look at the "fuse" box, plumbing, furnace, roof etc. Is there anything that he would want to know?
Do you have an "info" sheet on any positives "new energy efficient furnace 2005" "electric updated in 2004" etc. , appliances stay, school district ratings, taxes (if lower than nearby areas) new development that will increase property value, around here old wells that can still be used for watering the lawn are often listed, etc. that isn't in the listing description?
deeje
15 years ago
I agree, more or less, with marys1000.

It doesn't matter whether or not the father OR mother are handy. Either way, they'll likely have more concern with the condition of the roof and mechanicals, and are less likely to be swayed by staging.

Sounds as though you've sold the younger couple on how nice your home looks; I'd focus on selling the parents on what a great home the kids will have.
Related Discussions
Second Stage Pot up Question
Q
Comments (13)
I've had some fungus/damping off/rotting problems with my 2nd stage potting up in the past -- not always -- but sometimes. But I've fixed that problem. Now I water with a slightly diluted Chamomile tea solution, and it works like a charm. No more rotting stems! Black tea also works, but not green. It's something in the tea that kills off any kind of fungal growth. I also add a half strength "baby" tomato food to the water so they have immediate "food". I use only half strength so I don't risk burning the plant. Plus there's fertilizer in the potting mix, so I don't want to over do it. So I just put enough in the water to tide them over until the roots develop enough to take what they need out of the soil. MacThayer
...See More
Staging a home for photos/showings- Set the table or not?
Q
Comments (19)
The most "staging" we did was taking out about half the furniture in each room (storage unit at $56/month for 3 months was a great investment!), paying $150 for a team of three professional cleaners to come in and do a "spring clean" kind of cleaning on my house (baseboards, ceiling fans, cupboards, etc.) and decluttering everything. I never did put anything else on the table except for the placemats (which I normally had on the table everyday) and a small potted plant on a glass tray in the center.
...See More
14 showings, 2 second showings, 1 third showing,but no offers
Q
Comments (31)
IMO, agents are used to prices bouncing up and down on listings, so it probably does not bother them to see small movements. But as a buyer who watched listings for several years before purchasing, it would signal a possibly indecisive seller. And that would probably affect my offer and negotiation strategy. Not necessarily in a terrible way, but it would cause me to negotiate in smaller increments--to allow the indecisive seller time to "get used to the idea of my offer", instead of assuming they were firm about their price/counter. Replies might also get sent closer to the deadline, to allow for maximum thinking time. A few changes, such as yours, are not that big a deal--it is the ones that change three or more times in a two week period, or bounce them up and down for months to keep the house in the changed category, that really scream of game-playing. My searches were about $35k under our minimum, and $75k over our target price. Anything lower brought up trashed foreclosures. The higher range allowed for a heads-up on homes that may have price drops that would put them into our range. Your price is probably close enough to bring in your target buyers. Your house should be on top, now that those two other ones have sold. ;-) Good luck with your sale!
...See More
Showing a condo- empty or worth it to pay for staging?
Q
Comments (18)
Agreed that it depends on the condo itself - mostly floor plan but also just to warm it up - especially if it doesn't have any carpet. I took a buyer to 8 condos the other day, and there was a new build, clean, perfect, very cold, very stark, but the agent took us next door to the lightly staged "model" and it seemed so much nicer - just the warmth of a rug and bed in the bedroom helped a lot. Other condos wouldn't have made a difference. One condo had a lot of charm, in a older, quaint, desired part of town. But the living room, I actually advised the agent that she might just want to lightly stage just that room. The place had been upgraded, beautiful travertine, arched doorways, lighting, but they put dollar-store plastic mini-blinds in the windows, so in that big empty room, they stuck out like a sore thumb. One of those ventless fireplaces and some drapes over the windows would make that rooms so much more comfortable.
...See More
User
15 years ago
I'd skip the cookies and mood music. They're coming back with mom and dad to look at the guts of the house. They're not buying cookies or the stereo system.
kathyg_in_mi
15 years ago
We went with the kids for second showings and thank God we did. DH is very mechanical and could check out A/C, furnaces, roofs, crawl spaces and attics. Well, DS#2 was interested in a house that had an attic and back wall full of mold. DH suspected it and told DS and wife we would pay for an inspection (he didn't want to be the one to tell the kids). Good thing too. They ran from that house!!!!
Kathy G in MI
siobhanny5
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the suggestions. I would've heeded them, if it weren't for the wasps' nests that materialized by my side door yesterday! What timing. There were dozens of them buzzing everywhere, and I mercilessly sprayed them, which we did again last night. They're gone now, and I ended up doing the cookies in the oven because I could smell the insect repellent from the kitchen. Niiice.

I didn't do music this time, just left most of the lights on. The couple came with both sets of parents.

Who knows what helped, but the couple has made us a pretty decent offer. We countered this morning. Fingers crossed!
marys1000
15 years ago
Sounds like things went well. Good luck!
siobhanny5
Original Author
15 years ago
The couple countered back, meeting us in the middle between their initial offer and our counter, and we've accepted the offer. We're very pleased and grateful to have a solid offer.

Hoping things continue smoothly from here. Thanks for the advice. This board has been very helpful.

Related Stories

FURNITURE Second-Life Sofas Show First-Rate Style

By Mary Jo Bowling

With unexpected upholstery, antique sofas can live happily in modern interiors

DECORATING GUIDES 10 Look-at-Me Ways to Show Off Your Collectibles

By Joanna Tovia

Give your prized objects center stage with a dramatic whole-wall display or a creative shelf arrangement

KIDS’ SPACES 12 Home Stages That Put on a Great Show

By Amber Hopman

Get ideas for encouraging your family's performance skills from these kid-size and grown-up home stages and theaters

ARCHITECTURE Houses Exposed: Show Your Structure for Great Design

By Spry Architecture

Why take part in the typical cover-up when your home’s bones can be beautiful?

SELLING YOUR HOUSE 7 Must-Dos on the Day You Show Your House

By Lurdes Abruscato

Don’t risk losing buyers because of little things you overlook. Check these off your list before you open the front door

KITCHEN DESIGN Show Us Your Fabulous DIY Kitchen

By Mary Jo Bowling

Did you do a great job when you did it yourself? We want to see and hear about it

INSIDE HOUZZ Decorating Trends: A New Houzz Survey Shows What Homeowners Want

By Mitchell Parker

Is the TV gaining or losing ground? Are women or men trendier? Find out and learn more about people’s decorating plans right here

Houzz Call: Show Us Your Paint Makeovers

By Becky Harris

Let your newly repainted house or room do the "How d'ya like me now?" strut right here — it might just be featured in an upcoming ideabook

KITCHEN DESIGN Show Us Your Best Kitchen Innovation

By Mary Jo Bowling

Did you take kitchen functionality up a notch this year? We want to see your best solutions for the hardest-working room in the house

LAUNDRY ROOMS Houzz Call: Show Us Your Wonderfully Efficient Laundry Room

By Mitchell Parker

Got a drying rack, a folding table or clever storage in your laundry room? We want to see it!

Sponsored

More Discussions

Would you pass on a one-bath house?

32

Will this kitchen reno ideawork or will it just look and feel awkward?

8

Concerns of buying 2br house (instead of 3 br)

4

Do I need an agent if someone's interested in my unlisted house?

16

Am I wrong to be upset about this?

33