STAGED HOMES IN VANCOUVER BRING MULTIPLE OFFERS - DESPITE SOFTENING MARKET CONDITIONS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) December 24, 2004 -- With spring�s real estate boom over and the threat of rising interest rates on the horizon, properties in Vancouver are becoming harder to sell. But a new trend called �home staging� is giving some of the Lower Mainland�s savviest realtors and homeowners a huge advantage when competing for the attention of buyers.

Home staging is a simple way to easily prepare any home to appeal to potential buyers. Unlike redecorating, which simply makes a home a beautiful space to live in, home staging focuses on the experience of the viewer. Redecorating a home makes it an ideal space for the homeowner; staging allows viewers to imagine themselves actually living in the home.

With many properties languishing on the market, even in desirable neighbourhoods, staging can provide a critical competitive advantage.

Take, for example, the case of two homes of similar age, size and character on the same West Vancouver street. One, listed at $1.1 million, has been on the market since October. The other, listed in December at $1.2 million after being staged by Vancouver�s Revamp Home Staging, sold after only one showing.

�Over the last six months, we�ve seen a huge increase in demand due to changing market conditions in the Lower Mainland,� said Michael McNamara of Revamp Home Staging. �Properties are generally taking longer to sell. In fact, we often have sellers (or their realtors) come to us after their homes have been on the market for several weeks with no offers.�

One such seller is Marilyn Cato, a realtor with Amex Broadway West Realty who had her own Burnaby condo listed for sale. After a month without a single offer, Cato called in Revamp Home Staging. One day after re-listing her newly staged home, Cato accepted an offer.

Staged homes are not only selling faster, they are getting offers at � or even over � asking price. Richard Broda, a realtor with Prudential Sussex Realty, recently listed a staged home for the first time.

"The owners were a little overwhelmed,� Broda said. �Getting four offers and $32,000 over asking.�