The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper

Vol. 14 No. 13 - January 22, 2014

REAL ESTATE

To stage or not to stage

It’s home selling season in Florida. Those cold Northern state homeowners get several months of reprieve before they have to get their houses in shape to put on the market, but here in Florida the curtain is going up, and you better be ready.

Real estate professionals have always promoted the idea that staging your home properly before putting it on the market can make the difference between a sale or no sale. In fact the National Association of Realtors says that properly staged homes sell 80 percent quicker and for up to 11 percent more money than non-staged properties. Since I’ve been involved in the real estate industry this was always the position the industry took. Years ago we even employed house managers to live in vacant properties that we were having a particularly difficult time selling with the hope that potential buyers could relate better to a lived in home.

Now, however, this entire theory could be blown to bits based on a study conducted by professors at the College of William and Mary, Old Dominion University and Johns Hopkins University. The study called “The Impact of Staging Conditions on Residential Real Estate Demand” will be published sometime this year by the Journal of Housing Research and may make a lot of real estate agents pretty upset and confuse a lot of home sellers.

The findings of this study conclude that home buyers would pay the same amount of money for a house regardless of the quality of furnishings or paint colors. However, these same buyers believe that other buyers would pay less for a house with unattractive wall color or poor furnishings. Naturally, neutral and attractive options appealed to the most to the home buyers participating in the study. Essentially everyone’s perception is that someone else will pay less for an ugly home, but they would not, go figure.

The researchers based this on a study of 820 buyers viewing six virtual tours. However, there is one little problem with the study, it does not address if a home will sell faster, which we all know is almost as important as sale price when marketing real estate.

The premise of home staging is to make an ordinary home look extraordinary to the point where potential buyers can envision themselves in the house. Unfortunately, homeowners confuse staging with decorating and resist suggestions from their realtors and/or staging professionals.

Sellers need to remember that their homes are personal to them, but do not represent other people’s lifestyles. The object of staging is to keep the picture of your beautiful moldings or high end kitchen and bath finishes, not your son’s rock band posters or your miniature unicorn collection, in the memory of the buyer.

Stagers typically work with what you have by rearranging furniture and reallocating collections and personal belongings so buyers can just see the best assets of the house. They are the ones who are objective and may be able to place your artwork and accent pieces where they will not detract from the overall appearance of the home.

Whether you think hiring a stager will help your home sell faster and for more money or you agree with the new study that is about to come out, you still need to get your home squeaky clean, de-cluttered and be ready for prime time. If all the world’s a stage, then your home is front and center on that stage, so make sure it’s ready to move into the spotlight.

Real Estate Transactions
Real estate transfers as of October 1-31, 2013
Sponsored by Alan Galletto Island Real Estate

Sold Date | List Price | Sold Price | Address | Provision | Property Style

Anna Maria

10/16/2013 529,000 515,000 611 Gladiolus St 1472 50x114 3 Br/2 Ba SFR
10/16/2013 739,000 725,000 516 Magnolia Ave 1401 52x145 3 Br/2 Ba SFR
10/16/2013 369,000 350,000 218 Palm Ave 52x110 Vac

Bradenton Beach

10/08/2013 1,325,000 1,150,000 1104 Gulf Dr N 1382 50x100 3 Br/2.5 Ba SFR
10/09/2013 259,000 220,000 1325 Gulf N Dr # 220 476 1 Br/1 Ba Condo, Bank Owned
10/15/2013 745,000 650,000 2600 Gulf Dr # 21 1179 2 Br/2 Ba Condo
10/30/2013 219,500 213,500 1303 Gulf S Dr # 2 838 2 Br/1 Ba Condo, Bank Owned
10/31/2013 349,000 330,000 1801 Gulf N Dr # 246 1080 2 Br/2 Ba Condo
10/11/2013 425,000 390,000 1473 Gulf N Dr # 24 1524 3 Br/2.5 Ba Townhome
10/31/2013 475,000 465,000 3808 6th Ave # 3808 1725 3 Br/2 Ba Townhome
10/24/2013 629,000 583,000 309 58th St # A 1487 3 Br/2 Ba Villa
10/28/2013 299,000 253,000 2507 Avenue C Ave #B 1620 25x100 Inc, Short Sale
10/18/2013 209,900 212,000 2513 Avenue C 50x100 Vac

Cortez

10/07/2013 385,000 375,000 4104 128th W St # 706 1994 2 Br/2 Ba Condo
10/31/2013 379,000 350,000 4117 Osprey H Ln 1912 2 Br/2 Ba Villa

Holmes Beach

10/11/2013 420,000 425,100 407 73rd St 1640 2 Br/2 Ba SFR, Bank Owned
10/15/2013 629,000 594,300 402 74th St 1967 4 Br/ 2.5 Ba SFR
10/17/2013 645,000 595,000 612 Foxworth Ln 1988 3 Br/3 Ba SFR
10/18/2013 489,000 471,000 308 58th St # B 1095 2 Br/2 Ba SFR
10/24/2013 739,000 675,000 5605 N Carissa St 1650 76x117 3 Br/2 Ba SFR
10/21/2013 999,000 925,000 118 45 Street 2200 100x90 5 Br/4 Ba SFR
10/21/2013 1,049,000 950,000 116 45 Street 2200 100x90 5 Br/4 Ba SFR
10/24/2013 2,790,000 2,575,000 522 Bayview Dr 4751 240x118 4 Br/5 Ba SFR
10/01/2013 1,295,000 1,175,000 611 Baronet Ln 2774 4 Br/4 Ba SFR
10/02/2013 549,900 525,000 317 62nd St 1600 4 Br/3 Ba SFR
10/03/2013 895,000 835,000 4807 2nd Ave 2416 4 Br/2.5 Ba SFR
10/08/2013 474,800 445,000 5200 Gulf Dr # 401 1057 2 Br/2 Ba Condo
10/14/2013 238,900 225,000 3607 E Bay Dr # 210 980 2 Br/2 Ba Condo
10/15/2013 399,000 386,500 3013 Avenue F # U21 984 2 Br/2 Ba Condo
10/17/2013 399,000 379,000 205 36th St # 103 989 2 Br/2 Ba Condo
10/21/2013 264,900 252,000 3805 E Bay Dr # 207 1121 2 Br/2 Ba Condo
10/25/2013 249,000 239,000 5400 Gulf Drive # #9 1112 2 Br/2.5 Ba Condo
10/25/2013 535,000 515,000 310 63rd St # 310 2001 2 Br/2.5 Ba Condo
10/15/2013 449,000 438,000 203 83rd St # A&B 1900 103 X 70 Inc.

November 1 - 30, 2013 Sales

Anna Maria

11/15/2013 1,777,700 1,600,000 812 N Shore Dr A2802 65x100 5 Br/3.5 Ba SFR 11/20/2013 549,900 510,000 811 Jacaranda Rd 1144 50x100 3 Br/2 Ba SFR 11/22/2013 799,900 730,000 110 Willow Ave 1430 50x110 3 Br/2 Ba SFR
11/27/2013 855,000 855,000 107 Park Ave 100x106 2 Br/2 Ba SFR
11/11/2013 550,000 400,000 523 Kumquat Dr 75x121 Vac.

Bradenton Beach

11/22/2013 1,006,000 1,006,000 105 4th N St 2000 50x87 5 Br/3 Ba SFR 11/08/2013 435,000 434,000 104 Gulf S Dr # 203 1029 2 Br/2 Ba Condo, Bank Owned
11/12/2013 129,000 129,000 1603 Gulf N Dr # 27 380 1 Br/1 Ba Condo, Short Sale
11/14/2013 1,100,000 975,000 1712 Gulf N Dr # F 1386 3 Br/2.5 Ba Condo
11/15/2013 399,900 442,000 1800 Gulf N Dr # 107 952 2 Br/1.5 Ba Condo, Bank Owned
11/15/2013 169,900 165,000 1801 Gulf S Dr # 202 712 1 Br/1 Ba Condo 11/18/2013 189,000 183,750 1603 Gulf N Dr # 14 540 1 Br/1 Ba Condo
11/01/2013 599,000 545,000 2509 Avenue C 3120 50x100 Inc.
11/12/2013 339,900 300,000 2507 Avenue C Ave 1620 25x100 Inc.
11/26/2013 250,000 250,000 106 4th S St 75x88 Vac.

Holmes Beach

11/01/2013 679,000 600,000 206 81st St # A 1200 47x90 4 Br/2 Ba SFR
11/01/2013 399,000 405,000 508 69th St 1530 80x116 3 Br/2 Ba SFR
11/01/2013 679,000 600,000 206 81st St # B 1150 3 Br/2 Ba SFR
11/01/2013 1,400,000 1,400,000 5311 Sunrise Ln # B 3282 4 Br/4.5 Ba SFR
11/01/2013 789,000 754,000 520 74th St 3232 100x121 3 Br/3.5 Ba SFR
11/04/2013 1,345,000 1,270,000 631 Foxworth Ln 3370 17772 Units 3 Br/3.5 Ba SFR
11/08/2013 299,900 300,000 2919 Avenue C 1040 50x105 2 Br/2 Ba SFR, Bank Owned
11/08/2013 633,000 605,000 308 55th St 1981 75.5 X 100 3 Br/3.5 Ba SFR
11/15/2013 1,490,000 1,350,000 103 30th St 1809 50x100 3 Br/2.5 Ba SFR
11/15/2013 565,000 540,000 519 71st St 1998 100x129 3 Br/3 Ba SFR
11/21/2013 335,000 411,099 603 Emerald Ln 2150 3 Br/2 Ba SFR, Bank Owned
11/22/2013 349,900 400,000 3005 Avenue E 960 50x105 3 Br/1 Ba SFR, Bank Owned
11/25/2013 499,900 470,000 211 84th St 1491 90x100 3 Br/2 Ba SFR
11/27/2013 679,000 655,000 604 Gladstone Ln 1990 87x114 3 Br/2 Ba SFR
11/07/2013 445,000 430,000 3803 E Bay Dr # 3a 2354 5 Br/3 Ba Condo
11/13/2013 1,099,000 940,000 218 52nd St # 218 2656 4 Br/3 Ba Condo
11/21/2013 219,900 208,900 3705 East Bay Dr #213 1146 2 Br/2 Ba Condo
11/21/2013 259,000 232,650 6400 Flotilla Dr # 13 1114 2 Br/2 Ba Condo
11/26/2013 399,900 399,900 4255 Gulf Dr # 106 1865 3 Br/4 Ba Townhome, Short Sale

Source: Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office


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