Tale of two condos: why staging pays

I've done some home staging for a few clients over the last few years, but more often in my area, sellers don't see the value and don't want to spend the money. And, honestly, it's always a bit of a crap shoot. I did one home a few years ago and it sold during the first weekend on the market in a bidding war. But another house I worked on, which was on the market for nearly $9M, is still on the market after several years and several price reductions. There are no guarantees.

Last week, I was condo shopping with a friend and client who is looking for a small pied a terre in Boston. He has a country house on the Cape and he's looking for a small city place so he doesn't have a long daily commute to and from work at Harvard.  One of the buildings we checked out is a full service concierge type new building - lots of amenities including valet parking (which I would love!) We saw two basically identical units on different floors and with different views. The first unit we saw was empty, the second fully staged. The difference was amazing and I wanted to share just what a difference staging can make.

Condo 1 Living room - unstaged

Condo 2 Living Room - staged

Condo 1 Kitchen - unstaged

Condo 2 Kitchen - staged

Condo 1 Bathroom - unstaged

Condo 2 Bathroom - staged

Condo 1 Bedroom - unstaged

Condo 2 Bedroom - staged

For 500 sq. ft. these are nice little spaces. Now, clearly, there is little difference between the two units. And the staging is pretty basic and not at all upscale. However, the difference between the two units was like night and day.  Both my client and I have pretty good imaginations when it comes to mentally placing furniture, but even for us, just seeing it laid out made all the difference. He even said the words "I could live here".  Music to a seller and realtor's ears.

Still, staging remains a pretty uncommon thing here in New England. Sometimes Yankee frugality gets in our way.



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Tale of two condos: why staging pays

I've done some home staging for a few clients over the last few years, but more often in my area, sellers don't see the value and don't want to spend the money. And, honestly, it's always a bit of a crap shoot. I did one home a few years ago and it sold during the first weekend on the market in a bidding war. But another house I worked on, which was on the market for nearly $9M, is still on the market after several years and several price reductions. There are no guarantees.

Last week, I was condo shopping with a friend and client who is looking for a small pied a terre in Boston. He has a country house on the Cape and he's looking for a small city place so he doesn't have a long daily commute to and from work at Harvard.  One of the buildings we checked out is a full service concierge type new building - lots of amenities including valet parking (which I would love!) We saw two basically identical units on different floors and with different views. The first unit we saw was empty, the second fully staged. The difference was amazing and I wanted to share just what a difference staging can make.

Condo 1 Living room - unstaged

Condo 2 Living Room - staged

Condo 1 Kitchen - unstaged

Condo 2 Kitchen - staged

Condo 1 Bathroom - unstaged

Condo 2 Bathroom - staged

Condo 1 Bedroom - unstaged

Condo 2 Bedroom - staged

For 500 sq. ft. these are nice little spaces. Now, clearly, there is little difference between the two units. And the staging is pretty basic and not at all upscale. However, the difference between the two units was like night and day.  Both my client and I have pretty good imaginations when it comes to mentally placing furniture, but even for us, just seeing it laid out made all the difference. He even said the words "I could live here".  Music to a seller and realtor's ears.

Still, staging remains a pretty uncommon thing here in New England. Sometimes Yankee frugality gets in our way.



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Time for that pied a terre en France?

The French Ministry of Finance announced last week that to help defray some of its debt, they will be selling off upwards of 1,700 properties that currently house government offices. These properties range from grand chateau to your basic government office building. Although, really, in France, is anything ever actually basic? Strip away the double pedestal desks, bad lighting and wall to wall carpeting, most of these buildings have incredible architectural potential. Anyone is welcome to place a bid, but extensive background checks will be done to ensure that the source of the financing is "clean". They are also seeking buyers who have an interest in restoring these properties to their fullest potential. Budget Minister Francois Baroin, speaking to mayors and legislators at his ministry Wednesday, sought to assuage fears that France, so proud of its cultural heritage, was selling its soul.  

"Our goal is not to sell just to sell, without any respect for the future of our heritage."

Hotel de Seignelay
80, rue de Lille
75007 PARIS

Located in the fashionable 7th arrondisement, the Hotel de Seignelay was built by Germain Boffrand on land he had bought in 1713. Boffrand, who studied with Jules Hardouin-Mansart, was one of France's most gifted architects. He was one of the main creators of the precursor to the Rococo style called the style Régence, and in his interiors, of the Rococo itself. He sold 80 rue de Lille to Charles Eleanor Colbert, the marquis de Seignelay, in 1718. Behind the hotel, in the gardens along the Quai Anatole France, a monument that recalls the last dog of Marie Antoinette, Coco, is buried there. The building currently houses the Ministry of Trade and Handicrafts. There is a main building and courtyard garden, plus 5 floors and attics.

Here is another elegant 7th arrondisement property:

20, rue Monsieur
43-47, boulevard des Invalides
75007 PARIS

Can you imagine working in this room? The window treatments are fabulous - modern and graphic. I always love how the French can combine modern elements within their older buildings.

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19 Avenue Kleber
21-23, rue La Perouse
5 Avenue of the Portuguese
75016 PARIS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Ideally located close to the Champs Elysees, near Place Charles de Gaulle and the Arc de Triomphe, the building is at the heart of Paris tourist and business district, one of the most prestigious streets of capital. Interestingly, the Peninsula Hotel group shows that they will be opening a hotel in this building in 2012. And yet it seems to still be on the market? But really, this building can't be anything but a fabulous hotel!

19 Boulevard de la Tour Maubourg, 7th, Paris

Currently occupied by the Ministry of Defense, this housing complex built in the 1880s, by Baron Haussman.  It has a building on street, including basement, ground floor, four-story square floor under a roof and a courtyard building, including basement, ground floor, three-story square floor under a attic. Near Les Invalides in the elegant 7th arrondisement.

26, rue du Faubourg Poissonniere

75010 PARIS

In central Paris, near the main boulevards, 9 batches office condominium located in a housing complex of 60.Functional, a total area of 1,544 m² over two to three trays^th, 3^th and 4^th stories, the site is very well served.Building free of occupation from 3^th quarter 2010.  The building interiors need  a lot of work, but the neighborhood is fantastic!

Rue de Faubourg Poisonnier via Meteorry on Flickr

6, rue Cambaceres
75008 PARIS

At the heart of 8^th district, near the Champs-Elysées, the Madeleine and St. Augustine.
Character building, currently used as offices. There is a beautiful carved wooden staircase and exquisitely carved ceilings.  Free from occupation to December 31, 2010.

107, rue La Boetie
75008 PARIS

Built at the end of the 19th century, the building boasts spacious interiors and beautiful murals, fireplaces, flooring, moldings - reliefs outside courtyard.

Here's hoping whoever buys this building keeps the fabulous curvy stainless steel staircase.

Here is another Rue la Boeti building that is on the market. According to the book "A Life of Picasso" by Richardson and McCully, Pablo Picasso lived at 23 Rue La Boetie, having moved there in 1918. His associates in the art world were horrified and denounced him as a sellout, abandoning the left-bank for a bourgeois area filled with too much commerce and too little soul.

20, rue La Boetie
75008 PARIS

Paris is all the detail, isn't it?

So, anyone breaking out their wallets? How about a blogger's retreat in Paris? Le sigh. If I only had the money!



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