To stage or not to stage?

Question

I’ve been staging my short term rentals . I would like to start marketing my services to other. My question is will landlord value staging/ styling for Airbnb/ short term rentals ?

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

@Faith Roberts Forgive me but I'm not understanding why anyone would stage an AIRBnB type place. They are already furnished right?

Joe Vairo · Answer

Hi Faith!

Thats honestly a great idea especially for Short Term Rentals. The staging of the property either makes or breaks it. Those first couple pictures frames what people think of the property and whether they will stay there or not. This could be a very valuable proposition to Landlords, Creativity and style is sometimes something that Landlords do not want to deal with. If you position yourself like that of various management companies this could be a very good niche!

Michelle Foy · Answer

@Bruce Woodruff As a Realtor, I sometimes go into my client's homes and help them "stage" with what they already have in order to present the home's best foot forward. My thought was that she was helping them place/rearrange their existing items....although, it seems like her service could be malleable. She could actually help them by directing their purchases or they could pay her an additional fee for design services. I stay at a lot of AirBnBs and I am about to pull the trigger on my first short-term rental in OKC and I cannot stress the importance of how the home is presented in the pics. I will eliminate a home in 30 seconds if it doesn't feel like an experience. Presentation/staging is why people pick what they do...or at least for me!

Michelle Foy · Answer

Hi Faith! I absolutely think that would be helpful for AirBnB but also for long-term rentals as well. I bought a few properties near one another in 2015, rented two out to people I knew (at market rate) so I didn't take photos or do any marketing there. However, on the third property, I staged and had it professionally photographed. All have turned over a couple of times since purchase. The staged property has historically commanded about 8-10% more in rent over my comparable rentals and I have never put a sign in the yard. I list it online and have a two-hour open house while my tenants are still in place. I always end up with at least a dozen applicants and can be selective in my placement. The initial time and money invested has more than paid me back.

Michelle Foy · Answer

@Bruce Woodruff I guess we should wait and let @Faith Roberts reply and let us know what she is thinking but  I, personally, think there is plenty of room for her services whether long or short-term rental! ;) Staging services can be moving things around to complete (re)design.

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

I understand staging a home that is for sale. Got it. She specifically said - 'I’ve been staging my short term rentals'

So I was curious since in my experience all STRs are already furnished.....

Michael Ablan · Answer

@Faith Roberts - Staging is the best money someone can spend on marketing their home/unit.  We offer it to free for our clients because we know that it seals the deal when people walk through the space.   People buy based on feelings.  They have no clue why type of flooring they're walking on....and (most) don't care.

Your struggle will be selling the service to clients.   Feel free to send me a PM if you want to chat about this.

To stage or not to stage?

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