The competitive real estate market in the Boston area keeps stagers and home inspectors on their toes
Homestagers busy despite seller’s market; Home inspectors are adjusting as some buyers forego inspection incidents
Updated: 11:29 p.m. EDT, April 28, 2022
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IN THIS AGE OF COMPETITIVE ONLINE OFFERS. SHAYNA: FIRST IMPRESSIONS CAN LEAVE A GBI MARKET, AND THAT’S ESPECIALLY IN REAL ESTATE. >> NOW MORE THAN EVER THE FIRST OPEN HOUSE FROM PROPERTIES IS ONLINE. SHAYNA: THAT’S WHERE JESS HARRINGTON’S WORK COMES IN. SHE IS A HOME STAGER AND OWNER OF JUST FINESSED, A BOSTON BASED STAGING AND INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO. >>>> I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO DO A KINDERGARTEN. SHAYNA: HARRINGTON SHOWS US A CONDO SHE RECENTLY STAGED. SHE SAYS HER WORK CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MARKETING A PROPERTY. >> SHOWING A HOUSE AND HOW IT CAN BE ANIMATED THROUGH OUR EYES WAS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO SELL A HOUSE. SHAYNA: HARRINGTON SAYS SHE WORKS WITH REAL ESTATE AGENT TO DETERMINE THE TARGET CLIENT FOR A HOME. RANDY WITH COMPASS AS YOUR PARTNER ON THIS LISTING. >> SIMPLY HAS A LARGE EYE FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT FURNITURE AND WE CONSULT WITH OTHERS TO DISCOVER HOW TO BEST OPTIMIZE THIS SPACE. >> THE SELLER HAS A WRAPAROUND SECTIONAL BUMPING IN THE DINING ROOM SO WE SHOULD RECONFIGURE IT SHAYNA: IN ADDITION TO THE LAYOUT AND OTHER COMMON CHANGES COLOR. HIS CHARLESTOWN HOME RECEIVES BOTH UPDATES WHEN HARRINGTON STAGED AS LLWE AS FURNITURE FROM HARRINGTON’S OWN COLLECTION. >> I HAVE BEEN COLLECTING VINTAGE PIECES FOR A LONG TIME. NOW WE HAVE A QUITE LARGE LIBRARY OF STAGING PIES FOR SHAYNA: THE LIBRARY IS STORED IN A WAREHOUSE IN CTONAN. NO DETAIL IS OVERLOOD.KE >> IN THIS HOUSE WE HAVE MANY ACCENTS AND DETAILS. WE DON’T JUST MAKE FURNITURE. SHAYNA: THESE PHOTOS ARE OFTEN THE KEY THAT OPENS THE DOOR TO A PERSONAL VISIT TO THE PROPERTY. WHILE EVERYONE BEGINS THE SEARCH ONLINE YOU WILL EXAMINE ALL THE PICTURES WHERE IT LOOKS IMPRESSIVE YOU WILL SAY I WILL ERASE MY SCHEDULE TO SEE THIS OPEN HOUSE. >> WE ARE SATISFIED WITH THE RESULT. SHAYNA: THEY SAY YOU CANNOT PUT A SPECIFIC DLAOL AMOUNT ON PAYING OUT STAGING, BUT THEY SAY YOU HAVE ITSEN VALUE IN THE SELLER MARKET TOO. >> THEY LEAVE MONEY ON THE TABLE, YIFOU DID NOT STAGE. >> HOUSES THAT ARE STAGED RECEIVED SEVERAL OFFERS ON THE FIRST WEEKEND. INSTEAD OF MORE GUESSING WHO WE WILL SUCCESSFULLY SELL, WE BRING ALL THE WEAPONS TO ENSURE THAT WE GET MULTIPLE OFFERS ON THE FIRST SHOT TO CHOOSE THE BEST. SHAYNA: THE TURNING FROM FACILITIES TO A FOUNDATION, AOM HE KEY PART OF THE HOME BUYING PROCESS TODAY FEBRUARY 2020 TWO SURVEYS BY THE FEBRUARY NATIONAL ASSOCIIOATOF REALTORS FOUND THAT A QUARTER OF BUYERS HAVE WAIVED AN INSPECTION CONTRACT. >> YOU CAN DO OTHER THINGS INSTEAD OF WITHDRAWING FROM THE EXAM. YOU MAY TELL THE SELLER YOU WILL NOT REQUEST REPAIRS UNDER A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT. TO SAY THAT WE WILL VIEW IMPORTANT ITEMS THAT MAY NEED REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. SHAYNA: HOME INSPECTORS ARE ADJUSTING TO THIS NEW ENVIRONMENT. JAMES BROCK OWNS A BOSTON HOME INSPECTORS. SHI COMPANY HAS STARTED OFFERING INSPECTIONS TO POTENTIAL BUYERS WHO HAVE NOT EVEN BIDD. >> WE PERFORM A STRUCTURAL AND SYSTEMS INSPECTION ONLY, COVERING THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING. AND THEN INTRODUCE THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE AND SYSTEM INTO THE BASEMENT, INCLUDING THE ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING AND HEATING. GO TO SHAYNA: THE REST OF ETH HOUSE, ROCK AND HIS TEAM WILL DO A SHORT RUN THROUGH. >> IT’S ENOUGH INFORMATION YOU KNOW THAT THE HOUSE WILL NOT INCREASE. SHAYNA: BROCK SAYS THE COVID PANDEMIC HAS ALSO STRICT CHANGES IN HIS WK. >> PRE-COVID WE HAVE VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS OF THE STAED INSPECTION AND THEN WHEN COVID HELPED IT WAS GREAT BECAUSE NOT MANY PEOPLE WANT TO ATTEND THE HOME INSPECTION OR THEY DON’T CLDOU. SHAYNA: BROCK RECOMMENDED THAT POTENTIAL BUYERS CHECK THE BASEMENT AND KEEP EYES FOR INDICATIONS OF MOLD. FOR SALESMAN THAT THINK THEY CAN PUT SOMETHING THROUGH — >> AS AN INSPECTOR, WHEN YOU ENTER A ROOM, NOTICE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BE THERE OR SHOULD NOT BE THERE. IF A SALESMAN WANTS TO HIDE SOMETHING, A GOOD INSPECTOR WILL BE ABLE TO PICK IT. SHAYNA: SOME OF THE UNUSUAL PROBLEMS BROCK FOUND DURING HIS INSPECTIONS ARE SHOWN ON HIS INSTAGRAM PAGE, WHICH ARE FROM DIRTY FILTERS AND LEYAK FAUTSCE TO MANY DECKS HELD WITH CREATIVE CARPENTRY. >> I STARTED POSTING ONE PIC PER DAY OF STUFF WE FIND AS WE HAVE 17,000 FOLLOWERS. ANTHY:ON FOR THESE STRUCTURAL AND SYSTEM OY INSPECTIONS, JAMES SAYS THE PRICE IS SLIGHTLY LOWER BECAUSE IT DOESN’T COVER EVERYTHING YOU WOULD GET IN A FULL INSPECTION. BACK TO JESS HARRINGTON, SHE EXPLAINES THAT PRICES ARE DEPENDENT ON MANY DIFFERENT FACTORS INCLUDING HOW LONG THE HOUSE IS STAGED, THE TYPE OF FURNITURE
The competitive real estate market in the Boston area keeps stagers and home inspectors on their toes
Homestagers busy despite seller’s market; Home inspectors are adjusting as some buyers forego inspection incidents
Updated: 11:29 p.m. EDT, April 28, 2022
A Boston-based home stager said despite market conditions favoring sellers, she’s still seeing an uptick in business. Jess Harrington owns Jess Finesed. She and real estate agent Randy Horn said staging can better help a house photo, and that’s become more important with the first “open house” taking place online for many buyers. Harrington has a large library of furniture pieces that she uses for staging and they are stored in a warehouse she shares with Can’t Stop Moving. A February 2022 survey by the National Association of Realtors found that 23% of buyers waived a home inspection contract based on contingency. Boston Home Inspectors’ James Brock said his company “only offers structure and systems inspections” to potential buyers who haven’t even made an offer yet. It includes the exterior of the home, the basement, and major systems such as plumbing, electrical, and heating.
NEEDHAM, Mass. —
A Boston-based home stager said despite market conditions favoring sellers, she’s still seeing an uptick in business. Jess Harrington owns Jess Finesed. She and real estate agent Randy Horn said staging can better help a house photo, and that’s become more important with the first “open house” taking place online for many buyers. Harrington has a large library of furniture pieces that she uses for staging and they are stored in a warehouse she shares with Can’t Stop Moving.
A February 2022 survey by the National Association of Realtors found that 23% of buyers gave up a home inspection contract. Boston Home Inspectors’ James Brock said his company “only offers structure and systems inspections” to potential buyers who haven’t even made an offer yet. It includes the exterior of the home, the basement, and major systems such as plumbing, electrical, and heating.
