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 June 24, 2022 8:10 p.m. EDT
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COMPETITIVE ONLINE LISTING. THE FIRST IMPRESSION CAN LEAVE A BIG MARK AND THAT APPLIES ESPECIALLY TO REAL ESTATE. NOW MORE THAN EVER REAL ESTATE’S FIRST OPEN HOUSE IS ONLINE. THIS IS WHERE JUST HARRINGTON’S WORK COMES INTO CONVERSATION. SHE IS A HOME STAGER AT THE OWNER OF JUST FINESSE, A STAGING AND INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO IN BOSTON. I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO DO A GARDENING HARRINGTON SHOWED US A CONDO IN THE SOUTH END THAT SHE RECENTLY STAGED. IT’S LIKE A REALLY EFFECTIVE WAY TO SELL A HOUSE. THESE ARE GREAT. HARRINGTON SAYS SHE WORKS WITH REAL ESTATE AGENT TO DETERMINE THE TARGET CLIENT FOR A HOME. RANDY HORN WITH COMPASS IS YOUR PARTNER ON THIS LIST. JESS HAS AN EXCELLENT EYE FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT FURNITURE AND WE CONSULT TOGETHER TO DISCOVER HOW TO BEST OPTIMIZE THIS ROOM. SALESMAN HAS A WRAP AROUND SECTIONAL THAT BUMPS INTO THE DINING ROOM. AND SO WE JUST RECONFIGURED IT COMPLETELY. IN ADDITION TO THE LAYOUT, ANOTHER COMMON CHANGE IS THE PAINT COLOR. THIS CHARLESTOWN HOME GOT BOTH UPDATES WHEN HARRINGTON STAGED IT, AS WELL AS FURNITURE FROM HARRINGTON’S OWN COLLECTION. I HAVE COLLECTING VINTAGE PIECES FOR A LONG TIME, WE HAVE A QUITE LARGE LIBRARY OF STAGE PIECES THAT ARE SAVED IN A WAR. WILSON CANTON, WHO HARRINGTON SHARES WITH, CAN’T STOP MOVING THE COMPANY THAT ALSO MANAGES THEIR STAGING INSTALLATIONS. NO DETAIL IS OVERVIEWED AND THIS HOUSE WE HAVE MANY ACCENTS AND DETAILS. WE DON’T JUST MAKE FURNITURE, IT’S PHOTO FREDDY. THESE PHOTOS ARE OFTEN THE KEY THAT OPENS THE DOOR TO A PERSONAL VISIT TO THE PROPERTY THAT EVERYONE STARTS ONLINE. YOU WILL REALLY INVESTIGATE ALL THE PICTURES AND IF IT LOOKS IMPRESSIVE YOU WILL SAY SAY I WILL DEFINITELY FALL MY SCHEDULE. THIS WEEKEND GO TO THIS OPEN HOUSE AND WE ARE YOUR SELLER. WE ARE SATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS. OH YES, BOTH HARRINGTON AND HORNS SAY THEY CANNOT SET ANY SPECIFIC DOLLAR AMOUNT ON THE PAYOUT FROM THE STAGE, BUT THEY SAY THEY SAW ITS VALUE IN THIS SELLER’S MARKET TOO. YOU LEAVE MONEY ON THE TABLE WHEN YOU HAVE NON-STAGED HOUSES THAT RECEIVE SEVERAL OFFERS ON THE FIRST WEEKEND AND SO RATHER THAN A GUESSING GAME, WILL WE SELL SUCCESSFULLY? WE RELEASE ALL GUNS TO ENSURE WE RECEIVE MULTIPLE OFFERS ON THE FIRST SHOT TO CHOOSE THE BEST. FROM INSTITUTION TO INCORPORATION A HOME TOUR IS TRADITIONALLY AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE HOME BUYER. 2022 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS SURVEY FIND THAT NEARLY A QUARTER OF BUYERS HAVE WAIVED AN AUDIT CONTRACT. THERE ARE OTHER THINGS YOU CAN DO INSTEAD OF WAVING INSPECTION. YOU CAN TELL THE SELLER YOU WILL NOT REQUEST REPAIRS UNDER A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT, JUST SAY THAT WE WILL CHECK FOR ITEMS THAT MAY NEED REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT JAMES BROCK OWNS BOSTON HOME INSPECTORS. HIS COMPANY STARTED OFFERING INSPECTIONS TO POTENTIAL BUYERS WHO HAVE NOT EVEN BIDD. SO WE ONLY PERFORM A STRUCTURE AND SYSTEM INSPECTION THAT COVER THE OUTER SHELL OF THE BUILDING LIKE A REGULAR HOUSE INSPECTION AND THEN WE DO THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE AND SYSTEM DOWN TO THE BASEMENT, INCLUDING THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS. THE HEATING IN THE REST OF THE HOUSE ROCKS HIS TEAM MAKES A SHORT PASS. THERE IS ENOUGH INFORMATION YOU GET WITH A PRE-BID OR JUST A STRUCTURAL AND SYSTEM CHECK TO KNOW THAT THE HOUSE WILL NOT FALL IN. WE STARTED WITH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS OF INSPECTION AND THEN WHEN COVID HELPED IT WAS GREAT BECAUSE NOT MANY PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN HOUSE INSPECTION. OR BROCK DOES NOT RECOMMEND POTENTIAL BUYERS TO CHECK THE BASEMENT WHEN VISITING A PROPERTY AND KEEP YOUR EYES ON MOLD FOR SELLERS THAT THINK THEY CAN GET SOMETHING THROUGH, AS AN INSPECTOR, IF YOU ENTER A ROOM, NOTICE SOMETHING IT SIMPLY SHOULD NOT BE OR SIT THAT WAY. IF SOMEONE A COMPLETE SALESMAN TRIES TO HIDE SOMETHING, KNOW THAT A GOOD INSPECTOR CAN LIFT IT MANY DECKS HELD WITH CREATIVE CARPENTRY. I’VE STARTED POSTING ONE PICTURE A DAY OF STUFF WE FIND AND YOU KNOW WE HAVE 17,000 FOLLOWERS NOW. NOW ONLY FOR THOSE STRUCTURAL AND SYSTEM INSPECTIONS WE MENTIONED. JAMES SAYS THE PRICE IS A LITTLE LOW BECAUSE IT DOESN’T COVER EVERYTHING YOU WOULD GET WITH A FULL INSPECTION AND BACK TO HOMESCHOOL OR JESS HARRINGTON. SHE TELL US THAT PRICES DEPEND ON MANY FACTORS, BUT IT IS TYPICALLY EQUAL TO ONE MONTH’S MORTGAGE PAYMENT, AND HARRINGTON ALSO SAYS CURRENT LABOR FORCE, FUEL COSTS AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES CAN AFFECT HOME STAGING DESIGN AND MOVING INDUSTRIES
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 June 24, 2022 8:10 p.m. EDT
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 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.
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.
