Let’s ask Justin: "Do you ever stage a house and think, ‘This is not going to help this dump sell’?
Absolutely, there are times when I walk into a house and think, “Wow, even staging might not save this one.” In fact, we recently staged a home where the challenges were pretty extreme. The living room was so tiny, and there wasn’t even a dedicated dining room, so we had to squeeze both a sofa and a dining table into the kitchen /living room / dining room. It was one of those houses where you’re left wondering if any layout would make sense.
And then, there was a bedroom with no windows, which is already tough to work with. But the real kicker? The staircase was so steep and narrow that none of the furniture could be carried down through it. We ended up hauling everything through the backyard just to get it into the lower level. When we first saw the place, it had been staged by someone else using blow-up beds on the floor. The listing had been sitting there for weeks without any bites.
The agent was initially hesitant to invest more in staging, but eventually, they agreed that although our approach was pricier, it was worth it. And honestly, even I had doubts about this one. But once we staged it properly and got the photos retaken, the house was back on the market and sold in less than 10 days. Sometimes, even the roughest properties can surprise you. I guess Spade and Archer really is that much better at what we do.