CHAPTER 5 The $40,000 Throw Pillow – Staging w – Staging in Action Dear Reader, Let’s get something straight: I’m not here to sell you snake oil or magic beans. I’m here to show you proof —cold, hard, real- estate-y proof—that staging works.“But can fluffing some pillows and lighting a vanilla candle really make a difference?” you ask. Oh, you sweet, skeptical soul. Let me introduce you to what may be the most dramatic home décor showdown since your aunt tried to mix florals and plaid. Welcome to: The Tale of Two Townhomes I n a neighborhood of 200 identical townhomes (yes, identical—as in, you could get lost trying to find your front door), I discovered two nearly back-to-back sales that tell the whole story. Townhome A sold on August 26. Townhome B, just five doors down, sold on July 26—for $40,000 less. Same floor plan. Same number of floors. Same number of bedrooms, bathrooms, cabinets, and probably the same number of squeaky floorboards.Both had: Beautiful hardwood floors in the living room Carpeted bedrooms Tile kitchens Identical lots, equally glamorous locations (read: suburban peace with a chance of HOA drama) So what happened? Did one come with a butler and the other 18
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