Professional staging can help move difficult-to-sell homes, and is used extensively in Vancouver’s red-hot real estate market, despite low inventory and multiple offers.
Vancouver’s Trump International Hotel & Tower has faced more than its fair share of controversy, mostly because of building’s name. It turns out that being associated with now-U.S. President Donald Trump isn’t as good of an idea as it seemed a couple years ago.
Many of the condo units in the tower are now being flipped on the resale market, a common situation in recently-completed buildings. These units are not your ordinary condo or apartment though. The building is very high-end, and units feature bathrooms clad in marble, integrated European appliances, and spectacular views.
Residents have exclusive access to a chauffeured Rolls Royce and even time on a private jet. Units currently for sale range from just under $1 million for a 607 sq. ft. one bedroom unit, to $4 million for a 1,500 sq. ft. two bedroom unit.
So it’s a little surprising that one such listing, high up on the 66th floor, is staged like this:
The 1,231 sq. ft. two bedroom, three bathroom unit features air conditioning, Gaggenau appliances, and an integrated home automation system.
No word on whether or not the furniture can be worked into the deal.
Many homeowners credit staging with the quick sale of their homes, reporting that they received multiple offers after their units were staged. There are several companies offering staging services in Vancouver, with costs depending on the size of the unit and the furniture desired.
It’s safe to say the owners of this particular suite probably didn’t budget for it.
We love to go the opposite route. My wife and business partner is an interior designer and decorator and usually puts a lot of thought and our own money into our client’s property promotions inc. free staging. Please note that condos that do not promise to generate multiple offers like this one should be beautifully staged in order to minimize negotiations to the downside and therefore, get the seller more money out of it. Always acting in our client’s best interest.
Have to say this is quite a genius marketing ploy. They know for a fact that such furniture will generate controversy and no doubt it has. It has basically gone viral on Dailyhive and your site, generating free press/advertisement for the unit. Purchasers who are truly interested will be able to look beyond the photos and focus on the views – there simply isn’t much inventory for a high level unit in either the Shangri La or the Trump with views of English Bay; you’re looking at an entry cost of 6m at the Shangri La for a similar view and similar elevation, albeit more square footage.
If the realtor played it right, I wouldn’t be surprised that the unit is staged differently in person or even unfurnished and the horrendous furniture is simply there just for photos and press
At that price point it should have had a budget for some Lux Staging (real) with nice furniture to show lifestyle to potential buyers. It is a shame ?
The owners didn’t budget for it? Why wouldn’t the agent include staging?
clearly Trumps got more important things to do…
Seems right to me – buy a 3.3m condo, furnish it with whatever you can find in the “free” section on Craigslist.