11 Madison St was a two-family home in Somerville that had been vacant for many years and was in need of significant updates. That being said, the home had so much potential and was a really exciting staging opportunity. As is typical of so many Somerville properties, this 2-family had a lot of character, with unique features like soaring wood ceilings in the living room, a vaulted kitchen, and glass-paned walls lining the staircase. I knew that with the right staging and design, the property could really transform in a way that would entice buyers.

As a part of my services, I first worked with the listing agent to plan out cosmetic updates like painting the walls and replacing light fixtures. I then developed a staging strategy that focused on celebrating the home’s character, which so many Somerville buyers find appealing. By selecting warm and stylish furnishings and art, we transformed the space into one that felt welcoming and lived in.

Throughout the process, I wanted to support the listing agent’s goal, which was to expand the buyer pool beyond investors and attract owner-occupants who could see the property’s potential. The result was a success, as the listing led to substantial buyer interest and an accepted offer $114k over the asking price after just one weekend on the market. The buyers were in fact owner occupants, so our staging ended up attracting the ideal buyer and the seller netted significantly more than they would have if the buyer had been an investor. 

"I recently had my home staged by Marissa and I am *so* glad I did. I initially thought staging was an unnecessary extravagance but realize now that I was wrong. Staging in the hands of this talented team transformed the space. What was initially simply a house became an elegant inviting home. Every detail was tastefully chosen, from the furniture arrangement to the art on the walls, from a few tastefully placed books to the smallest accent piece. Everything flowed beautifully. My cousin, who’s been to my house many times, saw the staging and remarked “Wait a minute: now I want to live there!” Marissa and her team handled everything seamlessly and professionally. She took the stress out of the process and made it effortless for my family. Their staging added real value, allowing the home to be sold faster (and likely for more) than what it would have sold for without Baan."

- Noreen Hession