An Interior Designer Is A Key Part OF A Realtor’s Toolbox
At Flourish Interiors, one of the most important relationships we have is those with realtors. Many of our projects come from realtor referrals and we are so grateful for the opportunities sent our way by our friends in real estate. However, the relationship is indeed a two way street. An interior designer vendor relationship (especially one that has a full range of services like we do at Flourish Interiors) is an important one for realtors to maintain. Here are some ways that we can help realtors realize more success .
Flourish Interiors can help Realtors with Professional Staging. 85% of staged homes sold for 5 to 23% over their listing price in 2023. (more statistics here). Staging homes helps listings look higher end, more professional, and allow for better marketing both for the individual listing and your business at large. Without fail, top producers across all markets tend to have powerful listing images which are accomplished via BOTH staged and styled homes and fantastic professional photography. Staged homes sell faster and for more money too. This means happier customers and higher commissions. Essentially everyone wins, when homes are staged. At Flourish Interiors, we have helped develop special programs to help realtors convince sellers to stage more consistently. To learn more you can reach out to Vanessa or Cortney at 574-216-2000. But just to give you an idea, one such strategy includes deferred options for payment that allow sellers to pay for staging in part of even in full at closing.
If you work with investors who are buying properties for Air B and B’s, you should know Flourish Interiors has furnishing and setting up rental properties down to a science. Connecting investors with us makes not only makes you a hero, but can even help investors avoid the pain points of how to get their income property up and running. If an investor feels intimidated by the start up process, you can help them feel confident about their purchase and the steps afterwards, by helping them find a solution for furnishing and set up. We offer furnishing packages for flat fees or for higher end, custom projects we can work at an hourly rate and create truly one of a kind designs to attract elite renters. We have this process refined via extensive checklists and our own vendor relationships. We can quickly help air b and b owners get their property earning revenue due to our network for all sorts of solutions including remodeling, window treatments, security, pest control, cleaning, AV/media packages, concierge, carpet cleaning, and so much more. WE can source, order, install, and style the homes with furnishings, decor, and functional items. Truly, we can make an air b and b turnkey! For those wanting to keep their startup investment more modest, there are times we can even resell gently used staging inventory which benefits us both: an investor gets a great deal on furniture, and we keep our inventory fresh and evergreen. If you are wondering what areas we service, we can have flown all over the USA to help our clients. However, our typical service area is a region that stretches from Chicago over to Ft Wayne Indiana, up to Holland or Grand Rapids Michigan, and down into middle Indiana including Culver, Indianapolis, etc. Often we find ourselves setting up air b and b’s for those with investment properties near Notre Dame in South Bend Indiana, in Harbor Country (such as New Buffalo, Union Pier, Michigan City, Miller Beach, Gary, Grand Beach, Long Beach, St Joseph, Holland, Grand Haven, South Haven, Three Oaks etc), or around regional inland lakes ( including Diamond Lake, Eagle Lake, Simonton Lake, Long Lake, Lake Maxinkuckee, Lake Wawasee, and so on) and in the greater Chicago area.
Realtors who work with clients who are buying second homes love Flourish Interiors. Second Homes are often luxury purchases, being purchased by those with busy schedules who greatly value their time. Flourish Interiors specializes in helping non primary home owners with luxury furnishing, decorating, and set up. Our experienced, luxury focused designers can work with clients with discerning taste to help curate a customized furnishing plan, as well as remodeling updates, or customized set up. From doing project management for a renovation, to sourcing and installing one of a kind luxury furnishings, to making sure a home is functional with beds, a stocked kitchen, and new window treatments: our team is trained to make setting up a 2nd home a stress free and enjoyable process. We can be their creative partner: bring their vision for their new home away from home to life, while saving them time and hassle.
Another way Flourish Interiors can be an asset to realtors is via our Pre-Listing Consultation services. How many times have you gone to a CMA only to discover a dated or dingy home? Or perhaps your potential clients have gone wild with design choices by painting rooms polarizing colors, or displaying an odd collection, or using a room in a non traditional way. If you, as the new realtor trying to win their business, start critiquing their home which is a personal place, it can create a wall between you and your clients. Avoid creating tension in this new relationship by allowing us to be bad cop. During your CMA you can reference that you have a talented and experienced Interior Designer you use to help consult with sellers before going to market. Make a 1 hour appointment with us, and we can walk through and address your list of concerns (and more). We will walk through, offering tips and tricks on what they should tuck away, what might need replaced or cleaned, and even recommend area painters and contractors to get a laundry list of home repairs or improvements addressed. After the appointment we can even send a little summary or homework to the client, along with possible needed selections if the homeowner needs to update hardware, lighting, paint, etc.
If you are a realtor working with a builder or developer, Flourish Interiors offers a variety of services for new construction projects. We can help develop an aesthetic for neighborhood restrictions and covenants. We can curate selections for a model or spec home, or manage the selection process for the builders clients and custom builds. We can also furnish a model home, with a furnishing and decor plan targeted specifically to the likely buyer profile. And for spec homes, Flourish can offer traditional real estate staging services.
Finally, if you are a managing broker or office manager for a real estate office, please consider having Flourish Interiors come speak during a lunch and learn or sales meeting. We can teach your team of realtors and brokers all about the ways we can help them with their clients. Having us come educate your team about these resources improves the quality of the brokerage’s listing portfolio and the general customer satisfaction. Knowing Flourish Interiors and referring us to your clients, continue to paint you as the voice of the expert!
In sum, Flourish loves helping realtors close sales, market listings, and offer luxury services for their buyers and sellers. We service throughout Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois and look forward to working with you!
