YDP is all about collaboration. It’s in our blood as much as our mission, and it’s my ultimate goal when it comes to all projects. I want to listen to clients, really listen, to determine what their personality is, what best reflects their family culture, and what design aspects, furniture pieces, décor, and more will serve them best in their day-to-day lives. But as a designer who loves her local community, my commitment to collaboration branches out to more than clients; it goes all the way to fellow designers, and even realtors! That’s right, I love love love working with local realtors. They are working face to face with homebuyers and sellers every day and have the unique chance to help me be a part of the homebuying experience!
So this one’s for you, realtors! We had the chance to talk to a local realtor Aubrey Ballinger and get her input on what homebuyers and sellers alike are stressing about and looking for. Here are our favorite ways for designers and realtors to collaborate and alleviate overwhelm from day one for homebuyers.
Five Ways Designers Collaborate with Realtors
Workshops
Realtors are a fabulous resource that is often untapped by homebuyers and sellers. Which is why workshops with realtors is something I’m totally on board with. They can answer some important questions when it comes to making changes around the home before selling. They can also alleviate some unknowns for buyers as they walk through house after house, often unsure of what they are even looking for. In the current market, Aubrey says that some of the biggest pain points are low inventory, multiple offers, and costs. But there is an answer to all of these questions and stressors. Some great questions realtors can answer in workshops are: Is it best to sell as is or make updates? What are the best updates for great resale value? Does it increase resale value if I repaint everything? What is the best way to make every room look comfortable even to outsiders? How on earth do I envision my own belongings in a house filled with someone else’s?
And so much more!
Closing Gifts
Interior design services make for great closing gifts! Now, you probably won’t want to include a full package as a closing gift, but for the homebuyer nervous about empty walls and large spaces that need to be filled with furniture, a connection to a local interior designer is priceless. And a discount code or two doesn’t hurt either 😉. And that’s what’s great about realtors and interior designers collaborating! You have a built-in answer to any hesitations and a go-to expert in the field of making houses look and feel like homes. As a realtor, you can welcome home buyers into their new home with a little extra gift of a trusted professional that can keep their homebuying experience easy and stress-free.
E-design
In the same vein as a closing gift, E-design services help clients visualize how a room can be used before move-in day. But there’s so much more to it. Aubrey told us that one of the big things she experiences when showing a house is buyers worried that their current furniture will not fit in the new space. Buying new furniture is an expense no one wants, so a great way to help fill in the blanks is E-design!
And it’s super simple: buyers send YDP a photo of an empty room and we provide conceptual ideas to help homebuyers see potential and realtors close the sale. This is especially good for homes on the market that aren’t furnished because people have a difficult time visualizing how an empty room can look with their furniture. This service can be offered as part of your closing gift, or it can be a collaborative relationship between a realtor and designer that is offered to homebuyers hesitant about a specific property and its potential.
Voice of Expertise
As a realtor, Aubrey loves being able to help her clients see that not all problems are make-or-break and with little changes and tweaks, that eyesore of a property can become your home. She jokes that her suggestions can come off to buyers that she is just trying to help make the sale but being able to help buyers envision their future and what a home could be is extremely rewarding. The buyers have the opportunity to make a home whatever they want it to be. That’s where a designer comes in. Aubrey can back up her advice and suggestions with a voice of expertise, calling on a designer to confirm the potential in a house or offer creative solutions that neither Aubrey or the buyer would have thought of. It’s comforting to know that the home you’re spending a lot of money on will be a place that suits you and your family, but endless projects are unattractive, especially if they seem huge. A designer can help be a practical voice amongst the stress, giving realistic deadlines, needs, and prices.
A Resource for the Future
While there may be changes homebuyers will need to make and things sellers should address (Aubrey’s hot tip: stick with neutral, light wall colors!) these changes are probably not going to happen immediately. The realtor, with a trusted designer as a key resource, is a great person to go back to when the buyers are finally ready to start their renovations but want a suggestion from a trusted person. Additionally, if sellers are coming to a designer to help them make a few changes that will ensure their house is on the market for as little time as possible, the designer can recommend the realtor, and everyone wins!
It never hurts to have a go-to list of vendors, contractors, and experts you trust to do great work. This way, both realtors and designers can partner up to be each other’s first recommendation.
Finally, we asked Aubrey what buyers are looking for in homes and tend not to like so much. So, designers, this one’s for you!
Wants:
- A semi-open floor concept with distinct spaces that don’t feel too small.
- Updated bathrooms and kitchens
- Curb appeal
- Assurance that their furniture will fit
Don’t Want:
- Outdated woodwork
- Wallpaper, especially with outdated designs and colors
- Cramped spaces
- Old (and clearly well-used) carpeting
- Crowded rooms (sellers, move as much as possible out of the way for a clean look)
- Unnecessary architectural pieces
Aubrey Ballinger is a realtor in the Cincinnati area, spanning neighborhoods in 13 different townships. With 7 years of experience, Aubrey likes to think of herself as her clients’ real estate guidance counselor, providing resources, advice, and education throughout the homebuying process.
Your partner in design,
