New Style Sales Incentive: Designer with Condo Purchase?

Here is a real estate sales incentive that we haven't heard of before...a designer with purchase!? As you may recall, Chicago designer Matt Lorenz won the first season of Top Design. Now, he is working with the developer of a condo project...

...on a most unusual sales incentive. According to this article by Mary Umberger for the Chicago Tribune on the housing market slippage, The Brixton Group has partnered with designer Matt Lorenz, winner of Bravo TV's "Top Design" competition in 2007, to offer his services to buyers at its C/A 23 condo development at 23 N. Aberdeen St. Anyone who buys one of the building's 48 units through the end of January will get a $30,000 allowance that can be applied to the designer's fee and any furnishings the buyer chooses in consultation with him.

It's creative marketing, no doubt, but what do you think of this concept? A fun perk for buyers in a tough market or a mildly dangerous lure to spend, spend, spend?

Comments (6)

I think a lot would depend on what his fee is. I don't think $30-$50K upgrade packages on a new condo developments were that uncommon (at least they weren't in the past few years).

It would be a bigger incentive to me if the development underwrote Matt's fees and allowed me to use the entire amount on upgrades.

posted by Kathryn on October 29th 2008 at 7:48am
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Agreed....shouldn't his fee be standard for the condos?

posted by laddibugg on October 29th 2008 at 8:32am
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It wouldn't be that big of an incentive for me - As I recall, his style could easily soak up the $30K allowance with his choice of a $10,000 rug and a $20,000 sectional.

I'm confident of my own style and enjoy planning my own spaces and sourcing my own pieces - not necessarily from the Design Center.

I think he'd get bored with me telling him "Go get me 34 yards of this fabric for the draperies to be made in this style with the red braided trim - and make sure that the wallpaper is installed by Tuesday before the closet people arrive." etc.

posted by bepsf on October 29th 2008 at 8:38am
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An "incentive" of a $30,000 allowance that MUST be applied to using Matt Lorenz as the interior designer of the condo would be an INSTANT deal breaker for me.

I didn't like his overall work on Top Design and wouldn't want him designing the interior of my condo, even if HE paid ME.

posted by Daily Nuance on October 29th 2008 at 10:28am
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This is a pretty common concept - for high end complexes to offer design services as part of the purchase price - although generally it's for help selecting finishes like flooring, tile, wall colors, cabinetry, things like that. That it includes furnishings is more unusual. I don't think it's a lure to spend, spend, spend however. I don't think it would be a reason why someone would purchase a condo they weren't already thinking of buying. It just puts a local celebrity stamp on that specific condo project and hopefully drives interest and sweetens the deal.

posted by Linda from ::Surroundings:: on October 29th 2008 at 11:33am
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what is that a floor plan of, a dorm?

posted by amt230 on October 29th 2008 at 11:41am
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