New Hampshire Home Stager reveals secrets to selling.
If you currently have your house on the market or are planning on selling your house in the near future, then this seven-part series was written for you.
If you missed it, Tip #1 was Update Lighting Fixtures
Tip #2 Identify Red Flags
Do you know what a "red flag" is?
A signal of danger or a problem can be referred to as a red flag. In real estate, a red flag is something that gives potential buyers the impression that there is an existing problem, was a problem in the past, or could be a problem in the future.
I find red flags in most of the houses that I stage.
It is very important that you go on a "search and destroy" mission throughout your entire house and identify your red flags.
What are you looking for? Here are three examples:
1. Evidence of Past Damage
The most common red flag I see is water stains on ceilings or walls. Usually when I ask what the source of the stain is, I'm told "the roof was leaking, but it's fixed now." That's great that the problem is fixed now...that doesn't mean, however, that you don't need to paint the stained ceiling. It's really a simple choice:
- Leave the stain - be prepared to have the leaky roof become an issue, fixed or not.
- Paint the wall or ceiling - no issue.
One more point: Some sellers try to save money or time by painting only the stained area instead of the whole ceiling or wall. If it is obvious that a repair was made, it's really no different than having the stain still there.
2. Storage and Space Issues
Do you have added curio cabinets in your kitchen to make up for a lack of cabinets or an over-the-toilet storage unit in the bath because there is no vanity? Do you have a coat tree in the foyer because there is no coat closet?
These items tell buyers that there isn't enough storage or space to begin with. Remove them!
Adding the extra counter and 2 chairs to the end of this kitchen island only makes the kitchen appear to be smaller. It sends a message to buyers that there isn't enough workspace in the kitchen and more had to be added.
The sellers had a dresser in this bath because there was no medicine cabinet or vanity for storage. The dresser guarantees that buyers will be aware of the storage problem.
3. Furniture Placement Issues
Is your furniture positioned to give the impression there is a placement issue?
The way the nightstands were placed in these two bedrooms guaranteed a red flag would go up to potential buyers. If you remove the nightstands, you remove the giant arrow in the room pointing out the problem.
These are just three examples of red flags you should be looking for. Other things to look for include evidence of marital or medical problems, light switches to nowhere, protruding wiring, evidence of pets, and lack of light, to name a few.
No house is perfect. You know better than anybody else what the negative features are within your house. Maybe they are the reason you are moving. Do you want to highlight those issues for buyers or do you want to highlight all the positive features of the house?
Stay tuned for Tip #3
______________________________________________________________________________
For More Information Visit My Website
Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast
Portsmouth Rye Greenland Hampton North Hampton Exeter Dover Stratham
603.661.8524
I find some homes have these items even if the closet or cabinet is in the room-they are there simply because of clutter! Great post Sharon! Should be featured.
Hi Sharon
No red flags in your staging, the home looks outstanding.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
Cathy: That's true. Even with a vanity and medicine cabinet, people still have the other cabinets to hold all their stuff! Why do we have so much stuff? Thanks for the comment!
Lou: What a nice thing to say! Thank you!
Thanks for giving this a name, Sharon! We've been doing it all along, but didn't know what to call it. I always enjoy your posts!
Sharon- Good one about "red flags" and nice touch with the red arrows. The water stains on the ceiling are always a turn-off. Can't wait to see what Step 3 will be!
Laurie: I tell people all the time "this is a red flag" and you need to address it. They seem to take it seriously when I use that expression. Thank you, I'm enjoying your Series too!
Kathy: I can't tell you how many times I've heard "its all fixed now" and the stains are still there! Thanks!
Hi Sharon. These three red flags and others you discover as a detective are just preventive measures that help out in the long run. Take care of them up front and then it is smooth sailing after that.
Gary: Exactly! Preventative measures! Nip them in the bud before buyers can use them against you! Thanks for sharing your expertise!
RED flags...oh yeah we see them at the lake and at the beach all of the time but I like using this terminology with a staging report. Everyone understands red flags...thank you!
Just a few days ago I had a potential client tell me he thought we should put a shelving unit of some type into his beautifully remodeled bathroom for staging because there's no place to put towels! ....... ummmm , and why exactly would he want me to call attention to the fact that there's no built in place to put towels?? Good points!
I like all of your ideas Sharon. I'm sure you are the best in NH
Sharon this is a fantastic angle for the series you're doing!!! I love it. Your post is so well written and you have great photos to go with it. This is a definite must read.
Ginger: They do seem to respond to the term. Whatever makes them understand that they need to change the message they are sending to the buyers!
Pangaea: Exactly! Why not just hang a sign in there saying "no place for towels." Thanks for sharing your recent experience.
Wendy: Thank you!
Cynthia: From your lips to the sellers ears! Thanks!
Another great post, Sharon. I love the red flag concept--great way to explain it. And I also like the way you use the arrow to point to the specific problems. Well done!
Mary: Thank you. The arrow was a last minute addition. I'm glad you like it!
Sharon ~ the furniture placement issue is a recurring theme for my clients .... and I love to get the pieces in just the right place to open up the space. It's amazing what a difference you can make by moving or removing!
Maureen: I still get surprised, I shouldn't anymore, when I see something like a nightstand turned sideways due to space issues. So much of what we do is a recurring theme!
I have done some short posts to the "Curb Appeal" group and I made the point that you do not want to let a negative impression form in the customer's mind. Best to tidy up beforeheand, pressure washing, weeding, raking etc. so they do not look at all the work THEY might need to do and think, "This place takes alot of upkeep!" Same concept; you stated it beautifully and your pictures are excellent. Really enjoyed reading thiis post! I am going to subscribe to your blog. Thanks!
Leslie: You make a great point...you never want to give the impression that the house takes a lot of upkeep. Thank you for the kind words! I am so glad to have found your blog too! I love that you specialize in horse properties, and look forward to your blog posts.
Sharon - Another great post. These are tips that everyone can use, not just home sellers.
Great tips Sharon! There's nothing like visual evidence of awkward furniture placement to highlight space issues. As always the pictures speak for themselves.
Well said!
I have a pot rack in my kitchen and love it. But I'm not selling my house. It's a "red flag" that there isn't enough storage space. Even if, in fact, there is and it's just a decorative piece, it needs to come down because of the signal it sends.
There are some things, as stagers, we absolutely will NOT stock in our inventory: hall racks, pot racks, bathroom storage units or anything else that suggests "additional storage solutions".
Judy: It's a little bit of common sense. We live for convenience and make do with whatever issues our house has. The way we compensate should not be a telltale sign to others. Thanks!
Tessa: Thank you for commenting.
Wendy: Great point...it's these things that sellers just don't think of on their own. Thanks.
Sharon, this truly is one of the best series I've seen on Active Rain. I hope it is featured somewhere. I will reblog.
Janice: That is so nice of you to say. You made my day! Thank you!