Selling your house? Today's market requires that your house stand out from the competition with details that buyers won't soon forget. Being remembered for the wrong reason, however, can be the kiss of death. One negative detail can be responsible for crossing a house off their list, when it would have been the buyer's first choice otherwise.
I recently did a home staging consultation for a "home school" family. The house is beautiful, but many of it's positive features were being over shadowed by the family's lifestyle.
The formal living room was being used as a classroom. It is one of the first rooms seen upon entering the house, and is crucial to first impression. The walls had a painted mural and the ceiling was a "faux painted" sky with clouds.
Advice: Paint the room and ceiling. Create focal interest on the shelves.
The crown molding, wood floors, and custom shelves are what you want buyers to notice and remember.
Across the room was a kitchen sink and cabinets that the family used for art projects.
The realtor's suggestion: "Try to make it look like a wet bar."
The seller had removed some of the cabinets and this is what remained when I consulted. It was their intention to leave it as a "wet bar" as suggested by the realtor.
After I explained that the odds were slim that any buyer would consider this anything other than a misplaced kitchen sink, in what should be the living room, they agreed to remove it.
The dining room was red with a yellow accent wall. School science items were stored across the top of the dated, oak room divider.
Advice: Paint the room to match the living room. Paint the oak cabinet the trim color and add new hardware. Remove the school items.
The office/study was...a work in progress. They weren't sure whether to finish it or leave it for the new buyers to finish.
Advice: Finish the custom cabinetry. Paint walls and trim. Paint fireplace surround to match trim.
The sellers did an excellent job following my suggestions for improvement. I was very pleased with the results of their hard work.
Now when buyers visit this house it won't be "a sink in the living room" or "science projects in the dining room" that they remember.
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Sharon, great job, what a huge difference!
Sharon: Most of my science projects are in the fridge! But you're right: when a house is on the market, each space must have a clearly defined function - and it usually should be the one it was originally designed for. Plus, all unfinished projects need to be completed. Happy Staging - Julie
Your transformations are always the visual proof needed to convince any seller what a difference staging can make. But tell me, what did they do with all that home school stuff?
Sharon great job! Love the sink LOL. It must be the month for them. I just had one in an upstairs bedroom ;). The house shows beautifully now thanks to you.
Tony: Thank you!
Julie: Inside the refrigerator is a very important place to clean! Thanks for the reminder!
Lee & Carol: They packed it all up. They have moved to their new home. Thanks so much for the high praise!
Janice: Considering I wasn't hands on...just a consult...I am very happy with the result. They really did a great job.
Such great advice Sharon. Nothing hits home like the before and after pictures.
Debra: Thanks! The only thing better, is being there in person!
Great post Sharon, You know...I wouldn't make recommendations on what price to set a home or other things I know nothing about when selling a house however what I do know as a home stager are the condition and appeal of a house & how to best showcase and I can steer sellers in the right direction as to what improvements to make. Your post is a perfect example of letting the professionals do what each do best.
Sharon- Lucky they were to have you as a consultant; and congrats to them for listening to you. I love the results. I love what painting the oak cabinet did to the room. And, finally, I have to applaud them for being willing to remove the sink in the living room. Good powers of persuasion, Sharon!
Great advise-great results-you are a true professional. Love the transformation!
Very good advice!
Sharon -- wow what a fantastic transformation in this home! I'm so glad you were able to convince the sellers to remove the "wet bar" (LOL) as you're absolutely right ... no way would buyers consider that anything except a weird kitchen sink.
Nice job Sharon, you certainly are good at what you do, glad the clients listened and took your advice, some just don't get it...
Sharon, thanks to you potential buyers won't be scratching their heads and wondering about these spaces in this home. It was certainly questionable in it's before state. Great job!
Sharon, this is a classic example of how you live in your home is not how you sell your house. Great transformation, thanks to your guidance.
Sink in the living room? That's a new one! Folks, we can't make this stuff up. Nice job, Sharon! Great improvements!
Karen: I agree. In most circumstances a partnership of Realtor and Stager is going to yield the best result. It takes a team to sell a house!
Kathy: It was a very big deal, for them to agree to remove the sink. The floor underneath had to be replaced and matched to the existing floor. They were afraid it would involve too much time and money. They were so glad with the results and happy they did it.
Cathy: It takes one to know one! LOL!
Dan: Thank you!
Maureen: I couldn't believe it when I saw it. I have had a lot of "home school" clients and I commend their commitment to their children, but it really takes over the whole house. It makes for some serious preparation issues when it comes time to sell.
Gerry: I appreciate it, thanks! This client knew she had issues and she found me on her own to validate her gut feeling. I was impressed with her willingness to do what had to be done.
Ginger: The seller would have been waiting awhile to find just the right buyers for this house. The alternative was lowering the price.
Sally: I couldn't say it better!
Patsy: It really is an eye opening profession, real estate! We see it all, don't we?
Sharon,
Wow, great changes, and you did get maximum impact. You are a treasure to all the agents in your community. Wishing you continued success.
Ron & Alexandra: Thank you so much, what a nice thing to say!
When Sellers bought their property, it was just a house for sale. They turned it into a home with their science projects and the like. Now that the property is for sale again, it needs to be turned from a home back into a house. The best people to advise on how to do that are Realtors and Stagers.
Hi, Sharon. This post should have been featured! The Before and After pix say it all....although Russel summed it up perfectly in his comment above.
You have such a good eye! I love the colors you choose; I think Olive is a wonderful "neutral" and the white trim looks so clean and elegant.
Russel: I use that very example in my PowerPoint presentation. I was very proud of this seller for understanding and actually doing what was needed without question.
Leslie: Thanks! The olive color is beautiful and it gives the house a much richer feel. It was already used in the hall, so using it in the dining area and living room gave the house a nice flow.
The transformation is so profound Sharon, it just had to be a lot of very hard work! Great job getting them to make the changes and your work, as always, is fantastic.
Debra: They did a tremendous amount of work. I was quite impressed. Thanks for the compliment on my work, I appreciate it.
Hi Sharon - These are wonderful examples of before and after rooms. It's not easy to get sellers to do so much, but what a big difference! You did a great job advising them.
Susan: Thank you so much! You are right, it is not usually easy to get sellers to do so much, but this seller was a joy to work with.
Excellent job Sharon - love the transformation! It is such a blessing when sellers pay attention and make it happen!
Sheila: They really did listen, and I was very proud of them. Thanks!
Some obstacles to overcome I'd say, you did a terrific job on showcasing what they had, but didn't know they had. (If that makes sense)
Cindy: There were a lot of obstacles in this home! It was so exciting to see the transformation!
Super job Sharon, AMAZING transformation! It is actually a lovely house ... when yo can SEE it. ;o)
I have never actually got to stage with a harp ... beautiful art in it's self.
Congratulations.
Liz
Your Northern Neighbor
Liz: Thanks! It is a beautiful house and the positive features were well hidden.