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Why Not Go Neutral? Bold Color Carpet Can Hurt Your Sale

I'm not an interior decorator by any means, nor do I claim to be. And I'm not a professional home stager, but I see a lot of value in the work that stagers do, and I plan on taking the ASP course when it is offered locally again in the Fall.

However, there are certain basic things that I tell clients:

clean up the clutter
touch up your paint job
put away items that are very personal
and keep colors neutral, or at least tasteful

On touring some homes today in my local area in a wonderful subdivision in Alexandria, Virginia called Cameron Station, I came upon the following:

Now, don't get me wrong -- I'm sure that there is someone out there who just loves burgundy carpet...

However, this is brand new carpet. The sellers obviously went through the expense of installing brand new carpet to ready their property for sale. I think you would agree that it is hard to look beyond this BOLD carpet color when viewing this photo. The entire home had this color carpeting, including as you can see in this photo, the stairs to the loft.

Despite being very competitively priced for the neighborhood, this particular property has now been on the market for 2 months. Sales in Cameron Station in July 2007 averaged only 35 days on the market. And this home is priced $30,000 below a comparable home on the same block!

I think that this burgundy carpet is definitely playing a role.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

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Posted by Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate on 08/08/2007 08:05 PM

Comments (30)

cameron station, staging

30 Comments on Why Not Go Neutral? Bold Color Carpet Can Hurt Your Sale

AUG

2007

Personally I wish the carpet seller's would hide those colored carpets. I agree TOTALLY!!!

Brian, You are, of course, correct. The thing is -- it does make us feel sorry for the family who perhaps listed their property without the benefit of having a home stager help them make correct choices for preparing the home for sale. Perhaps DIY is overrated.

Yikes! I showed a great house once with wall to wall teal green carpet from top to bottom. After dropping the price several times and offering a carpet allowance, the sellers finally go tht epicture and forked out for new carpet. Good luck.

Brian: I actually see two problems:

1. The carpet-way too bold and specific. This is a prolem with some homeowners when someone tells them to replace the carpet before their house goes on the market. They did what they were told but without direction on making thier home marketable!

2. The property is empty! Proper staging can help to take the focus off of the carpet (although it will still be an issue). The carpet will not be the focal point that it is now! Even without the carpet only 10% of buyers can picture themselves living in a home that is shown empty...

My recommendation to the seller would be to hire a stager and/or replace the carpet. Won't cost $30K to do these things so they will be making money.

Marchel: At least the people in the carpet store or carpet department of Home Depot or wherever should be smart enough and trained to ask if the carpet customer is going to be staying in the home or they are preparing for sale and then they should recommend accordingly.

Yvonne: Makes me feel sorry too! Thank goodness this is not my listing.

Chrissy: Funny thing is that the remarks on MLS actually feature the following statement "New Upgraded Carpet and Padding" -- why point it out?

Cheri: Thanks for your comments. I absolutely agree. Some staging and better carpet could make this place sell quickly.

I would say hire the stager first. The right decor would make that carpet look great. It isn't my first choice, ok, it isn't my choice at all, but I think it could be made to look good.

The question is would buyers object if they saw a great looking room with that carpet.

Brian, What a shame, for these clients. The carpet definitely stands out, and with nothing in this house to help deflect so much attention it must be difficult for people to see the potential.

Definitely not worth pointing out in the feature sheet, as the future buyer will probably want to replace it.

I would only spend money staging with furniture after the carpet was changed.

Lane: I think if buyers saw a great looking room with the carpet they could get by the carpet.

Joelle: I agree. That carpet just has to go!

Yikes! It is a shame they did not consult a stager first because it appears they were well intended. Let me just say it is better than the brand new kelly green carpet a seller installed in a new listing I saw recently!

Well how about bright green carpet?

haha

Here is the after that breaks up the green and makes it less distracting...

AUG

2007

Brian, here's my take on the carpet:

the person purchasing the carpet was color blind and the carpet sales person knew it or
he got a great deal from his wife's cousin whose son is married to a remnant carpet dealer or
his mother has this exact same carpet throughout her house - yes even in the bathroom or
they actually like it

Seriously, I think Cindy has the right idea. Cover up as much as possible. Are you going to show this home again? What will you tell your clients about the carpet? Betty

Wow what a timely Blog. My very good friend and co worker has a listing-now she had an exact listing in the same building where she received multiple offers and sold that one in 3 days-her new listing how ever is not doing so well. She thinks it may be the carpet which is a bold blue-very pretty but bold. It just might be the carpet.

You can get away with a lot when you have zero competition and 4 or 5 buyers for every listing, but those days are over! Now anything can be a deal breaker. Getting the input of a staging professional at the very beginning is crucial.

Diana: Yikes is right! Green might be worse.

Cindy: Great before and after photos. Hardly notice the carpet in the 2nd shot. Good job!

Betty: Very funny comment. I don't plan on showing this home again.

Penny: Bold blue is probably not a good color choice either.

Susan: Very very true.

Guess we've all been up against this. You hate to even mention it when it is brand new, but "that's why we get the BIG bucks!" LOL Seriously, I think we have to suggest replacing it or we aren't doing our job (and they won't know better next time!) As evidenced by the picture of the teal carpet, staging definitely helps even if they refuse to change it.

Kim Dillon, Creative Eye Home Staging

Kim: Thanks for your comment. As an agent, we just pray that we catch the clients before they make these big mistakes.

AUG

2007

And offering a carpet allowance does not help people. Just spend the money and get rid of the carpet

Todd: I agree. The carpet allowance really does not help, because it gives them a credit off the price, but no extra cash in the buyer's pocket to pay for a new carpet.

Hi, Brian! I absolutely agree! Look at the staging photos below of a home that I staged.

Neutral is best..and you can punch out colours in pillows and throws!

Julia

Julia: Thanks for stopping by. Great job on the room in the photos. I agree with your comment -- accessorize the room. Just like with a clothing wardrobe -- it's better to have a conservative suit and a colorful tie, fun cuff links, etc., than to have a crazy suit!

Julia's photos say it all....good luck with selling Brian!! Re-do the carpets.....and sell faster!

Regards-Kathleen

Kathleen: Luckily it's not my listing and my buyers have found another place.

Brian - I had the exact same problem last week. The client had crazy bright green carpet. The home has been on the market for 3mo, which is not unusual here. She is in a condo and there are 67 condos for sale in the same town. I convinced her to replace the carpet, even though it was brand new. She was hesitant but I went to my computer and showed her the MLS listing photo and said, What do you see? She replied - green carpet. The goal in showing a home well is to see a beautiful room, bay window, high ceilings etc. With the bold carpet buyers just can't see past it. My client is having hardwood floors installed. Can't wait to see the difference.

Maureen: Thanks for your comment. The first thing clients say when they see hardwood floors is "Wow, nice floors" I replaced our condo's carpet with hardwood floors a few years back and it is such a difference. By the way, I lived in Rockland County from birth to age 8 when we moved up to Boston. We lived in New City.

Many sellers think that just because its their favorite color that everyone will love it! It just isn't true.

AUG

2007

David: Some people just have horrible taste in colors. Or maybe they are color blind? Either way, get a second opinion, please...

JAN

2008

WOW! Color is good if staged correctly.

Home owners should consult with a professional before picking out "bold" carpet. Sometimes it can work, most of the times is does not. I recommend that carpets and walls remain neutral and colors be brought in through decor. It is much easier to change an art piece than the flooring.

The best remedy: draw attention away from the "elephant" by staging.

KATIE: I definitely agree. Colors can work, but they need some TLC in the staging.

KRISTINA: Thanks for your comments. I couldn't agree more with what you have written.

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