You see the buyer's whince as soon as they walk in the front door. No matter how you try to say it's "only cosmetic" they stand in awe of the job in front of them.
What is it that causes the issue? A roll of paper stuck to your walls with paste...wallpaper paste that is. It doesn't matter if you've upgraded the carpet or even the bathrooms if the house is covered with 1970's shiny wallpaper the buyers are instantly calculating the cost to have it removed and repaint the house. What it might actually cost to do the job is irrelevant. In a buyer's mind they see dollar signs and they are likely far above what the job might cost to be done.
My mother was an interior designer. When they bought their home in the 1950's she began painting and then wallpapering. The only rooms in the house that escaped the wallpaper were the living room and upstairs hall. Over the years wallpaper went over wallpaper. When I purchased the home in 1990 the wallpaper removal began. It was an interesting trip back through time and as a do it yourself project it's not that hard just time consuming and messy.
Laura Ashley-OUT
Foil Wallpaper-OUT
Flocked Wallpaper-OUT
Tree Murals-OUT
Fruit Borders-OUT
When my son and his wife were housing hunting in Denver they found a home they liked but decided to pass on because of the black background flowered wall paper in the dining room and kitchen. A month later the agent sent them pictures of a new house to look at that was freshly painted in neutral colors and they jumped on it. You guessed it. The same house sans wallpaper.
If you are getting ready to put your Northern Virginia house on the market and you are stuck in a 1970's time warp of wallpaper call a painter to help you take it down. The money you spend up front to freshen up your decor will help get your home SOLD quicker and likely for a higher price. If you are getting ready to list your house for sale in Northern Virginia give Cindy Jones and CJ Realty Group a call at 703-346-2213 to talk about what you need to do to get your house ready to sell.
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