Do Things Like Wallpaper & Window Treatments Influence Home Buyers?
While it is hard to believe, wallpaper and window treatments can cost a seller tens of thousands of dollars. A general rule of thumbs is that if it is a color or pattern that is more than 10 years old, it has to go. If it is too much work or too expensive for you to do it, then buyers won't to either.
This is a great ammendment to my recent featured blog, Are you paying twice for that allowance?
Do Things Like Wallpaper & Window Treatments Influence Home Buyers?
I reviewed my files this week and checked the MLS to follow up on past New Hampshire Home Staging clients. There were some pleasant surprises...a couple of houses selling within days of their consult - for OVER listing price!
There was one surprise, that I could use some help understanding.
Here are the details:
1. The house was originally listed in July, 2010 for $799,900.
2. After one year on the market, I was hired by the listing agent for a Home Staging Consult in June, 2011.
The home is a quality built home....but lots of wallpaper and dated features were distracting. Here's what I suggested for improvement:
Paint the kitchen and office after removing the busy wallpaper. Replace the dated light fixtures.
The master bedroom and two other bedrooms had a busy wallpaper border with matching bedspreads and matching, heavy, dated window treatments. I suggested removing the borders, bedding and window treatments and going with solid colors on the beds and sheers for the windows.
Master bath also had very busy wallpaper...I suggested paint.
The seller made it clear that she was not willing to remove the wallpaper or the "custom" window treatments. I rearranged some furniture and suggested removing personal items and there wasn't much more that I could do.
3. One month after my consult the price was reduced by $10,000.
4. Five months after my consult the listing expired.
5. Seller relisted with a different agent in March, 2012. New listing price: $759,000.
6. This week they reduced their price to $725,000.
The wallpaper, dated light fixtures, and window treatments remain.
In the recent MLS pictures many rooms are empty suggesting the house is now vacant.
On the market over two years....price reduced by $74,900.
I don't get it. I would not have listed without updating....I believe buyers see all that wallpaper as future work. I know what my fellow stagers think on this subject. I'm curious to hear what listing agents think.
Do things like busy wallpaper and dated window treatments influence buyers?
______________________________________________________________________________
For More Information Visit My Website
Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast
Portsmouth Rye Greenland North Hampton Dover Rochester Somersworth
603.661.8524
Comments(1)