Special offer

You Don't Want To Remove Wallpaper? News Flash: Buyers Don't Either!

By
Home Stager with Sharon Tara Transformations

You Don't Want To Remove Wallpaper?  News Flash: Buyers Don't Either!

 

As a Professional Home Stager in the Seacoast area of New Hampshire, I've had this discussion numerous times.

I've worked with many sellers who either don't want to spend the money or don't want to devote the time and effort to making improvements prior to listing their house for sale.

 Whatever their excuse...."it's too big of a job" or "that will cost too much money"...my response is usually the same:

"That's exactly how a potential buyer will feel.

 What makes you think they will want to deal with it?"

 

Unless you are pricing the house as a fixer upper or marketing to flippers, don't expect buyers to be willing to make the necessary improvements.

dining room before

Buyers find it hard to believe that a home has been well maintained when it still has wallpaper from 1980.

 

Making necessary improvements prior to listing will result in more appealing MLS photos and increase the perceived value of your house.

 

dining room after

 

 My advice to sellers who choose not to make improvements:

 Get price quotes from contractors so you'll have the info when buyers want to reduce your asking price to compensate for the needed improvements.

 

You Don't Want To Remove Wallpaper?  News Flash: Buyers Don't Either!

 

Comments(101)

Nan Jester
Exit Real Estate Gallery Jacksonville Beach, FL - Jacksonville Beach, FL
Realtor, Exit Real Estate Gallery

No kidding!!! Buyers usually don't want to have ANY responsibilities other than moving to worry about. Sellers just sometimes can't see it or CAN'T do it for financial reasons. Works both ways, though.

Nov 19, 2012 03:08 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Bernice:  It's the sellers that think they can have it both ways....top dollar without any improvements...that are so frustrating!

Sylvia:  Another option for paneling is to paint it the trim color.  It can make a world of difference!  Some sellers are more willing to do that than to actually remove it.

Mary:  Great!  Now you are armed and dangerous!

Nan:  I guess it's human nature....sometimes you just want to shake them!  LOL!

 

Nov 19, 2012 03:35 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

I wall papered my kids rooms - once.  That is all I need to know about Wall Papering.  Never again.

Nov 20, 2012 03:59 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Gene:  Back in the 80's we wallpapered every room in the house.  We changed it a couple times too.  We were young and crazy!  

Nov 20, 2012 06:08 AM
Kathleen Emhof
Buffalo, Amherst, Orchard Park and Western New York - Buffalo, NY
Home Staging and Redesign, Experts in Transition

Hi, Sharon--We are planning on selling in the spring, and as a Professional Home Stager, I want to be sure I keep as much equity as possible.  So guess who is removing wallpaper?  :-)  It's a bear, but I want as few objections as possible when I sell this almost-100-year-old home.

Yeah, we were young and crazy when we bought the place, and loved wallpaper.  Now I know better! 

Congrats on the feature!

Nov 24, 2012 03:15 AM
Brian Kuhns
Coldwell Banker Roth Wehrly Graber - Fort Wayne, IN
Fort Wayne Real Estate by Brian Kuhns

Great advice, have them get quotes anyway to have the work done so they at least know how to respond to a buyers request when it comes....and it will. Nobody wants to remove wallpaper

Nov 24, 2012 11:46 PM
Rob Renk
Center Street Lending - McKinney, TX
AE | Fast Fix/Flip Loans for Residential Investors

True, sellers need to distance themselves from their homes and look at thru a buyer's eyes.  It is hard, but they must learn if they want to sell quick.

Nov 25, 2012 12:11 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Kathleen:  I would do the same.  I was lucky by the time I was selling my home, it had already been updated and all the wallpaper was gone.  I did the work, but it was because I wanted a new look, not because I was selling.

Brian:  Sometimes just telling them this (suggesting they get estimates) is enough to convince them to go ahead and do the work.

Rob:  Agreed.  It's not easy for sellers to be neutral....too much emotional attachment.

 

Nov 25, 2012 10:47 AM
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

Hi Sharon,

Good post. I can say my wife will not even look at a home with wall paper in it. She always says you never know what's behind it and she's not willing to find out!

Nov 28, 2012 12:44 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Steve:  I had a home owner refuse to remove a really stained/worn carpet because he didn't know what was under it.  I used his own reasoning to convince him that buyers would feel exactly the same way.  He agreed to remove the carpet and there was hardwood....he was very happy and I was very relieved!

Nov 29, 2012 06:10 AM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375
Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside - Atlanta, GA
Concierge Service for Our Atlanta Sellers & Buyers

Dear Sharon,
Loved your post!
So true!
Comparing the cost of the repairs to the gain in sale price is a great idea!
Have a happy day -
Lynn

Dec 14, 2013 11:31 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Lynn:   On the day you wrote your comment I was flying out on vacation.  I not only had a happy day, I had a very happy week!  Thank you!

Dec 23, 2013 09:04 AM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

I generally strongly dislike wallpaper( old style~ no good any more).

Yet, some modern wallpaper is stunning.

So, it is case by case.

Jan 22, 2015 03:31 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Inna:  Wow, this was written over 2 years ago....I love it when people find my older posts!  I agree it's case by case.  There is some really nice paper and I would never suggest sellers remove it if it is visually appealing.

Jan 22, 2015 10:37 PM
Dana Hollish Hill
Hollish Hill Group, JPAR Stellar Living - Bethesda, MD
REALTOR * Broker * Coach

Saw this post as a re-blog, but wanted to come and comment here. 

I bought my first home and loved teh wall paper in the foyer and both upper and lower hallways. But the ivy wallpaper in the dining room was not for me. I took it off and painted and it made a huge difference. 

If the wallpaper is in good shape and isn't too dated, keep it. I think people just have to remember that wallpaper gets dated more easily than paint. 

 

 

Jul 10, 2015 09:34 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Dana:  So glad you took the time to stop in and comment! Thank you!

Jul 14, 2015 06:42 AM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

If your one sentence, "Buyers find it hard to believe that home has been well maintained when it still has wallpaper from 1980" ... doesn't get action from Sellers, I don't know what will, Sharon Tara ... excellent excellent excellent message!

Gene

Oct 18, 2016 06:18 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi 

Wow!  Four year old post.  Nice to see it still getting viewed!

Thank you!

Oct 18, 2016 06:24 AM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi

When you're right .. you're right, Sharon Tara!  It's the blog that keeps on giving ...


Gene 

Oct 18, 2016 06:52 AM
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

Saw this re-blog and it is timeless because unfortunately "Wallpaper is a timeless eyesore!"

Oct 18, 2016 06:44 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Gary L. Waters, Broker Owner, Waters Realty of Brevard, LLC  Oh my..."timeless eyesore"....that's awesome!

Oct 18, 2016 09:11 AM