I've been posting occasionally about challenges you might face when prepping a home for a photo or video shoot. Today, we'll look at the particular challenges associated with staging a historic home.*
People tend to be somewhat ambivalent toward historic homes. On the one hand, they're known for quality of construction and sometimes stunning beauty. On the other, they're, well . . . old. Which means they sometimes need more upkeep or don't have today's luxuries and conveniences. So how do you show these old beauties to their best advantage in photos and video?
Nip and tuck. Old homes are more likely to have small surface defects or leftover damage from problems that were fixed long ago. The challenge: buyers are likely to assume that these superficial problems indicate larger issues lurking beneath the surface. So have homeowners fix cracked plaster, old water stains, and the like before the photographer arrives. Then the home will show beautifully on screen, drawing buyers in for a closer, in-person look.
Decorate appropriately. Homeowners often give a home a facelift before listing. Encourage your clients to do their sprucing up in a way that respects the character of the home. For instance, advise clients not to paint over original woodwork. If they replace items like light fixtures, faucets, or hardware, suggest replacement styles that fit with the period of the home.
Lighten up. Many historic homes have an abundance of dark wood surfaces and windows that are smaller than those in modern homes. If they've been decorated in a period-appropriate manner, they may also have dark colors on the walls. So make sure to turn on all the lights for your photographer. Bring in a few extra lamps, if you have to, especially tall ones that bounce light off the ceiling.
Spruce up kitchens and baths. We all know that today's buyers love big, luxurious kitchens and baths. Unrenovated older homes, however, aren't likely to have these features. Historic-home buyers may expect this, but they're still going to look closely at those rooms. So make sure they're super-clean and staged to their very best advantage. Go for rigorous decluttering, reflective surfaces, and light colors to help the rooms seem larger.
Clear the view. If the home has particularly remarkable features—like an art tile fireplace, inlaid wood floors, or beautifully carved transoms—make sure they're not obscured from view. Encourage clients to move furniture, roll up rugs, or clear out artwork and nicknacks so the camera can capture these house-selling details.
*Historic homes are generally those that are at least 50-75 years old.
What old-house staging challenges have you experienced, and how did you solve them?
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