Looking At Homes To Buy? Don't Get Hung Up On The Current Owners Furnishings

Hi Cindy-good comparison of the two. It is amazing to me how most folks get so hung up on a paint color or lighting fixture that they can not picture themselves living in the space!

The pictures definitely help make your point.  Unfortunately, some buyers just can't get past furniture/pictures/etc -- they have a much harder time finding a new home than the ones that can look at the possibilities.

Great advice, but you know that people are so visual it's sometimes hard to get them to see potential. I once had a guy who kept saying he hated a house because it had too much brown... the only brown were the two sofas and accent pieces. His wife and I spent 15 minutes telling him the brown would go with the sellers and he still couldn't see it! Of course, that may be a bit of an extreme reaction.

Look at the price, location, condition and not the trinkets, stuff. Take care of the smells, keep it clean sellers! But price it right.

Cindy, I'm guilty for watching House Hunters on HGTV. This seems to be a common problem when prospective buyers look at homes.

Buyers almost always look at the stuff (and clutter).  They can't help it and I suppose its human nature.  I try to remind buyers that they are buying the home and not the stuff in it!  When I show buyers a vacant home, they can see all the warts and wrinkles as I like to say.

Good Morning:  This is some great Advice,   Keep up the Info coming and good luck with your sales,  E

What a great idea to show your buyers two different pictures. That will definitely help them with their imagination at least a little bit! Definitely hard when people can't visualize as well as others! 

This is a big hang up though. For example many renters have bad furniture and when you try to sell a rented home it normally does not show well. But its a good thing to bring awareness of this to buyers.

On day a virtual application will allow many to add their own designs...Until then, review the potentials

This notion of being able to visualize is critical and one reason I use Houzz to help clients get a sense of how a room could or should look.  The less time they spend focused on the details, the better because most if not all of it can be changed.

Cindy, 

This is such excellent advice.  I alway tell buyer's to try to imagine how their furniture and belongings will look in the home.  

Absolutely!!  And don't NOT go see a property based on the same thing -- their furniture, etc.  Good photos to compare.

If too many potential buyers are getting "stuck" on a home's furnishings, rather than the house itself, then it's time to call in a home stager who can make suggestions to downplay a seller's taste and put the focus on the features of the home.

This is really good advice, it is true that buyers like or dislike a house based on what they can see.  If the furniture is not their style or taste, they fail to see the floor plan and true space.  I need to remind my buyers of this when there are bright colors on the walls too.  Thank you for sharing.

I have a listing right now where the furniture is very modern.  Some buyers can't seem to see past the furnishings.  But, what really get me is when an AGENT can't see past the furniture!  It's just furniture....and it doesn't come with the house. lol

Cindy - I would never have guessed that this is the same exact home, great example on how much impact a homeowners personal furnishing and style make.

It's easy to get caught up in the furnishings.  It helps to remind buyers of the potential a particular property has.  There likely is some sort of computer software showing various looks for a room that would be helpful to use with buyers, also.  Maybe Property Brothers can help you find the solution!