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Home Staging Tip - Bury The Treasure & You Will Only Attract Pirates

By
Home Stager with Sharon Tara Transformations

If you're preparing your home for sale, you must think of it as a product.....a product to be strategically marketed.  Making your product appealing to the most people possible is key to a successful sale.  Think about advertising you see for other products.  Brand name companies pay advertisers a lot of money to make their products look their best, to increase their market appeal.

It's very important that your product's best features are highlighted, not hidden.    The positive features of your home must be obvious,  because buyers won't go looking for them.  Whether it's MLS pictures or the first impression upon entering the front door, you have only seconds to create emotional appeal.

 

Think of your home's best features as treasure.   

Hardwood floors are buried treasure  when they are covered with worn and dirty carpet or area rugs.

Custom molding is buried treasure  when it's hidden behind heavy, dated window treatments.

Built-in bookcases are buried treasure  when they are stuffed full of paperback books and collectibles.

Spacious rooms become buried treasure  when there's too much furniture crowding the room.

Granite counters and imported tile are buried treasure  in a cluttered kitchen and/or bathroom.

 

The only buyers that find buried treasure appealing are pirates!

Investors, flippers, people who can visualize and see past all your stuff....these are the people who will be attracted to your listing.  They see the potential, and they count on others not seeing it.  They smell a deal.   They offer low or simply wait for the price reductions.

 

Bury the treasure and you will only attract pirates! 

 

Comments(84)

Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Ahoy, Sharon!  I think the home owner needs to walk the plank if they don't follow a Stager's advice and reveal all their hidden treasure in their home.  Great post, Matey!

Jun 10, 2014 06:30 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Sharon, and buyers won't pay the big bucks for that buried treasure, only if it shines and looks like it is worth it!

Jun 10, 2014 07:33 AM
Jeff Jensen
The Federal Savings Bank/Lending in 50 states - Greenwich, CT

There is truth in what you say.  If it is nice, they will buy.

Jun 10, 2014 08:04 AM
Dawn Welch
The Real Estate Consultants - Los Angeles, CA

Captivating title and great article!  :) Thanks for sharing.

Jun 10, 2014 08:51 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Michael:  Thank you!

Suzanne:  I can't tell you how many times I've seen beautiful floors covered with various scatter rugs.  They think they are protecting the floor from all the people that will be coming through the home.  Good intentions.

Pat:  Warn them of pirates, LOL.

Will:  I appreciate the share, thank you!

Donna:  Keeping the postive features under wraps won't get the home sold!

Bruce:  Thank you!

Marcia:  Thank you!  I'm sure you have seen plenty of buried treasure in your travels!

Sally:  Well aren't you right in character!  I LOVE it!  You should change your profile pic.

Jun 10, 2014 11:31 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Joan:  Far from the big bucks....hidden treasure is had at a steal!

Jeff:  If it is hidden under clutter, they won't!

Dawn:  Thank you!

Jun 10, 2014 11:32 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

What a great staging analogy Sharon .... really illustrates the point your post is making!!

Jun 10, 2014 04:44 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Maureen:  Thank you.  I hope it helps sellers understand the "marketing" concept of staging better.

Jun 10, 2014 09:46 PM
Jamie R. Bell
Bell Realty Group at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices NEP - Glastonbury, CT
Your Central CT Realtor

Sharon, nice approach to staging of a home. 

Jun 10, 2014 10:36 PM
Deborah Newell
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Towne Realty - Virginia Beach, VA

Great post! I'm using a stager now to ready a home for listing. It's made all the difference in the world!

Jun 10, 2014 11:19 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Jamie:  Thank you!

Deborah:  Your clients will love you for it!

Jun 11, 2014 11:37 AM
Mary Sheridan
Keller Willliams - 1033 Hamilton Place,Johnson City TN 37604 - Johnson City, TN
Creative Marketing, Buyer Agency 423-943-7655

Cute, memorable way to make some great points.   I'll share it.

Jun 14, 2014 07:26 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Mary:  thank you! 

Jun 14, 2014 09:36 AM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

I am very fortunate that my sellers have always been very cooperative when I suggest home staging with help them sell. Just finished another home today that I know will go quickly due to our home staging efforts.

Jun 14, 2014 02:40 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Preparation is everything...and knowing who to call for what preparation is key to putting the best possible house forward....but people who call Sharon Tara in New Hampshire already know that....and so do we !

Jun 14, 2014 07:32 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Tammie:  Your sellers are smart to have chosen you to represent them!

Sally & David:  Thank you!  You are right....knowing that prep is important is only the beginning...choosing the right professional to guide you with the prep is key!  

Jun 15, 2014 08:35 AM
Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

Sharon, this is a great and creative way to get your all important point across that sellers need to prepare their home for sale so buyers without vision can see all the great features of their home!

Jun 24, 2014 02:38 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Bruce:  Thank you....if they realize that a lack of prep will  cost them money they get on board fast!

Jun 24, 2014 03:20 AM
Harrison K. Long
HomeSmart, Evergreen Realty - Irvine, CA
REALTOR , GRI, Broker associate, Attorney

Sharon ... Thanks for this post, and I agree that "spacious rooms become buried treasure when there's too much furniture crowding the room."  Some home sellers simply have too much stuff, and it covers up the positive features of the home.

Jul 16, 2014 07:08 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Harrison:  The frustrating part is when the seller just won't take the advice!  Some people have to learn the hard way!

Jul 17, 2014 12:41 AM