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They want it ALL and they want it NOW...or they move on.

By Ginger Foust

Home Stager with Certified Staging Professional

April 05, 2008 03:20 AM

Am I missing something or are a very large percentage of today's buyers a very different breed than in the recent past?

As I see it:

Today's buyers want:

-updated features in homes to include:

~flooring

~light fixtures

~appliances

~cabinet finishes

~plumbing fixtures

~high-end countertops

~and much more

Today's buyers do NOT want:

~sculptured two-toned carpeting

~vinyl flooring

~shiny brass light fixtures or plumbing fixtures

~laminate or tile countertops

~wallpaper

~faux painting wall treatments

~white appliances

~anything golden oak

~and much more!

Today's buyers are budget conscious, time conscious and very style conscious. So, forget about marketing your home to today's buyers unless you have changed out the above items and then staged the house. Even a price reduction won't attract today's buyers if they see 1980s and 1990s choices in style, design and décor. Also, forget offering allowances at closing for new flooring, countertops etc. Buyers don't look that far into the future or visualize what this house could be.

The large majority of today's buyers are not looking for fixer uppers or reno' projects. They are getting more and more picky. They don't want to buy a house "as is". They don't want to spend their limited leisure time repairing or waiting for contractors to update. They want to move in, be comfortable and take pride in their surroundings from the onset.

If you cannot provide the upgrades in a house, then in this market, the potential buyers will move on and find a house where the "dirty" work is already done. They want it all and they want it now.

Dream Interior Redesign & Staging by Ginger Foust is a full service staging and redesign company serving the foothill and mountain communities of Oakhurst, North Fork, Coarsegold, Ahwahnee, Bass Lake, Wawona and Mariposa. Visit our website at www.dreamredesigns.com for more information and photos of our work.

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Ginger Foust

Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA

Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Today I am having BIG problems with AR comments. posts and general access. Four of my recent comments on others blogs haven't come up...so if I don't get back to you quickly, please understand. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. THANKS.

Apr 05, 2008 02:26 PM

Diana Young

Staging Seattle, King & Snohomish Counties - Edmonds, WA

Hi Ginger, I tell home sellers we consult with that they need to remember that they are competing with lots of new construction right now, so their home needs to look new, fresh, updated and ready to be enjoyed by the new owners! People don't want to take the time and make the decisions that come with re-doing a home and they will pay not to have to do it. Sellers need to do those things before listing if they want to get top dollar and sell their home.

Apr 05, 2008 03:30 PM

Gayle Balaban

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E - Chattanooga, TN

E. TN Waterfront Real Estate

Seems typical of the public attitude in general. If you are staying in your house a while before selling it is hard to keep up with the trends.

Apr 05, 2008 04:29 PM

Anonymous

Beth Lester

I have been thinking about this recently. As a culture, I believe we are more "materialistic" and designer-sensitive than we were 20-30 years ago. Years ago no one expected a house to look like it had been professioally decorated - now that's the norm of what buyers expect. But that does give us an industry.....so it's not all bad!

Apr 05, 2008 06:37 PM

#20

Susan Peters

Dove Realty Inc. - Seattle, WA

The Better it Looks the Better it Sells

Ginger ,

There are a few buyers out there who will be interested in Unique wallpaper, brass, oak, vinyl and even hi/lo sculptured carpeting.

They also want to offer about 50% below the assessed value.

Apr 05, 2008 07:39 PM

Julianna Hind

eXp Realty - Tacoma, WA

REALTOR, 206-679-4768, Tacoma Federal Way, Auburn, Kent, WA

Susan - thats pretty funny! Yes Ginger... and in my immediate area, there are so many new homes on the market... a seller of a home built 20 years ago must be ready to compete --- either aesthetically or in pricing!

Apr 06, 2008 03:41 AM

Ginger Foust

Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA

Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Thank you Diana, Gayle, Beth, Susan and Julianna for your comments. Since I posted this to localism I was thinking that maybe this was a local trend, but it sounds like it's across the country. It's too bad for the seller that trends and styles change so quickly today. But as Beth said it does give us an industry. Susan, recently I got a design client and upon walking into her home I thought (she's in her 80's) that she liked those things, but she also hates them and lived with them for 3 years..,now big changes! I think I need to devise a new flyer for agents to send to the clients.

Apr 06, 2008 04:05 AM

Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging

Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR

"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Ginger~ You're spot on with this post. Today's buyers have so much NEW construction inventory to choose from since many areas have a glut of new homes .... so they definitely want move-in ready. I also think it has something to do with younger buyers who are more accustomed to the "instant gratification" lifestyle and don't want to do the work required in a dated home.

Apr 06, 2008 06:04 AM

Ginger Foust

Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA

Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Maureen, I'm totally with you about the "instant gratification" lifestyle. In our area new homes are few and far between (no housing tracts) and the spec. builders up here are still using fixtures, countertops, flooring and carpet from the 80's so they aren't selling either. I am seeing a "new" spec. home this week and I know that the owner/seller will not be pleased with what I tell him. When he called this week I implied that he shouldn't let them install their typical contractor grade 1980's light fixtures. But since they will not credit him anything for installing something else he bauked at the idea. We have a glut of homes but they're old or outdated or both. This is not good for our economy. Thanks again for commenting. I'm going to use your "instant gratification" comment in my next flyer, with your permission.

Apr 06, 2008 06:52 AM

Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging

Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR

"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Ginger ~ That's odd that builders don't use current fixtures, but looking at it from a stager's point of view, it could be helpful to your business in that it may lessen the competition from updated "new" when staging dated properties (got to find a positive in there somewhere, right?) Feel free to use my comment, of course! Good luck.

Apr 06, 2008 07:02 AM

Ginger Foust

Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA

Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Maureen, thanks for coming back. I have contacted these spec. builders and discussed their outdated fixtures and was blown off by them. I guess they have enough business that they don't need to listen to reason. I'm just about to buy a supply of inexpensive BUT updated fixtures and carry them with me to consults with clients. EVERY one of my staging reports always has to include photos of the types of light fixtures that I recommend (yes, I think our local folks live in the twilight zone) so maybe I should just offer them on the spot. What do you think?

Apr 06, 2008 07:48 AM

Kimberley Hawley

Hawley Interiors & Staging - Caledon, ON

Hawley Interiors & Staging

Ginger, You are so right about the golden oak! I have so many home owners who do not want to paint this or re-finish it in any way because it is "beautiful solid oak". But the current owners are the only ones who want it.

Apr 06, 2008 09:36 AM

Ginger Foust

Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA

Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Kimberly, I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I still have some golden oak furniture, (fortunately not the house cabinetry) and I SO want to paint it....husband is diametrically opposed. He has the usual manly comment..."you don't paint good solid wood, you're crazy". It will get painted because I'm the one that does the painting but in the meantime I hate it! ALSO I have noticed on Craiglist an abundance of golden and white oak furniture is always for sale. Thanks for commenting.

Apr 06, 2008 09:42 AM

Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging

Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR

"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Ginger ~ That's a good idea about the updated light fixtures. To prevent you from having to haul them around, perhaps you could just carry one as a sample and also include good color pictures of other sizes, styles, etc. Then your client can pay you to buy it for them, or you can include the cost in your staging fees.

Apr 06, 2008 09:51 AM

Ginger Foust

Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA

Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Maureen, I'm glad that you agree. I think that I have to do this. My only glitch is that I just can't go to the retailer and pick these up since I'm so far from retailers. But if I always have one available, as you say, and photos of others, that should work. I do try to get to town at least once a week. Thanks again.

Apr 06, 2008 09:54 AM

Kim Dillon

Creative Eye Home Staging - West Chester, PA

I think you are right on. I still sometimes have trouble convincing sellers (and sometimes Realtors too) that they are better off to make the changes than offer the allowance. So many of today's buyers just don't have the time or inclination to deal with upgrades and changes!

Kim Dillon, Creative Eye Home Staging, Chester County, PA

Apr 06, 2008 02:10 PM

Terrylynn Fisher

Dudum Real Estate Group - BuyStageSell.com - Walnut Creek, CA

HAFA Certified, EcoBroker, CRS, CSP Realtor, Etc.

Yes, thanks Ginger for the post. It IS really hard for people to realize that if it ins't broken, they still need to fix it. The market is tough at best and what you are saying is really true. The "instant gratification" (I like that phrase too) buyers of today are looking for new, not just move in ready, but TODAY move in ready.

Apr 06, 2008 02:15 PM

Kym Hough

www.Staged-to-Sell - Danville, CA

Staged to Sell East Bay - Danville, CA

Hi Ginger, so true. HGTV has really been a big part of why buyers are wanted and expecting houses to have upgrades and be in great condition. They have trained the general public that we all strive to live in "inspiring" houses with upgrades and the latest trends and materials. There is simply no going back. HGTV has 87 million viewers in the US alone 87 MILLION! Their website gets 5.2 million unique clicks a month. Those are huge numbers. We must give the public what they want if we are going to compete. Stagers are here to stay and the industry is growing stronger every day!

Apr 06, 2008 03:20 PM

Ginger Foust

Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA

Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Kim, I get it that neither the sellers or the buyers want to do the work. BUT they also will not spend the money to have it done. Selling anything takes some $$ invested to market the product and people are just wishin' and a hopin' their blessed heads off. AND it's not happening for them. It's a hard message to get across. Thanks for commenting.

Terrylynn, I know that if I HAD to sell my house tomorrow it would take A LOT of sweat and $$ to bring it up to "ready to market" standards...thus I'm not selling, EVER. Leave it to the kids. ha. But hopefully the market will be better by then. (-: Thanks again for the Realtor/Stager point of view. This seems to be a nationwide attitude.

Kym, great statistics about HGTV. Yes our information rich world has made us into hungry for the new and trendy as consumers. There certainly is good and bad in that. Going back is what so many sellers and many agents in my area keep waiting for and as you say, I also believe that it is gone. Thanks so much for commenting.

Apr 07, 2008 02:18 AM

Cindy Lin

Staged4more School of Home Staging - South San Francisco, CA

Host, The Home Staging Show podcast

Your title is SO well said! The market is competitive right now, people always want the bang of the bucks. The buyers today are savvy, they know what's out there. They do their homework. Sellers can no longer have that "either you buy it or someone else will so I am not going to do a thing" mentality.

Cheers,

Cindy

Apr 07, 2008 04:59 AM