Omaha Home Staging - When Neutral Paint Isn't Good Enough

I co-host a radio show in Omaha, Nebraska on Saturday mornings called "The Real Estate Reality Hour". This morning's guest was Walt Slobotski, current President of the Metro Omaha Builder's Association, MOBA.  Walt asked me an interesting question while we were on air; he was wondering what is the best color scheme with regard to interior paint in a home for sale.

My approach to Home Staging is the same as marketing any product or commodity.  Once consumer demand has been established, competition in the marketplace further dictates price and quality standards. Therefore a successful seller must know what their direct competition looks like and how they match up against it. I have two philsophies with regard to what is the best color scheme/marketing strategy to use in homes for sale in Omaha.

Homes that are under the $275k price point and are generally competing against existing homes (both custom built and the cookie cutterhomes) will show best if the interior is painted professionally - or by a very good do-it-yourselfer with a steady hand - in a neutral, beige-ish color scheme.  These homes are often competing against other homes with stark white walls or homes of first time home buyers that went a little crazy with color, particularly in the kids' bedrooms, and did the painting themselves and often did a sloppy job. A nice neutral home compared to these other listings will stand out above the competition and will receive offers sooner than the others.

Homes in the higher price ranges are often competing against new construction where the builder hired an interior designer or stager for assistance in selecting an updated color scheme, or existing homes where the homeowner hired a professional for assistance with color selection and to do the actual painting.  Homes for sale with this type of competition in the higher price ranges will often show better with carefully selected color palettes that include mochas, sage greens, and rusty reds. The colors must be lighter and slightly more neutral than what some people would choose to use in a home they are lving in and not selling, but homes competing in this market usually show better with a little color.

Listen to "The Real Estate Reality Hour" Saturday mornings at 9am on 1290 KKAR if you are in the Omaha metro or online at www.1290kkar.com.