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Should Wallpapers be Removed before listing home?

By
Real Estate Agent with Samson Properties VA0225077251

Dear Ritu @Samson Properties -I am planning to sell my home. My home is built in the 80s and we still have wallpaper from that time. Should I remove the wallpaper and paint the walls with a neutral paint? So buyers will look past since the home is from the 80s. 

Answer: Hello Mr. & Mrs. Seller in the Northern Virginia area, wallpaper is one of those polarizing things in my opinion.

Personally,  I don't believe it keeps a buyer from buying the home. I have sold homes with hideous wallpaper.  

Buyers may calculate the cost of removal into a price of your home!

However, every buyer I've shown a house with wallpaper in immediately calculates the cost of removal into a price reduction. Some people don't even want to see the house if it doesn't show well in online pictures. I think small spaces like bathroom or den it is not a big issue if it's tasteful and go with the style of the home. Bold designs and colors lock a buyer into a certain décor or they have to change it. Removing wallpaper and prepping the walls is an expensive and time consuming. 

If you are a home seller and have a resource to remove old style wallpaper go for it.  Or have a stager help you stage the home with the existing wallpaper in your home. There are paints available now you can paint it over. Speak with your local Realtor to help you determine the best approach to your home selling.

 

Apart from wallpaper, other challenges decor in the home as a Realtor we see are: outdated fixture, paneling in the basement, old and mismatch furniture, dark paint color and clutter home can make the home less appealing to the home buyers.

 


Ritu Desai is an Associate Broker with Samson Properties with over 12+ years and $90+ Million of real estate sales experience in residential real estate in the Fairfax and Loudoun county area of Northern Virginia area.

Posted by

 
                             
Associate Broker
MRP, ABR, ePRO

NVAR, Life Time Top Producer
NVAR,Multiple Million Dollar Sales Club Member
Samson Properties
Cell - 703-625-4949
Email - info@eNOVAHomes.com
Web: www.eNOVAHOMES.com
 
Residential real estate agent serving Northern Virginia in Fairfax & Loudoun county over a decade and almost $100+M in sales volume experience. 


 

Comments (2)

Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

It depends...some is done tastefully, although most is probabaly not!

Jun 15, 2016 11:52 PM
Pamela Cendejas
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Kingman, AZ
Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235

I didn't realize people still used wallpaper.  People have their own tastes and I would think they would be more concerned about a wallpaper they didn't like than they would be about a paint color they didn't like.  Wallpaper is a pain the neck to remove.

Jun 24, 2016 04:37 AM
Ritu Desai 703-625-4949

Pamela Cendejas I agree wallpaper are a pain to remove. We are seeing a wallpaper trend back in the area. Hopefully they don't look antique in a decade. 

Jun 25, 2016 11:03 PM