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Is Personalizing Your Home a Good Idea?

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker 69190

  Earlier today I was reading an article online about the new basics of personalizing your home. The advice of the writer, an interior decorator, was to go bold and make a statement. Bright colors in the kitchen. Dark colors in small spaces in the home and bright colored accent walls. Forgo traditional granite and solid surface counter tops for more exotic choices that really stand out and command attention.

 

Columbia, SC homes for Sale

 

So, the big question becomes, should you go bold when personalizing your home. Well, the truth is that it's your home and you can really do just about anything you want, but you might want to get comfortable. If you are having work done on your forever home or one that you plan to remain in for a long time, then go nuts. But when it comes time to sell the house, all that personalization can really come back to bite you.

  Most buyers out there still prefer to see a more neutral selections throughout a home and as we all know, first impressions are everything. Fewer and fewer buyers are in search of a project and would much rather have a  home they can move into and not have to worry about making any changes. That's why I always advise sellers to depersonalize their homes prior to putting it on the market and make the house as neutral as possible. So again, there's nothing wrong with personalizing your home. But you may want to think long and hard about you do so and how long you will remain in the home. If you go too bold for the buyers, you may have to call it home a lot longer than you intended.

 

Lesley Wilson-VanGoethem
Innovative Realty Solutions Group - Winter Springs, FL
Residential Real Estate Broker Associate

Love your last line...." If you go too bold for the buyers, you may have to call it home a lot longer than you intended."  Sooooo true!

Jan 05, 2018 07:00 AM
JL Boney, III

I thought it summed up things nicely.

Jan 05, 2018 09:08 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Well said- if you plan on enjoying your personal choices for a while, and if you are willing to invest in the changes you need to make when you decide to sell and IF the personal choice is not irreversible- then go for it!

Jan 05, 2018 07:13 AM
JL Boney, III

It takes some thought when making selections on a home. Or money, either one is fine.

Jan 05, 2018 09:09 AM
Matt Brady
Watermark Capital - Del Mar, CA
One of San Diego's Best Equity Advisors

People have to be able to see themselves in a home they are buying. So do whatever you want while you live in a house but be prepared with some neutral paint and a clean slate when you try to sell it.

Jan 05, 2018 07:47 AM
JL Boney, III

I tell sellers all the time that buyers want to pictures themselves in the home, not the sellers in the home.

Jan 05, 2018 09:10 AM
Ann Nguyen
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Truckee, CA
Lake Tahoe Truckee Homes For Sale

Perhaps it always depends on the situation but what's important is that the home is always ready for a showing

Jan 05, 2018 08:20 AM
JL Boney, III

As long as the house is ready to go when you are ready to go.

Jan 05, 2018 09:11 AM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

I'm guessing no seller enjoys the stager telling them they need to repaint that red wall but you're right, most buyers want a more neutral palette when they are buying a home. 

Jan 05, 2018 11:27 AM
JL Boney, III

No one likes to hear that they need to change things, but reasonable sellers realize it's what has to be done to attract buyers.

Jan 05, 2018 01:45 PM
Corey Martin
Martin Presence Group - Ruston, LA
Real Estate and Management Solutions

You are exactly right. People prefer their home to be more standard when buying. But then they personalize as time goes on. Thanks for sharing. 

Jan 05, 2018 02:10 PM
JL Boney, III

Hard to paint a masterpiece without a blank canvas.

Jan 06, 2018 11:50 AM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Excellent advice. The same goes for fixing up your home before selling. Making it look spic and span is good but remodeling probably isn't.  have seen completely remodeled homes be gutted when the new owner moved in.

Jan 05, 2018 02:42 PM
JL Boney, III

The cleaner the better.

Jan 06, 2018 11:51 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Jane Peters ...used the words "spic & span" which I believe is a good start point

Jan 05, 2018 03:50 PM
JL Boney, III

A dirty house never shows well.

Jan 06, 2018 11:52 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good evening JL Boney, III,

Love your advice..I'm in complete agreement. It's always wise to neutralize  personalized colors. If you want them to be crazy go for it but know before you sell you need to remember you're presenting a package to a wide audience and better be safe than sorry!

Jan 05, 2018 04:00 PM
JL Boney, III

As long as you are willing to do what you have to do to sell, then you can always do what you want to do when you buy.

Jan 06, 2018 11:53 AM
Laura Filip
Laura Filip Broker , Opening doors for All Seasons of Life - Whitesboro, TX
What can we do for you today?

Thank you for sharing the post. Top of the items is to have a clean house I mean clean clean clean de clutter no smells none what so ever... 

Jan 05, 2018 05:32 PM
JL Boney, III

That's not a bad start.

Jan 06, 2018 11:54 AM
Kimo Jarrett
Cyber Properties - Huntington Beach, CA
Pro Lifestyle Solutions

Your home is your castle, so, fix it up as you wish and enjoy your castle. When it's time to change addresses, depending on the circumstances and the FMV of the property, determining what repairs or improvements might be necessary to close quickly can be addressed then but not while it's your castle IMO. 

Jan 06, 2018 01:52 AM
JL Boney, III

The second you put a sign in the yard you don't want it to be your castle anymore.

Jan 06, 2018 11:55 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Fewer distractions mean greater sales...personal is the way you live, neutral is the way you sell.

Jan 06, 2018 04:07 AM
JL Boney, III

Very well put.

Jan 06, 2018 11:56 AM
John Wiley
Fort Myers, FL
Lee County, FL, ECO Broker, GRI, SRES,GREEN,PSA

I have had sellers with some nice homes, but they were too personalized.

Painted murals on the wall were a turn off to potential buyers. Now we know that some fresh paint will cover the problem, but when buyers are looking for move in ready, that is a sticking point for them.

Jan 06, 2018 08:10 AM
JL Boney, III

Fresh paint is always a good start. Nothing wrong with a mural if you like them, but it doesn't guarantee that everyone else will.

Jan 06, 2018 11:57 AM
Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate-Kansas City Homes - Kansas City, MO
Experienced Agent in Kansas City Metro area

This is very true.  Some homeowners don't think about that when redecorating or remodeling.  Then, they can get upset if buyers don't like what they see when it's time to sell.  Fortunately, most of the time it's easy to neutralize decor--but often not hard remodels.

Jan 06, 2018 09:05 AM
JL Boney, III

I have seen many sellers get offended when told that they need to change something they like. Unfortunately, it's all part of the process.

Jan 06, 2018 12:00 PM
Golden1 Agents
San Mateo, CA

Thanks for sharing.

Jan 07, 2018 06:50 AM
JL Boney, III

Thanks for stopping by.

Jan 08, 2018 10:17 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

If it makes you happy and makes you smile...go for it. Make it your own!

UNLESS...you are planning to sell anytime soon.

 

Jan 07, 2018 07:26 AM
JL Boney, III

No t a bad approach at all.

Jan 08, 2018 10:17 AM
Karen Feltman
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA KW Legacy Group - Cedar Rapids, IA
Relocation Specialist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

When past clients ask for advice, I tell them neutral with personality.  No one likes a plain vanilla box.  Even the model homes have pops of color!  Usually it is all in the accessories though, not the walls!  That way, you can pack it all up and take it with you anyway.  Great post!

Jan 09, 2018 07:04 PM
JL Boney, III

It's easy to add character to house without getting too carried away if you plan ahead.

Jan 10, 2018 11:10 AM
M.C. Dwyer
Melody Russell Team at eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Felton, CA
MC Dwyer-Santa Cruz Mountains Property Specialist

Nice post!   There's a balance between timing and cost.   Paint and accessorize boldly, but when spending money on big ticket items, think about your exit timeline and what it would cost to neutralize  decor to appeal to the most buyers.

Jan 10, 2018 09:07 AM
JL Boney, III

I try to add color and personalization through items that are easy to remover or replace.

Jan 10, 2018 11:13 AM
Andy Brown-Climer School of Real Estate
The Climer School of Real Estate - Orlando, FL
The Best Real Estate School in Florida

JL, good job on posting this blog. If you are interested, 'google' seo tips and get some of the things in your blog that keeps Google's spiders and crawlers happy for SEO ranking.

Jan 20, 2019 12:30 PM
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Great information, thanks for sharing.  I hope 2019 is a great year for you.

Jan 21, 2019 03:55 AM