Staging at Halloween? Herman Munster or Your Realtor...Mmmmh

OK, it is October and the Halloween decorations are starting to come out in the neighbors yards. You are getting ready to Sell your home and you have heard about the proper home staging tips to take out extra furniture and stage it in a way that a Buyer can visualize themselve in your home and submit a contract. If you home resembles something closer to the Munsters home of TV fame, you may have a problem.

So, who are you gong to ask for advice on staging your home near Halloween, Herman Munster or your professional REALTOR®, also known as me, Jeff Masich.

Ask Herman Munster or Your REALTOR® (ME) for Home Staging Advice?

              Herman Munster would have his own home staging ideas...Have you seen his home?

If Herman Munster was a Real Estate Agent, would his home selling ideas coincide with what most Buyers want even at Halloween? Herman, if you recall on TV's The Munsters had some unique ideas regarding home decoration. Would Herman's ideas help a home Seller get an offer at the best price for the Seller? Does your home resemble Herman Munster's home? You can decide here.

The Munster home is not what one wants to do when Home Staging

The Munster home is filled with things that have "Gotta Go" when staging a home to sell

What has got to go when Home Staging

One of the more difficult things we as Real Estate professionals have to do is advising our clients "what has to go" when putting their family home on the market. Herman Munster may have ideas that do not match what the majority of Buyers are looking for in a home. For example, most Buyers are not looking for a moat around the home and creaking front porches and doors that resemble that of a dungeon.

I think we have all been there where a client's home, maybe like the Munster's home, has worked for them for a generation and everything works but it is not in a condition where we as professionals, in our opinions, will put the client's home in a position to sell for top dollar in the local market.

For example, Herman Munster may love certain aspects in a home, but some things have GOTTA GO when selling a home!

GOTTA GO Items When Selling Home

The "Got To Go" items are home features that scream "I AM OUTDATED!"  Don't expect to get the same price as a neighbor's pristine, updated same model home if your client's home is outdated.

Yes, everything still works. The Seller may not feel their home is outdated, but the average Buyer will feel a home is outdated if the subject home has one or more of the following conditions. If so, it is probably time to tactfully make the recommendation to your client to clean, re-arrange, upgrade or remodel.

Herman Munster styled- Front Door and Door Lighting Fixtures

Old doors? What do you think? Did you see the Munster's front door? Yikes!

Old Herman Munster Door Knobs

Are they old, brassy? Does the one on the front door look like it was owned by Herman Munster? Has it has been through one too many winters or scratched with brillo?
                 Herman Munster might like old door knobs with "character?"... Most Buyers will not

1970s Style Stove and Oven

Does yours have a clock with dials and switches that yell Ozzie and Harriet?  Time to  "Lose It" and replace with something newer.

Microwave plugged in on the counter

Buyers want a built in microwave over the stove.

Shag Carpets and LInoleum

Yikes! Laminate flooring is inexpensive and buyers really like it.

Wall/Floor Moldings

Are yours simple and cheap and old? Get some new molding with some character. Inexpensive.

"Creative" Paint in the orange, purple and lime families

Have you noticed new homes? The designers and stagers paint the walls tan/champagne and with white trim on the moldings. There is a reason. Buyers like it.
 
Also as noted in the following by Roslyn Ashford in a recent article for Inman News.

"Dusty" fake plants

There are a number of easy-to-grow houseplants widely available, from the virtually indestructible snake plant to the common philodendron. Some plants thrive well in low sun and others work well with lots of sun and less watering. Consequently, there is really no need for fake plants in real life. They end up being dust collectors.

Messiness

Now we all know that not everyone is Felix Unger (of "The Odd Couple") neat. But if you know your house is on the market (hint: there is a real estate agent's lockbox on the outside of your front or side door), there is no need to leave your home with underwear on the floor, unmade beds and stacks of laundry on the coffee table. Would you be motivated to buy a home that shows like this? Why leave it like that for someone else? Some people do not even pick up for the Realtor's pictures...oh my!

Popcorn ceilings and wood paneling

What else can be said? These items instantly date your home. If only I had a magic wand to make all the bad ceilings and wood paneling go away.

Kitchen cabinets busting at the seams

You know all of those small plastic containers accumulated from the weekly trips to the deli at the grocery store? Yes, it is OK to recycle these, along with plastic bottles, cans and glass bottles. Or you could even take some along when you donate clothes to local shelters or food to local food banks.

Just know that you don't have to keep each and every one that you receive. Because when a prospective buyer opens a cabinet door and they all fall out -- not so cool.

Houses with too many pet items

Sellers: Not everyone loves your pets like you do. Doggie doors, scratched doors and cabinets?Not only should your pets be invisible during showings, but their accessories must go as well. That would be pet toys, food and water bowls, perches, dog beds, dog and/or cat carriers, large containers of food, etc. I'm not saying you have to toss it, but please find a way to store them out of the way for showings."

More Ideas

For more ideas for your Seller clients that will attract Buyers see how to "Make your home SMILE"! 

Communicating these thoughts should be done with warmth, love and compassion. After all, the Sellers probably love their home. The Munsters loved their home. Getting the Buyer to love the home also and helping your clients, the Sellers, to understand what needs to stay and what needs to go is where the rubber meets the road. 

Listing and Staging Your Home in the Phoenix Arizona metro area with Jeff Masich, REALTOR®

 As your Seller's REALTOR®, I Jeff Masich can help you with what has to stay and what has to go and help you attract Buyers in order to get the most for your home. Give me a call, I would be pleased to help. I do love Herman Munster though. 

If you are looking to move to Phoenix including Scottsdale or to buy a home in Arizona or sell a home in Arizona, contact Jeffrey Masich, Associate Broker and Realtor. I would be pleased to help you and look out for your best interests while finding you the right home at the right price!