Suzanne - I grew up in St. Pete! 

The terra cotta wall is also in about 3 other places that aren't shown in the photos.  The yellow is a common Charleston color and is perfectly fine & neutral.  (As a matter of fact it is rare to walk into a $500K plus home in Charleston and it NOT to be painted yellow.)  As a vacant home the terra cotta was overwhelming.  The home is also very modern (on the inside).  Vacant, the light fixures & color choices made it seem difficult for the mainstream buyer to envision themselves living in it.  Adding furniture, helped to tone down some of the meld some of the modern aspects while appealing to a larger audience. 

Rosemary - I have several good agents that will do exactly that, particularly if they are out of town sellers.  Bring out a professional stager with a good portfolio that can show the difference that paint can make!  The stager consult fee should be fairly nominal and it would be considered marketing expenses for your taxes.  I'm often hired to come in to show what the potential is ... the agent often uses me simply to back up the points they've been trying to make all along.  If the client still won't budge then my report will give them ammunition for price cuts or even saving the listing itself!

Good luck!

Kathy, thanks I'm honored....

I love the before & after group.... we all love before and after photos after all... I think it is in our blood...

Sharon - the colors aren't offensive colors (although each bedroom upstairs is painted a different color).  The primary color downstairs is a yellowish gold, but there are several large terra cotta accent walls through out.  The big issue with color in this home is that it is not neutral.  A majority of buyers would walk into this home and decide immediately that their furniture would not look good in here. 

Rosemary - You will need to clearly explain that they are narrowing their window of potential buyers.  I had a client whose daughters rooms were gorgeous dreamy little girl rooms.  We had concerns that they were a little over the top girly though (pink and white strips with princess crowns, etc.. another room with clouds, flowers, etc)  For those particular rooms we posted signs that they would paint the rooms if requested.  The living room, dining room, kitchen, hallway and primary bath were all painted a neutral color.  (fortunately the master room was already neutral!)  We had to start this off by having them paint the entry way room first (which happened to be the dining room).  After that was done and it looked great they were a little more up to the challenge.  Also, allow them to help you pick out a color - one with pigment but still neutral so they dont' feel like they are living in a white house.  Good luck!

Nora & Susan - Thank you very much!  I look forward to seeing you in a regional conferencesince you are in my region!