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New Hampshire Home Stager Tip #4 Define Space & Function

By
Home Stager with Sharon Tara Transformations

living room

Did you know that only 10% of buyers can actually visualize a room any other way than how you show it to them.

It is very important, when preparing a house for sale, to clearly define the space and function of each room. 

Don't expect potential buyers to try and figure out how to better arrange the furniture because your furniture is not working in the room.

If you currently have your house on the market or are planning on selling your house in the near future, then this seven-part series was written for you.

Previous Tips:

Tip #1  Update Lighting Fixtures 

Tip #2  Identify Red Flags

Tip #3  Pre-Pack Your Stuff 

 

Tip #4  Define Space & Function

Buyers looking at this room on the MLS have no idea what room it is.  It seems to be a home office for a clock collector.  The dated window treatments and carpet aren't making it any more appealing. 

The solution:  The desk was closed, the clocks were removed, and furniture was rearranged.  The only items purchased were the new window treatments. 

living room beforeliving room after

 

The sellers of this house were using the dining room as a playroom, and they expected buyers to see past the toys.  Buyers don't "see past" clutter...they walk past clutter, right out the door to the next house on their list. 

The solution:  The toys were removed and the dining set was brought up from the basement where it was being stored.  Fresh paint and a new light fixture were the final touches.

dining room beforeDining Room After

 

 

This condo was listed vacant, with only one photo of the kitchen posted on the MLS.  It was impossible to see the size of the room from the photo.  In person, the room appeared very small and it was very difficult for buyers to visualize making use of the space.  A big issue was that there are no cabinets in this kitchen.

 

condo before

 The solution: 

A table and chairs was brought in with a few basic accessories.   Appliances were upgraded to stainless. 

To address the "no cabinets" issue, small appliances, dishes, and cookware were placed in one closet and food items (cereal, canned goods) were placed in the other.  (Closets on either side of mantel) 

Two pictures replaced the original picture on the MLS to better represent the room. 

  

condo kitchen with tablecondo with stainless

 

 

Comments (18)

Janna Scharf
Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene - Coeur d'Alene, ID
Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert

What a great series, I am going to use it as a resource for all my future sellers to read!

Aug 19, 2009 05:02 AM
C. Bartch
Newark, OH

So true Sharon, define that space!!! I've seen dinning rooms taken over by the children's toys, it looks like a toy store.

Aug 19, 2009 06:45 AM
Ann Allen Hoover
RE/MAX Advantage South - Hoover, AL
CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO Realtor - Homes for Sale - AL

That dining room transformation gives me hope one day for mine.......my husband has turned ours into his office and I wonder if it will ever be a dining room again.

Aug 19, 2009 07:23 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Janna:  I am quite flattered!  I hope the series helps your sellers to understand the value of preparation and makes your job easier.

Cynthia:  That does seem to be a popular place to make the playroom.  I see it all the time.

Ann:  It will have to be when you decide to move one day.  Isn't that always the way, we fix it up to sell to someone else!

Aug 19, 2009 08:53 AM
Lee & Carol Barbour, REALTORS
Murphy and Hayesville, NC; Hiawassee, Blairsville, Blue Ridge GA - Murphy, NC
Mountain Living Team in Murphy NC and North GA

What a great visual those photos make and great tools for our sellers.

Aug 19, 2009 09:50 AM
Monique Combs
Royal Shell Real Estate - Bonita Springs, FL
Royal Shell Real Estate - Monique Combs

Hi Sharon, I didn't know that 10% of buyers can actually visualize a room any other way than how you show it. Great tip! Super series of posts. I would love to re-blog, but I feel I would like to ask your permission because of all the time and effort you put into these wonder blogs. Let me know either way moniquehailer@mris.com

Aug 19, 2009 10:32 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Lee & Carol:  I hope sellers find these posts helpful!  Thanks for commenting!

Monique:  Thank you for the nice comment.  Of course, you may reblog.  I hope the posts are useful to your sellers!

Aug 19, 2009 01:04 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Sharon-another great addition to your series.  I loved your first example of the desk/clock room.  Without great expense you were able to show the room as it might be used.  And a great solution for the cabinet-less kitchen.  I was just contacted today about just such a kitchen.  Now I have a possible solution!

Aug 19, 2009 02:00 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Kathy:  That is wonderful...I am glad to hear my post was helpful! 

Aug 19, 2009 02:02 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Sharon ~ Wow a kitchen with no cabinets -- what a challenge!  The dining room transformation is wonderful thanks to the paint color change and the dining set coming back in. 

Aug 19, 2009 06:10 PM
Kim Dillon
Creative Eye Home Staging - West Chester, PA

My favorite was the dining room.  How many times do you see it used as a playroom?!! Might not be too bad, but in all the split colonials we have in this area, it is usually the first room you see as you enter the home!

Aug 19, 2009 11:47 PM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

What great visuals your blogs are for my sellers.  I intend to use them for future reference.  Great job Sharon!

  

Aug 20, 2009 06:56 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Maureen:  The kitchen with no cabinets was a challenge. I had never seen that before or since.  The two "pantry" closets were good size though.   The realtor had not thought of showing them with "cabinet stuff" in them.  It was a really old house with lots of charm, turned into condos. 

Kim:  It was visable from the entrance...first impression was not good at all! 

Debra:  That is wonderful...I'm happy the posts are useful to you and may help your sellers in the future!  Thanks.

Aug 20, 2009 09:51 AM
Monique Combs
Royal Shell Real Estate - Bonita Springs, FL
Royal Shell Real Estate - Monique Combs

Sharon, Thanks you! I hope you get some juice and a new job because of your Home Staging in Portsmouth NH.  Via

Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager

Portsmouth, NH

Aug 20, 2009 01:30 PM
Rita Minion
O'Brien Realty - Solomons, MD

Hello Sharon,

What a terrific post!  Packed with great visuals and tips!  Thank you for sharing! 

Rita

 

Aug 20, 2009 04:19 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Monique:  Thanks for the "juice generating" comment, I appreciate it!

Rita:  Thank you for your enthusiasm! 

Aug 20, 2009 11:57 PM
Leslie Helm
Tennessee Recreational Properties - Jamestown, TN
Real Estate For Trail Riders

Hi, Sharon. Why don't you move to Jamestown, Tennessee? I need you HERE! Big South Fork national park is a destination for trail riders and many who came from Knoxville, Nashville, Chattanooga etc. to ride on weekend built a small cabin...with a septic permit for what they built. Maybe they added on to it. And added on again. Now you have a three-bedroom cabin permitted for one bedroom. In advertising the property, it's now a one bedroom cabin with two "bonus rooms." Well....what's a bonus room? Will it be used as a bedroom? An office? A playroom? A exercise room? Staging is a concept that barely exists here and buyers often cannot visualize the possibilities.

I LOVE what you did with the kitchen in your photos.....what a huge difference the dark stove and vase of flowers made!

Aug 21, 2009 01:20 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Leslie:  I wish I could help you out!  Thanks so much for the comment.  The stainless appliances really do make a huge difference.  There were four condo units in this building and the one they used for photos was the one with white appliances...switching with one of the other units was an easy fix.

Aug 21, 2009 05:44 AM