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Is it Open or Confusing?

By
Home Stager with House Dressing

A frequent buyer request is an open floor plan.  But often an open plan without furniture leaves a potential buyerMike LR widows wondering how to use the space--it's too much of a good thing.

In Sussex County, NJ we have many beautiful lakes surrounded by homes that were originally built as Summer and weekend get aways.  As they are converted to year round homes and adapted to todays lifestyles the floorplans can be confusing to buyers.

After the sellers remodeled this large room was designed to be used as the Living Room and Dining Room but potential buyers may think warehouse.  After staging it's easier for potential buyers to imagine placing their furniture and the space feels more like a home.
Mike LR 2 after windows
This house had been on the market, vacant and unstaged, for nine months.  After staging by House Dressing and proper pricing it went under contract in a month. 

Posted by

Deb Brodhecker

House Dressing Real Estate Staging & Interior Redesign, Sussex County, NJ

dressedhouse@gmail.com

www.dressedhouse.com

Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Debra....staging is very important if the floor plan has no walls.....

Dec 09, 2009 11:41 PM
Michelle Minch
Moving Mountains Design Home Staging, Pasadena, CA - Los Angeles, CA
Home Staging Los Angeles and Orange County, CA

Deb: You made your point very well. One of the key reasons for staging a home is to show buyers how they could live in it. Furniture layout is so important as is giving purpose to rooms or areas in the home.

Dec 10, 2009 12:19 AM
Debra Brodhecker
House Dressing - Branchville, NJ
House Dressing, New Jersey

Barbara and Michelle, you are both so right I think this house was on the market so long because the photos all looked like the same room--potential buyers had no idea about what they might actually be purchasing.

Dec 10, 2009 06:27 AM
Kate Talarico
Kates Home Staging and Interior Design - Goshen, NY
RESA, Top Orange County Home Decorator & Stager

Very nicely done! Simple and elegant always works.

Dec 10, 2009 08:43 AM
Kim Dillon
Creative Eye Home Staging - West Chester, PA

You are right.  The more open the floorplan, the more definition it needs to be given with furniture.  Nice job!

Dec 11, 2009 07:43 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Nicely done!  One more example of the power of staging.  Congrats on the quick sale!

Dec 11, 2009 12:33 PM
Lori Kim Polk
Premiere Home Staging : Home Staging Services - Roseville, CA
Home Stager - Roseville, Sacramento

Deb... you showed buyers a vision. Nice job!

Dec 11, 2009 03:02 PM
Susan Peters
Dove Realty Inc. - Seattle, WA
The Better it Looks the Better it Sells

Hi Debra,

Open floor plans are ripe for staging. In the before picture you can't tell what that room is supposed to be.

Jan 03, 2010 07:08 PM