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What to do...what to do...opinions and suggestions welcome !!!

By Michelle King

Home Stager with Home Harmony

February 07, 2010 05:21 PM

My dilema...we are about to stage a beautiful home. However the homeowner

won't let us paint this stairwell. It might be hard to see but the paint is

textured in a dijon sort of yellow with copper veins painted in by hand

as well as the rest of the paint technique that was applied. The challenge

I have is trying to get the rest of the house to flow when this one, and major area,

I can't change. (Funny how these challenges come about... this is the one area

I really really wanted to paint...to tone down...to calm down...

We are allowed to have the orange painted away. Lots of oak. Green ceramic floors

also untouchable...I need something soothing and elegant....

Please...any suggestions you have will be welcome. Louise suggested

the Benjamin Moore Tiramisu (CC 486 I think) to replace the orange in

both the foreground and the background of this last photo.

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Cameron Novak

The Homefinding Center - 1000 Palms, CA

Real Estate Broker since 2008

LOL... Is this your biggest problem.

Feb 07, 2010 06:17 PM

Bob Maiocco

8Z Real Estate - Evergreen, CO

Fix the paint job with an adjusted price

Feb 07, 2010 06:36 PM

Michelle King

Home Harmony - Kirkland, QC

Cameron, actually they have oak cabinets in the kitchen with custom mouldings at the top and bottom that are stained forest green. I also can't touch that. So no. But as a stager I try very hard to make a home flow and that entrance is getting in the way....as an agent...with laughter...do you llike it ?

Bob, yeah that is the problem, he is aiming for a price higher than the local agents suggest. Top dollar and all that. I also try very hard never to get involved in pricing a home... I know I am not going to have to sell it so I really try to make it as easy as possible on the homeowner AND the agent.

Mind you I sholdn't feel so bad...that agent told the homeowners that the house was so nice it didn't need more than an hour or two of staging...for a 3 storey 5 bedroom, 3 car garage home.

btw, after putting in over 20K in the garage we have to make sure even that looks great as we complete our job.

Have a great day guys !!

Feb 07, 2010 09:03 PM

Terry Chenier

Homelife Glenayre Realty - Mission, BC

Michelle,

If they are selling the home and want top dollar what's their problem with painting?

Feb 08, 2010 12:39 AM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Michelle, sometimes you just can't get the sellers to buy into your recommendations. Is it the expense that they object to? You might try Sherwin Williams Color Visualizer where you can upload an actual photo of the room, then "paint" it a more neutral color. Perhaps if they could see the change it would make they might consider it.

Feb 08, 2010 01:07 AM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Kathy has a great point...show them how it could look and maybe they will better understand the value it would add. I love that they want top dollar but aren't willing to do what it takes to get top dollar.

Removing all that clutter (plants) from the landing at the top and painting the orange would make a huge difference. I wouldn't waste too much energy worrying about the rest. It's their decision to make and they have to live with the consequences.

Feb 08, 2010 01:21 AM

Kathy Burke

Sensational Home Staging~~Danville, CA - Danville, CA

S.F. East Bay Home Staging

One idea....let them know you soliciated feedback from other stagers and agents and the overwhelming opinion was to paint/paint/paint. And to assist with the vision....use the SW Visulalizer. Remind them....they are selling NOT buying the home.

I agree with Sharon....if your stuck with the paint job....remove all that clutter including that dated floral arrangement at the bottom of the stairs. Given the dark/dank look of the paint....I'd use a white orchid arrangement at the foot of the stairs or something white to offset the other colors!

And it is their money to make on the sale or not.....some sellers ask you....then think they know best.

Good Luck....please post the after pic's!!

Feb 08, 2010 01:41 AM

Janice Ankrett

Burlington, ON

Staging Professional

Michelle, I assume they are baulking at painting the 2 storey hall. Since you can paint the orange out, why don't you paint out the lower section of the foyer and leave the upper section faux finished.

It looks like the front door wall is done in a neutral. I would continue that colour around the first floor area. If the stair wall by the door to the living room goes up 2 storeys then leave that wall but do all the others in the neutral. That should cut down the work and the expense.

The stair wall will be an accent and the foyer will be alot calmer.

Feb 08, 2010 02:05 AM

Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging

Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR

"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

If you're "not allowed" to paint over this very unappealing color -- then they are not really ready to sell this home. Why hold on to all of these very specific styles and colors? They will be taking a large price reduction ..... if they don't let go emotionally and let the experts make the staging decisions. Everything in and near that stairwell is terribly dated -- the dried flowers, the paint colors, the oak woodwork, the flooring, the frame on the large art, the greenery, etc. Good luck!

Feb 08, 2010 02:05 AM

Nancy Maurer

Whitehall Interiors & Home Staging LLC - Sparta, NJ

Home Stager - Serving No. NJ

I agree with Maureen...the seller needs to understand that when buyers walk into their house and see this VERY taste-specific color used along the staircase, they are going to lose a significant number of them from the get-go. I'd try to appeal to the seller using this approach (if you haven't already) and in addition, a conceptual staging image of this area (or using the color visualizer yourself) before moving forward. Whatever happens, good luck!

Feb 08, 2010 02:15 AM

Monica Stanciu

Staged 2 Sell Solutions Inc. - Markham, ON

Staged 2 Sell Solutions, Markham, ON

Michelle: go with what Michelle Finnamore tells her clients: if you choose not to paint, this will be the most expnesive painting job you ever paid. it will cost you at least 25K off the asking price.

Feb 08, 2010 07:11 AM

Cindy Bryant

Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX

"Houston Home Staging Pros"

I'm sure they paid alot for it when it was done, and are emotionally attached. Who knows the circumstance, maybe the spouse is giving the other grief to get it painted, etc. If they won't budge, you just have to update and work with it. At least it's not all bright orange! But green floors?

Do they understand they are leaving never to live here again...they need to move on and let it go.

Feb 08, 2010 04:03 PM

Michelle King

Home Harmony - Kirkland, QC

I am so thrilled by all your responses. Thank you so much for the more support and the advice.

Yes the challenge is the expense and yet they are okay with us painting most of the rest of the house. Yes they are attached to it. Yes one spouse is more supportive than the other. The husband remembers the hassle and cost of painting it and doesn't want to go through it again. AND I think they basically love the colours.

I think the moving is a business decision for them i.e. not emotional and yet they are still attached.

AND they won't let me touch the floors !!!

I was more thrown at this early stage than for most projects. in part because my vision included first painting that two storey stairwell and the orange. and then slam....NO !!

Once again thanks so much Cindy, Monica, Maureen, Nancy, Janice, Kathy (x2) and Sharon. I already can't wait for the after pictures. Fingers crossed.

Feb 08, 2010 10:13 PM

Cathy Brosius

Arranged Smartly LLC - Saint Louis, MO

Home Staging St. Louis region

Sometimes you can't convince people to paint. I just had that problem. Getting rid of the excess greenery and vase of flowers flowers will help. How about an area rug that will soften the green tiles and tie in whatever other colors are going on? Good luck!

Feb 09, 2010 07:22 AM

Michelle King

Home Harmony - Kirkland, QC

For anyone interested in the paint colours here goes...

Kitchen cabinets - Behr 790F-4 Creek Bend

Kitchen Walls - Behr 790D-4 Pebble Stone

Feb 09, 2010 10:54 AM

Liz Gallagher

LG Home Harmony - Home Stagers & Organizers - Montreal, QC

Montreal Quebec RESA member

Some great suggestion Michelle. We never fail to deliver no matter what the challenges ... we always make It work!

Feb 10, 2010 11:04 PM

Tanya Nouwens

Immeubles Deakin Realty - Montreal West Island, QC

Montreal Real Estate Broker & Stager

Interesting dilemma, Michelle. We've all been there. I like to present my staging recommendations in terms of numbers and business strategy. About half the population hates the colour orange. Most of the population no longer likes faux finishing. Do you really want to take the chance of appealing to a minority of buyers -- and turning off a majority of them -- for the sake of a few hundred dollars? Good luck! -- Tanya in Montreal

Feb 23, 2010 04:54 AM

Chris Olsen

Olsen Ziegler Realty - Cleveland, OH

Broker Owner Cleveland Ohio Real Estate

I would strongly try to persuade them to paint, it's cheap to do (relatively speaking) and perhaps a neutral, soft, round area rug to tone down the green tile?

Apr 24, 2010 02:44 PM

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