Whenever I am working with a home seller, and the home has a lot of wallpaper, I usually recommend that they remove it prior to the first day that it is listed. When I bring this up, I am usually greeted with a great deal of resistance. Here are a few reasons that I have heard for not removing wallpaper:
1. The wallpaper has a story behind it...it brings back happy memories for the sellers. They remember the pains they went through to pick the perfect pattern that would go with all of their furniture and decorations.
2. They paid a LOT of money for that perfect wallpaper!
3. It is too much of a pain to remove. Removing wallpaper does require the application of chemicals or steaming the paper off of the walls. And after the paper is removed, the walls underneath may need to be patched and touched up in order to restore a smooth finish.
However, kind seller, please remember that wallpaper is an extremely personal choice. This fact is demonstrated by the myriad of selections whenever you go into a home decor store. There are thousands and thousands of choices out there to match the unique tastes and preferences of the homeowner.
So my question is this: Do you want to limit your buyer pool to that one buyer who loves the wallpaper as much as you do? Of course you don't. When you put your house on the market, you must market to the broadest audience possible. I am not trying to be difficult, I just want what you want: To SELL your house.
Howard Hanna Rand Realty - Yorktown Heights, NY
Associate Broker / Office Manager
Wallpaper is to a house what a tattoo is for a body. It is going to be there a long time, will probably lose its appeal, and not everyone will like it.
Aug 09, 2010 02:55 AM
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA
Kathryn, number three sums it up totally, If you've ever removed wall paper, you don't ever want to do it again. I agree, it does limit the number of buyers. Thanks.
Aug 09, 2010 02:56 AM
Lending Maven Mortgage - Denver, Colorado - Highlands Ranch, CO
I actually didn't buy a house because it had so much wallpaper and I had been through the removal process before. I would absolutely advise your clients to take it off....its a turnoff to a buyer who knows how much work is ahead of them to get it off.
Aug 09, 2010 05:18 AM
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Natick, MA
Kathryn,
excellent advice! I see so many posts lately with generic advice that "a fresh coat of paint does wonders" - and it does. But very first thing - wallpaper has to go! Then "fresh coat of paint" etc. Maureen in #38 showed perfect example.
BTW, to remove wallpaper easily, use a mix of water and fabric softener, wet wallpaper thouroughly using rags, then proceed with removing. The hardest thing is dealing with attached cabinetry, when it's a wallpapered kitchen. You really need a strong guy or two to help...
Aug 09, 2010 05:40 AM
Gilleran Griffin Realty - Sherman Oaks, CA
just take the word "wallpaper" and insert various other words that sellers hang on to...
if you knew... would you .... more money quicker sale fewer problems, yes?
Yes!
nice post
Aug 09, 2010 07:33 AM
Hendersonville, Nashville, Old Hickory, Lebanon Tennessee - Hendersonville, TN
Realtor, Selling Homes, Lake Properties,Luxury Homes,Short Sales
Yes wallpaper owners tend to value it so much. "It just makes this room don't you think?" I have to break the news "It makes your home dated and less attractive to today's more modern buyer." Especially when the home is in a first time or second home price range.
Aug 09, 2010 08:36 AM
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist
Oh, no, not the story and memories! LOL. And if it cost a lot, they'll get a better return on that investment by doing away with it. Strange, but true.
Aug 09, 2010 02:01 PM
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M
I don't think I've ever had a buyer who liked the wall paper in a house they were viewing. That should tell the sellers what needs to happen in their listing.
Aug 09, 2010 07:09 PM
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Rancho Bernardo, CA
Your Agent for Change
When it was time to remove just a small amount we'd put in a bathroom in the early nineties, my husband had a fit. He made me promise that we'd never put up ANY kind of wallpaper again. And I gladly promised!
Aug 10, 2010 03:14 AM
RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker
Sometimes a small section of wallpaper can be removed without damage, and framed so they can take their memories with them, but although there are many people who love wallpaper, there are many more today who may hate it - no matter how lovely or expensive it is.
Our goal as Realtors is to expose their home to as many potential buyers as possible and to make the home appeal to as many of them as possible.
Aug 10, 2010 04:54 PM
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services
Funnily enough the comment about wallpaper is sometimes, "I don't hate it." But instead of removing some wallpaper they can paint over it where possible.
Aug 11, 2010 05:10 PM
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036
Congrats on the feature! I have never had anyone agree to consider removing wallpaper. That is one of the toughest topics to cover. Great post!
Aug 13, 2010 12:55 PM
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon
Even paint choice can have the same result, don't limit your buyer pool buy the choices you have chosen. Give your house the best chance buy letting it shine!
Aug 13, 2010 07:48 PM
Serving Mentor, and all of Lake County, Ohio - Mentor, OH
Keller Williams Realty- Mentor, Ohio
I am thinking that sometimes things like this depend on the marketing area, and the local trends as far as decorating. There are certain areas of the country where wallpaper is considered very old-school... and certain more "colonial" areas where the judicious use of wallpaper can result in a wonderful-looking home. So... it depends.
Aug 20, 2010 07:59 PM
Serving Mentor, and all of Lake County, Ohio - Mentor, OH
Keller Williams Realty- Mentor, Ohio
@ Maureen in # 38: An interesting choice of pictures you have selected. My preference... would most definitely be the wallpapered decor in the first picture. The second one... with the wallpaper and curtains removed... to me looks very sterile. Just my opinion.
Aug 20, 2010 08:01 PM
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area
C2 Financial - San Diego, CA
C2 Financial
Kathryn, Great post. Ironically, in my recent relocation to SoCal I have leased a lovely little house that has a different wall paper in every room except the living room....it is tastefully done and professionally installed, but certainly would prevent anyone from buying an otherwise lovely home. It is so "Grandma" my antiques are right at home! Yup, the owner would either remove or not sell...even to me and I love the home and the location.
Aug 24, 2010 09:58 AM
eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL
Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)
Thank goodness that when I moved into my home nearly 3 years ago, I only had to remove wallpaper border. I think that if there was more than just borders in the house, I never would have bought it. The shear thought of removing wall after wall of wallpaer is enough to make me walk away.
Aug 26, 2010 01:10 AM
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA
Wallpaper is the perfect way to bring life into a your home, and with advancements in digital art printing, there are many options available to replicate a work of art for your walls.
Sep 19, 2016 06:56 PM
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Kathryn Maguire
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