Home > Blogs > Linda D. Pufford > Linda D. Pufford's Blog

"Home Staging Tips ~ What's your Opinion?"

By Linda D. Pufford

Home Stager with Stage with Divine Style - Home Staging

July 19, 2011 12:06 AM

"Home Staging Tips ~ What's your Opinion?"

As a Home Stager many times while previewing a clients home I am asked my opinion about their home. Home Stagers are trained to see a home with buyers eyes and are able to see things that possibly a homeowner who lives in the home might not see.

One of the questions I was recently asked was, do I need to remodel my bathrooms? The home was vacant and was built in the 50's and had a beautifully remodeled Kitchen. The bathrooms were in fantastic shape.. it was hard to believe their age. They were very well cared for.

In my opinion... there was no need to invest in remodeling the bathrooms. They could be Staged to look great and the investment in staging this home would be much less then the investment in remodeling. Here are some before and after photos of the two bathrooms we Staged.

What's your opinion?

Did this homeowner need to remodel the bathrooms.... or did staging make a difference?

1st Bathroom ~ Before Home Staging

1st Bathroom ~ After Home Staging

1st Bathroom ~ Before Home Staging

1st Bathroom ~ After Home Staging

1st Bathroom ~ Before Home Staging

1st Bathroom ~ After Home Staging

2nd Bathroom ~ Before Home Staging

2nd Bathroom ~ After Home Staging

2nd Bathroom ~ Before Home Staging

2nd Bathroom ~ After Home Staging

With Divine Style ~ Home Staging

Consult with a Home Stager in your area before you put your home on the market!

In my opinion... it could save you money!

Note: I just wanted to add that ultimately the decision to remodel or not to remodel rests solely between the Homeowner and their Realtor. The Homeowner - whether they are interested in or could afford to invest in a remodel and the Realtor - if they felt the area would support it or would demand it.

In this case both felt it was not necessary. I was asked for my opinion only to see if I felt that staging these bathrooms could really make enough of a difference to potential buyers that they would find them appealing. In my opinion I felt that staging would definitely make these bathrooms look and feel more appealing.

Always consult with your Realtor first for sound and knowledgeable advice before you make any major changes to your home before you sell it!

"You never get a second chance... to make a Great First Impression!"

Linda D. Pufford, ASPM, IAHSP

Accredited Staging Professional MASTER

Real Estate/Home Staging ~ Interior Redesign ~ Color Consulting

707.217.0817

lpufford@withdivinestyle.com

www.withdivinestyle.com

Serving the Greater San Francisco Bay Area

Re-Blog

Comments(17)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Gabe Sanders

Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL

Stuart Florida Real Estate

I'm with you on this one. Bathrooms look great. The investment to remodel would not pay off for them.

Jul 19, 2011 12:15 AM

Linda D. Pufford

Stage with Divine Style - Home Staging - Novato, CA

ASPM, Marin/Sonoma Home Stager

Gabe, The Bathrooms really looked in great shape and I agree would not be a worthy investment to remodel. Thanks for stopping by and commenting Gabe... it's always nice to see you in the Rain!

Jul 19, 2011 12:24 AM

Roy Kelley

Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Great examples to show how to inexpensively improve the appeal of a home. Thanks for sharing your comments and supporting photographs.

Blooming for you!

Jul 19, 2011 12:36 AM

Bill Burke

BurkeLord® Real Estate Powered By Keller Williams Metropolitan - Bedford, NH

Associate Broker/REALTOR® Licensed in NH & MA

Thanks for the post Linda. Most agents probably would have gone in there thinking that the bathrooms needed to be updated. Surprises me how often agents don't use or at least consult with a home stager. It makes all the difference. Thanks again for sharing.

Jul 19, 2011 12:56 AM

Joshua Zargari

MJ Decorators Workshop LI staging and home decorating - Lynbrook, NY

MJ Decorators Workshop

Good morning Linda.

To redo the bathrooms will take a lot of money and work...

Whenever you work on an old house, there will be unpleasant surprises...

Old plumbing, electric wires etc.

I do agree with you of not redoing the bathrooms.

Jul 19, 2011 01:33 AM

Joan Cox

House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO

Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Linda, many factors would have to be considered -- neighborhood comps (have they been remodeled), and also the financial position of the seller. Those bathrooms do look like they are in great condition, and many potential buyers love the charm of the "older look". Your staging always makes the home look more attractive!

Jul 19, 2011 02:04 AM

Ginger Foust

Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA

Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Linda, IMO the cost of remodeling those bathrooms would be very high since there's so much tile and depending upon your marketplace it could be hard to recoup those costs. However, if the kitchen has been updated then these baths might feel really outdated and out-of-place. Looks like the baths of a 50's ranch and I would have suggested and staged it very much like you did but I might get a bid from a remodeler to show potential buyers if there were really interested in everything except the bathrooms. Good questions!

Jul 19, 2011 05:40 AM

Janice Ankrett

Burlington, ON

Staging Professional

Linda, they are very retro but in quite good shape. You did a wonderful job of presenting them. It looks like the taps have been updated at some point. Because of their excellent condition, I'm with you on this one.

Jul 19, 2011 06:14 AM

Linda D. Pufford

Stage with Divine Style - Home Staging - Novato, CA

ASPM, Marin/Sonoma Home Stager

Roy, I agree... my goal was to definitely show that there was an inexpensive way to make these bathrooms look appealing by staging them. Thanks for stopping by and commenting... and for the lovely flower Roy!

Jul 19, 2011 08:38 AM

Linda D. Pufford

Stage with Divine Style - Home Staging - Novato, CA

ASPM, Marin/Sonoma Home Stager

Bill, Thanks for the support! I must note that my first advice to a Homeowner is to consult with their Realtor for sound and knowledgeable advice before any updates or improvements to their home. My advice to Homeowners is only in the Staging area and how to make the appearance of their home more appealing. Thank you so much for your comment... I really appreciate it!

Jul 19, 2011 08:44 AM

Donna Foerster

HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO

Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Good question Linda. I would likely have answered the same. It's in good condition, don't spend the money, however...reality is that most of the buyers are going to say it's dated and the sellers need to be prepared for that. It has been my experience that most buyers are more concerned with upgrades vs. condition.

Jul 19, 2011 08:57 AM

Anna Dovger

Add Value Home Staging LLC, 281-704-6607 - The Woodlands, TX

Home Staging -The Woodlands, TX

Linda, this is very good question. Different buyers have different expectations but they still by on emotion. Your staging is the best example of that connection. I am sure that most of them will think:"well this bathroom is little dated but I am so in love with this house, I will update it later". However if the house would be vacant everybody will think that updating would be the key.

Jul 19, 2011 03:46 PM

Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®

Lewisburg, WV

Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Hi Linda, If the Realtor and stager agree that there is no need on updating the bathrooms...the buyer should be happy. However, I do agree with Ginger about getting a bid on remodeling the bathrooms to show potential buyers. Your staging definitely make these bathrooms look and feel more appealing.

Jul 20, 2011 12:02 AM

Toni Weidman

Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL

20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

Those counters are amazing for the age of the home, Linda. They look wonderful after your staging and I would think that remodeling would be very expensive. Would the cost of remodeling be reflected in the sales price? Doubtful, so why spend that money. Excellent job!

Jul 20, 2011 01:25 AM

Ginger Foust

Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA

Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Linda, had to come back because I need to correct one thing. I didn't mean that YOU should get bids for renovating the bathrooms. The seller should do that!

Jul 20, 2011 04:17 AM

Rose King

David Tracy Real Estate - Friendswood, TX

Friendswood / Pearland / Houston Bay Area

Linda, I love the look of vintage bathrooms, so I would not have recommended a remodel either. Your staging make the bathrooms look really charming. Thanks for sharing these pictures!

Jul 20, 2011 03:31 PM

Kim Gero

Verani Realty - Center Ossipee, NH

Associate Broker, REALTOR®

Linda, those bathrooms are in great shape. You did a great job staging them. I wouldn't have recommended remodeling them either.

Jul 22, 2011 11:01 PM

Older Post

Newer Post

"Home Staging Tips ~ What's your Opinion?"

Comments(17)

Linda D. Pufford

Service Areas

Real Estate Resources