Sometimes It Is Better If Your Renter Moves Out - Minneapolis Home Stager

By
Home Stager with Rooms With Style

Yes, sometimes it really is better if your renter moves out.

Minneapolis MN Home Stager

I see this alot. People have rental properties and when they decide to sell they put it on the market while the renter is living in the property. After six months or a year it is still for sale and they wonder why. 

You may be one of the few landlords where your tenants have beautiful furniture, keep their home spotless, and are so willing to assist you with getting your property sold.

But....if you aren't living in a fantasy world the norm is your tenant has nothing to gain and probably a lot to lose if your property is sold. There is no incentive for them to keep it clean as a minimal starting point much less everything else that goes with selling. 

Luckily this Landlord knew that. 

Having all the furniture centered around the TV isn't optimal for selling besides the fact you should never walk into the back of furniture right inside the door.

 

LR Before

 

And using the Dining Room as a place to have your speakers for a jam session may not bring top dollar.

 

DR Before

 

A kitchen filled with clutter....aahhh..NO.

 

Kitchen Before

 

This space had so much potential but the renter's furniture wasn't showing what it could be.

 

Heath Area Before

 

A HUGE master bedroom with a sitting area is a huge selling feature but when the sitting area is used for storage is just feels gross.

 

Sitting Area Before

 

And this Master Bedroom retreat wasn't feeling very tranquil. 

 

Master bedroom before

 

Bathroom Before

 

So....let's see what the Landlord received when they had asked the advice of Rooms With Style Home Staging.

The renter moved out, a paint color was selected, then the property was staged with modern furnishings. 

An open arrangement floor plan for the living room:

 

LR After

 

LR After

 

An actual Dining Room:

 

DR After 

 

A kitchen that now shows all the counter tops, built-in bookshelves and a place for stools.

 

Kitchen After

 

And how about this wonderful hearth area alongside the fireplace now? What a great place for people to sit and sip a cocktail while you are cooking during a dinner party. 

 

Hearth After

 

Hearth Area after

 

The Master Bedroom Retreat and sitting area....now the buyer can see what the space can be.

 

Sitting Area After 

 

 

Master Bedroom After

 

 

Bathroom After

 

This property sold in six days when units directly on each side of it had been for sale long before theirs.

Dont' gamble that your tenant will do what is best for you in showing your property in it's best light. If at all possible, take the time to have them move out, freshen the space and do any necessary upgrades and have the property staged.

It will save you in the long run. 

 

LR close up

 

 

 If you need advice on what to do with your rental property. Call:

Rooms With Style Home Staging and Redesign in Minneapolis, MN

952-567-1124

www.RoomsWithStyle.com



Originally posted at: Rooms With Style Blog

Comments (21)

Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

SOLD!!

Shar, you are the master stager.  Fantastic 'Before & After' photos that make the point very, very clear.

Have a wonerful day! 

Jan 24, 2013 09:51 PM
Christine Pappas - REALTOR®
eXp Realty - Willoughby, OH
eXp Realty - Because Experience Matters

Thank Goodness Shar the owner had the renters move out!  You have made this house look stunning!  Great work! The seller must be very pleased with your work!

Jan 24, 2013 09:53 PM
Rob D. Shepherd
Windermere/lane county - Florence, OR
Principal Broker GRI, SRES

We have enough inventory on the market that I don't list or show rentals, too many showing problems!

Jan 24, 2013 09:56 PM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

GREAT before and afters that tell the whole story-I'm sure this is going to sell in a second!

Jan 24, 2013 09:56 PM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

OH they can be a hazard when it comes to showings and selling Sally and David. I have seen it so many times. 

Thank you Mary, SOLD is what we like to see! You have a wonderful day as well. 

Jan 24, 2013 10:03 PM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

I think they are doing the happy dance Christine as is the Realtor. It was wonderful to see it sell so quickly especially with units on either side of it already for sale. 

You are so right Rob. You never know what you are going to walk into! 

Jan 24, 2013 10:05 PM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Well six days Joanna but that is almost a second. Ha. Technically it was probably less as by time photos were taken and the property actually hit the market as it probably took a couple days after I staged it but either way it was quick! 

Jan 24, 2013 10:08 PM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

In the inimitable words of Carly Simon................"Nobody does it better".............you rock Shar!

Jan 24, 2013 10:45 PM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Oh I love that song Roger! Now I will be singing it all day. Wasn't it the starting song of a James Bond movie? And thank you.

Jan 25, 2013 12:28 AM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Not sure, was never a Bond fan.............just a fan of all the men who playefd him/.............LOL.

Jan 25, 2013 08:21 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Shar that home didn't stand a chance of looking appealing to potential buyers while the tenants lived there. Congrats on another staging success story!

Jan 26, 2013 02:39 AM
Lisa Von Domek
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!

Hello Shar,

You've worked your magic once again - lucky seller to have you to stage this for a selling success!

Jan 26, 2013 07:42 AM
Janice Ankrett
Janice Ankrett Home Staging - Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Shar, your photos tell it all! Even with a cooperative tenant, it's better to have them out. I've had to work around a few tenants and it's very complicated plus less effective for marketing. The landlord may lose rental income but if they stay the landlord will carry that house longer. Either way they lose.

Jan 27, 2013 05:13 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

How can you NOT  be a Bond fan Roger??

Thanks Maureen. With the competition around it I was surprised it sold so fast as the kitchen wasn't as updated as one of the others. Goes to show other things matter!

Thank you Lisa. I was thrilled it sold so quickly and so were the owners and Realtor. 

Exactly right Janice. Holding the home longer is never a good thing. Price Reductions, etc. 

Jan 27, 2013 06:49 AM
Kim Gaston
RE/MAX Advantage Realty - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs REALTOR®, CNE (719)661-6987

WOW, Shar. Is that even the same place? Stunning work, friend. I'm lovin' those LR lamps. Kudos to you!

Jan 27, 2013 04:52 PM
Ellen Caruso
Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty - Glen Head, NY

Shar, so true....these days I do around 15 showing a week and I've run into quite a few with renters, its such a turn off to buyers when they see the house so abused!

I hope to have a minute to call you soon, I miss you.

Jan 28, 2013 08:59 AM
Anna Dovger
Add Value Home Staging LLC, 281-704-6607 - The Woodlands, TX
Home Staging -The Woodlands, TX

Shar, now wonder this property was sold in just 6 days. You did an excellent staging job. Love purple in the bedroom. The house looks very inviting. Smart seller! I am sure it was a tough decision for him but quick sale justified everything. Tenants never care...they think you should be happy getting your rent.

Jan 30, 2013 09:25 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Aren't those cool lamps Kim? I bought 4, all they had left. Ha. Thanks so much.

The house has to be welled loved Ellen, no doubt. Miss you too but I know you are swamped so call when you can.

It is a tough decision to have your renter move out Anna, it is difficult to walk away from that income but it just depends on how bad the owner wants to sell it. A few price drops just because of a renter's lack of care is expensive too. 

 

Jan 31, 2013 03:10 AM
Linda Thompson
Selling By Design-Staging - Fresno, CA

Shar, this is one of the most dramatic changes in a house that I have seen to date. You are really a Staging Star.

Feb 08, 2013 03:04 AM
Wendy Tomm
Beyond the Walls - East St Paul, MB
CCSP, RESA-PRO, BBB - Wpg Realtors

Hi Shar...totally agree with you.  I always recommend the renters move out then they do a thorough clean and paint and refresh and renew the property.

Feb 20, 2013 11:57 PM

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