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A Spoonful of Sugar...Getting a Seller to Update the Easy Way

By
Home Stager with SHOW SMART! HOME STAGING & Color Consultant

I had a situation a couple years ago...85 year old commanding woman, 1987 expensive traditional dusty rose and teal decor. I opened with, "How lovely your decor is...When did you do it?...Was it 1987? 1990?" She exclaimed, "Yes, it was 1990! How did you know?" I said, "Pink was all the rage then. Unfortunately, rose is still associated with then, and it displeases the younger buyer (your target market) a lot...Reminds them of their mothers or grandmothers homes, not a great thing. 
That got her. We proceeded to identify inexpensive ways to take the edge off the decor by simply taking down drapes, removing lots of do-dads and dusty flowers and plants and busy prints and rose where possible. The wall paper, which was everywhere was fortunately a fairly light colored neutral and not terribly offensive, so we left it. 
The house had been on the market forever, but sold within a week after staging. Hope that helps.

 

 

BEFORE 

 

 

AFTER

 AFTER

 

Nancy Lamb
Home Smart LifeStyles - Fountain Hills, AZ
& Loving AZ Team-Fountain Hills AZ
Wow, what a difference removing that mauve made! Our attention is now drawn to the classic windows and beautiful light rather than just noticing how pink it looked. It's amazing what a few tasteful yet simple remedies of staging can do for a seller. Great example!
May 15, 2013 01:12 AM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

So did you actually paint the trim or leave it? The color looks entirely different.

May 15, 2013 02:22 AM
Marc McMaster
RE/MAX Centre Realty - State College, PA
Putting my clients before myself

Wow that really makes a huge difference! You really took a great tack with the seller as well.

May 15, 2013 04:46 AM
Chris Hayes
Keller Williams Realty Northwest LA - Shreveport, LA
Your Shreveport/Bossier Real Estate Partner

Great script - I'm gonna try that one next time I run into a similar issue!

May 15, 2013 05:42 AM
Bill Dandridge
MKB, Realtors - Roanoke, VA
GREEN, ABR, GRI, EcoBroker

That is a wonderful transformation! It helped that you were an experienced woman yourself when you used that great rationale. I am afraid that the lady would have asked me to step out of her house if I recommended such a thing...

May 15, 2013 06:50 AM
Anonymous
Patricia Ebrahimi

Lynn, Tammy: Yes, just changing the thrust of the overall color did the trick. We did not paint. My lighting in my photos helped too, I think.

May 15, 2013 08:28 AM
#16
Anonymous
Patricia Ebrahimi

Julia: Hi! Thanks for stopping by. Yes, the fireplace is for sale with the house, and now you notice it not the drapes!

May 15, 2013 08:46 AM
#17
Sheila Morales
Kauai Property Shop - Kapaa, HI
Your Kauai Hawaii Agent

Nicely done

May 15, 2013 09:15 AM
Anonymous
Patricia Ebrahimi

Nancy: Thanks! Isn't that the biggest reason to stage...to show off the home's features. In this case the windows and the beautiful light.

May 15, 2013 10:08 AM
#19
Joetta Fort
The DiGiorgio Group - Arvada, CO
Independent Broker, Homes Denver to Boulder

This post makes me think of the times I've walked into a house and told the buyers exactly how old the carpeting was.  They were very impressed until they realized it's just because I remember the 80s (or the 70s)!

May 15, 2013 10:14 AM
Anonymous
Patricia Ebrahimi

Mark: Thanks...and thanks.

Chris: This script does seem to work. Do give it a try.

Bill: I do think my not being an ingenue helped me here and maybe being female, but I think a handsome young guy (keep in mind she was 85+/-) such as yourself could work this strategy quite well. Give it a try!

May 15, 2013 10:18 AM
#21
Anonymous
Patricia Ebrahimi

Nancy: Thank you.

Joetta: You and me. But I think they are still impressed anyway.

May 15, 2013 10:20 AM
#22
Anonymous
Patricia Ebrahimi

Oops! Sheila: Thank you.

May 15, 2013 10:21 AM
#23
Jim Patton
Aspire Home Real Estate 209-404-0816 - Modesto, CA
Realtor - Stanislaus ,Merced, San Joaquin Counties

That's quite the transformation Patricia.  The after is great.  No surprise that it sold after the transformation. 

May 15, 2013 04:04 PM
Joan Congilose
New Jersey Properties - Manalapan, NJ
Helping Sellers & Buyers

What a difference with a few minor changes, I can see why it sold. Good job!

May 15, 2013 07:50 PM
Susan Kirk
Refreshing Innovations - Silver Spring, MD
Home Staging in MD, VA, DC, ASP

Patricia,  Good suggestions to neutralize with little cost.  Amazing how once the pink is gone, the fireplace, couch and even coffee table work in a way that never seemed possible before.  That is the beauty of staging!  Well done!

May 15, 2013 10:13 PM
Anonymous
Patricia Ebrahimi

Jim, Joan, Susan: Thank you all for the great feedback!

May 16, 2013 02:29 AM
#27
Janelle Ancillotti
Seneca Home Staging - Syracuse, NY
HSR Certified Home Stager, Syracuse, NY

Patricia-I recognize those pink drapes! They were all over the house we bought a little over a year ago, and they were the first thing we took down. Amazing how much better the place looks with them gone!Pink Curtains

May 17, 2013 04:15 AM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Patricia - Those drapes look like they belong in a funeral parlour!  Amazing how some simple changes can completely transform a home.  Love the "dialogue" you had with this homeowner, and how you gently and cleverly got her on board!

May 18, 2013 06:59 AM
Christine Farkas
Keller Williams Western Realty - Bellingham, WA
Awesome Customer Service Experience

I've been going thru some staging blogs and pictures, and this one is the best example of how little you need to do to make a big difference sometimes. Thank you!

Aug 14, 2013 07:41 AM