Home Staging Tip-Can Your Home Be Too Neutral?
By now, home sellers know the importance of making sure that potential buyers will be able to see the liveability of their homes. Buyers need to see the space. This is why agents and stagers suggest that owners edit what they have.
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400 wrote an excellent post about “looking for the personality in your home search.” It’s so important that besides allowing your buyers to see the space, we let them FEEL your home.
Whenever I go into a home, whether it’s to purchase, stage, or just any home, I always ask myself “could I live here?”
(I did it just the other day…I viewed a multi-million dollar property and nice as it was…the answer was “NO.”)
Trust me…buyers are asking that when they view your home.
Here are some tips for making sure that your home’s personality comes through…
ADD PLANTS AND FLOWERS
True Story-I consulted on a home that was in impeccable condition, in a great location, and well priced. You couldn’t ask for more. All I could think was “it’s ok.”
After spending more time there, I realized what it was. It had no “life.” There was not a single plant or flower in the home. Everything looked as if it had been lifted from a showroom and placed there.
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This helped to distract from the view of the roof of the adjacent building. |
You don’t want flowers whose scent may overpower the room (or cause your buyers to run out sneezing!)
ADD ART AND PHOTOS
Your agent, friends, and stagers probably suggested you remove all of your photos. But what about artwork?
Blank walls are well…blank.
On one of the vacant homes I staged, the seller would not allow us to hang anything on his newly painted walls.
We did the best we could however when it was completed, the listing agent said…”Something’s missing.” She looked around and realized that there was no art or anything on the walls.
You don’t want to overwhelm with every space covered but a well-placed picture or mirror adds a layer of personality your buyer will remember.
ADD A POP OF COLOR
Yes, someone told you to paint every wall white but all white walls can be a personality drainer.
Stagers often add a pop of color with the pillows on the sofa or a bowl of apples or lemons on the kitchen counter.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO ADD SOME WHIMSY
Whimsy almost always adds a smile to someone’s face. You can do this with a special garden planter, a fun tea kettle on the stove, or a treasured souvenir on the wall. Remember…you don’t want to make this item the star of the show.
Neutral doesn’t mean bland or boring. It’s meant to serve as a backdrop for your house. Neutral doesn’t interfere with buyers seeing your space.
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