During a home tour a few weeks ago, I visited two properties with my buyers that couldn't have shown any differently.
Home #1 I quickly dubbed the "Pottery Barn House". Curb appeal was a ten. Every room in this gorgeous home could have been on the cover of a magazine. The improvements that had been made were custom, sought out, color-coordinated, with little details that add a touch of luxury, and of high quality. The whole interior was beautifully furnished - perhaps staged, but I truly believe that the family lived like this and maybe one of the sellers had a degree in interior design, or impeccable taste, or both. It was an harmonious home where every room flowed beautifully into the next and you just wanted to brew a cup of coffee and relax on the couch with a good book. It felt like home.
Coming from the "Pottery Barn House", home #2 was underwhelming. It was still a great house with a fabulous sun-room and a gorgeous piece of land. But it was beige and white and empty and uninviting (except for that sun-room). It felt like a house void of any personality. We did not tour it marveling at the finishes or getting some decorating inspiration, instead we focused on its flaws: the insulation that seemed to be missing in a couple of rooms, the tiled kitchen floor that dated the space, the kitchen appliances that didn't scream luxury home, and that very oddly configured finished basement.
Home #1 also had flaws. The siding on the back of the house needed power washing and the many trees in the backyard didn't allow for a lot of sunlight and created rather muddy conditions. There was still some work to be done. But, because of the beautiful interior, it didn't seem as big of an issue, but more like a doable project that could get done over time.
Two homes. Two vastly different first impressions. And two lessons:
For buyers: it is easy to get distracted by a beautiful interior and to be so wow'd that flaws are overlooked. But do keep in mind that you are not buying the furniture or accessories. You are buying the bones, the lay-out, the lot.. don't forget to assess if all that works for you and if you can handle any potential projects.
For sellers: staging still matters, even in a hot market! There wasn't much wrong with house #2, but for it lacking character. A bit of paint, color and accessories would have warmed up the space, increase its appeal and get an emotional response from buyers. It still sold, of course, this market is on fire, but just selling is not the goal - but selling for highest and best is.
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