I received an email from a REALTOR today in regards to a house that had been quoted for Staging. It seems the current owners felt that painting would be a better use of their funds for preparing the house for sale. She had emailed to tell me that know the entire house was all of the same off-white color, and that it now had a real "vanilla feel." This inspired a great visual for me [Thanks, Diane!].
Neutral Colors are much easier to sell than some of the colors that were in this now vacant house. Painting may have been a good idea. After all Vanilla is the most popular flavor of ice cream, right? No one passes up plain, old Vanilla.
Personally, I am a Chocolate guy - they do not make a chocolate ice cream that has enough chocolate in it, in my opinion. It would have to be some thing like Dark Chocolate Ice Cream with milk chocolate chips, bittersweet chocolate swirl, and chocolate chip cookie pieces, served on a warm, double fudge brownie... you get the picture... [And don't tell me to try a certain restaurant's Death by Chocolate Desert - it's a feeble attempt done with ice cream I would not let my kids eat.]
Back to Vanilla: I firmly believe that whoever it was that stated Vanilla Ice Cream is the most popular flavor, surveyed manufacturing and failed to survey the end product. Of all of the Vanilla Ice Cream that is sold, I would like to know how many servings are a bowl like the one above. Wouldn't the bowl look a little more appetizing with Chocolate or Carmel Syrup? May be some sprinkles? How about whipped cream and a cherry? After all, which is more appetizing to you? The picture above? Or this picture?
The point of my rant is, Vanilla is okay by itself. It's far better served on a warm brownie, or with chocolate sauce and nuts, or may be on the side of a piece of nice, fresh pie. And for the same reason, Home Staging is important in Vanilla homes. Consider it the topping on your home. You may have a beautiful home - let's call it a Haagen-Dazs Vanilla Bean home. That's good, premium ice cream, but it's still just Vanilla.
In Austin, with the number of new homes [you probably know builders use Vanilla colors] and the number of vacant homes available, what is making your home stand out from the rest? What makes your listing more appetizing than that bowl of Plain Old Vanilla? [And clutter does not count!] Do you want it to show "okay", like Vanilla? Or do you want it to show like a Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae with whipped cream nuts and a cherry on top?
Call The Stage Coach to top off your vanilla house... but give me a few minutes, I need to grab a snack.
Your point is driven with PIX APPEAL. Very clever & I love it!
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