I just discovered this forum--wow!! My hubby thinks I spend too much time watching HGTV, but now he'll NEVER see me ! Anyhoo.....We're selling a small house we've used as a rental the past 5 years-The house is in a great neighborhood and we've shown it 10 times with no offers, BUT, the rentor was still there and she JUST moved out-- (yay!) Right now the house is totally unfurnished and I was just going to add some green plants and small rugs from our house- I'd love your opinions on whether we need to also add some furniture to get more/better offers-- Thank you in advance for your wisdom!
A staged house looks better then an empty house, some people can't imagine how to place furniture in the house etc w/out seeing it. You don't need a ton of furniture but if you can take things from your house to stage it I would.
I've been reading throughsome other threads and found this: (so the score is tied!)
delta blues Posted Apr 10, 2008 10:28 AM I read all the posts and I just keep remembering that when "we" discussed or even voted on if we preferred no furniture while viewing homes or staged or lived in. "Most" perferred no furniture/EMPTY. To me less is more. But if I like a house I CAN usually see beyond the clutter. If the clutter was not there, I MIGHT really like the house. Also, if a home is empty, I know it is a MOTIVATED SELLER.
Since you don't really have furniture for it - I would make sure it has all new paint, clean floors - and flawless upkeep - and try selling it empty. If, after a month or so, there are no bites, then maybe look into finding a tiny bit of furniture to put in it..... With it empty - it has to be in perfect shape - no furniture to hide flaws....
Posts: 3713 | Location: Northern Virginia, USA | Registered: May 29, 2003
I agree completely with PositiveZone, when I home is empty then I feel I can get a lower price from them because they have already moved and need to get rid of this home. In this case since it's a rental unit for you all that is not the case but the buyer coming in seeing the home is not going to know that. Personally if you have some furniture to move over into the house I would do that, if you don't then I would leave it without.
Post some photos of rooms and front and back of house for all to see and add input.
It is not a must to stage a house completely furnished in order to sell. Stage the entry. Seasonal flowers, a new welcome mat, clean windows, a fresh welcome coat of paint on the front door. Clean floors and attractive rug at entry. Nothing turns off buyers more than worn, soiled floor covering.
Remove wallpaper. A fresh coat of neutral paint on all the walls. Fresh towels and small basket of guest soaps in bathrooms as a house warming gift to buyers. Some green plants would, indeed, be a nice touch. An expensive tray staged for tea for two on kitchen counter with a current newspaper along side. Neutralize window treatments and/or remove dated ones. Everything should sparkle. If rooms do not have overhead lighting, borrow or place floor lamps in rooms to turn on before buyers arrive. Open blinds and drapes, so that home can be seen in best light.
If there is an outdoor room or area for entertaining, set up some lawn furniture and plants. Make sure backyard is tidy.
What is important is to look at the house intensely as through a potential buyer's eyes. Many houses get passed by because of lack of curb appeal. Curb appeal gets them through the door. From there, everything else has to be appealing. And, that means appealing to the majority of potential buyers.
Most important the home should look " Crisp" with freshly painted walls (not white except ceilings). Good shape flooring..and all repairs made. Outside, there should be the same fresh look. Flowers, scrubs--cut back, etc. The entrance should stand out with a great door, nice mat and maybe a flower pot.
Inside, if small shouldn't be too hard to furnish if you are local. If you decide not to I would at least dress up the kitchen and baths with towels, throw rugs and accessories.
This is all incredibly helpful advice--thank you! I've actually been at the house most of the day cleaning and trimming shrubs and, based on your tips, hired a handyman (off Craigslist) to strip the wallpaper and paint Master BR (he's charging $350 which seems reasonable--?)
I will try and copy some pics, Twelvepole--good idea!
I also put a big vase of honeysuckle branches on a small table I bought at Pier One and hung a couple large framed prints-- Just doing that made a big difference!
I agree with the suggestions to wait and see what happens before i haul in lots of furniture- I WILL take over a couple more lamps to brighten the corners...but I'm not calling Cort Rentals!
I love the ideas you all have generously given, (and I'm taking a basket of guest soaps over tomorrow!)
QUESTION: Walls are all presently "off-white"-- Can anyone recommend a nice color fo the BR?
I'm in the school that since people are visual - color nicely done is going to help people remember your home against all the other homes that are out there painted neutral...
I read an article this weekend from a woman that Funcolors on the Color Board talks about making the same statement....And it does make sense - if people are looking at a lot of homes that all have cream color/beige walls w/ white ceilings, what is setting my home apart from all of those other homes????
If you feel like you are overwhelmed w/ picking color, the folks on the color board say that Sherwin Williams Kilim Beige is the most neutral color...no yellow, red, green, undertones to it....Never have used that color because i for one don't like neutral colors
When painting, you can add interest by using various shades off the same strip..
painting the paneling will be an asset...It will need to be cleaned first, primed with a stainblocking/bonding primer, then painted with your finish coat...I wouldn't worry about filling in the grooves - the grooves i think add a bit of charm to your home....
what size are your rooms? The listing doesn't say? I think its cute...
good luck
This message has been edited. Last edited by: out on a limb,
What are the size of the rooms and the lot. We are required to put at least the size of the living room/family room, mas, BR and kitchen, and the size of the land. Buyers look for a home on large "nature" lots.
Also where are the photos of the bedrooms and the bath.
The write up is boring, and needs spiced up.
I would tone down the mantle ( it's too bright white), and paint it black, brown to match the floor or even the color of the walls. Also, I would paint the gold frame of the fireplace screen from gold to black.
Paneling is out and very dated. If you are going to paint the master, paint the living room(where the furniture is pictured) the same color family a shade darker or even the same color. The space that is empty in the living can be filled with a desk, chair or something or even spread out the living room with a decorative rug as well.
Just a few suggestions -- good luck and happy selling
Two bedrooms will narrow down your potential buyers. Price competitively per comparables. A 59 y.o. home is probably in a neighborhood with a mix of home styles, sizes, and prices. If lot lends itself for an addition, then realtor might want to add that as a selling point. For those viewing listing online, square footage and lot size are important. No bedroom or bath pictures could raise a flag.
It is a darling little house with curb appeal on a nice lot. A great starter home.
Pruning shrubs will make it look even more tidy. A generous pot of geraniums on either side of door would be welcoming. Could not tell from photo if shutters or front door need a fresh coat of paint. Don't forget the new welcome mat.
No problem here with gold trim on fireplace. Maybe a little metal polish to update shine. If you do paint black, go with heat resistant paint. Chocolate brown mantel would update mantel.
Kitchen is dated, so keep that in mind when pricing. Remove border and paint. Update light fixture. Consider painting cabinets and updating kitchen hardware. If there is no light behind cabinet valance @ kitchen window, remove. Those scalloped valances date kitchens. Remove paper towel holder.
Paint paneling. If blinds on window are those skinny plastic ones, consider replacing with some neutral panels from discount store. Did I see blue draperies somewhere? Remove and replace with neutral panels.
Without pictures of bedrooms and bathroom(s), it's difficult to comment. Bedrooms are bedrooms, as long a floor covering is clean and in good shape and walls are a fresh neutral buyers can imagine placing the basic bedroom furniture in them.
Baths and kitchens tend to date homes more than anything else. Apply same sense to bathrooms as kitchen. Consider painting cabinets, updating counter, light fixtures, cabinet knobs/pulls, etc.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: twelvepole,
Again, two more excellent replies--thank you so much--this is so helpful!
Here are room sizes and painting prices from my new handyman:
Prime and paint (white) large den in the rear of the house. (25'.5"x11'.1"). $385
Remove wallpaper, prep walls and paint walls in bedroom (13' 5"x11'). $350
I'm looking at paint samples this afternoon and will try to pick SOMEthing different for the BR, OutOnaLimb!
I agree. realestatelady, the copy on listing is boring and there are no pics of bedrooms because they were full of rentor's stuff when we were there- I will take and post new pics after painting-
Don't you have a friend or neighbor who could help you paint? Save money?
Good point from twelvepole about using "heat resistant" paint on fire screen in fireplace.
The home is darling - get room sizes to your realtor pronto, along with message to punch up write-up. Tell her to go heavy on 1/4? acre Nature lot. I am not sure that is your size, but you get the idea.
From a Professional Home Stager's perspective: When you put your home on the market, you are entering it in a beauty contest. The best looking homes sell fastest and for the best price. Today's home buyers want a home that is in move in condition. No one wants to spend additional time, money and effort to fix a home that they have just spent a pile of money on. Your home should be picture perfect to the best of you ability and what your budget allows. You are better off to do the work that needs to be done before you put your home on the market then offering the buyer a rebate for repairs. If you want to sell your home faster, it should be freshly painted in every room(think Martha Stewart or Restoration Hardware colors - look online at their catalogs). That is the number one step you can take yourself for a very small investment to make your home look its best. If you are painting the home yourself, make sure you do a neat job - straight lines, no drips, clean paint off the windows, nail holes filled, etc. If you can afford it, put in new carpet. It doesn't have to be top quality - fresh and new trumps quality. Choose a neutral color - creamy beige is always a good choice. Clean your house from top to bottom so that it sparkles. Fix anything that is broken or doesn't work correctly - dripping faucet, running toilet, broken light switch, burned out light bulbs, squeaky hinges, torn screens, etc. None of these things is particularly expensive and it will help keep the buyer focused on what is right with the house rather than what is wrong with it.
As far as furnishing your vacant home, the right furniture correctly positioned, will make the rooms seem larger, warmer, homier. Mystery rooms will suddenly have a purpose (is this the family room or the dining room?). Furniture will allow potential buyers to imagine how their furniture might fit in the home and what it would be like to live there. At the very least, put furniture in the living room, dining room and master bedroom (use fresh new bedding - a solid color keeps it simple). Don't worry about window treatments. The home will look lighter and brighter. As far as fresh flowers go, do use them unless you are committed to going to the house every 3 days to change the water and throw out the dead flowers. No flowers is better than dead flowers and the smell of slimy water.
I hope this helps.
Michelle Minch Moving Mountains Design Pasadena, CA
Posts: 1 | Location: Pasadena, CA | Registered: May 14, 2008
Did anyone see the show 25 realestate mistakes today? The number one mistake was not staging a home before putting it up for sale. People will offer less money on a house that isn't staged well.
Update listing with room sizes, photos, and other pertinent info. There are many of us who have bought empty homes. Some of us have enough imagination and are familiar enough with our furnishings after ownership for umpteen years, that there would be no doubt that my diningroom would fit here, my sofa and two chairs there, my bed and other furnishings in the bedroom.
I once read a book written by a corporate wife who had moved many times. She was always sent ahead to find the home. Her last tale of woe before she decided to write her book of advice for those who want to sell and buy was a story about how she had toured many cluttered and unkempt and outdated homes. The last one she came to was completely empty and barren. It had all the required number of rooms and they were spacious. She was worn out and numb. She entered the familyroom with the fireplace. There was a pot of mums that said 'welcome.' She crumbled to the hearth and cried. There were the required number of rooms and enough space for her furniture. She was not worried about needing to update the kitchen, bathroom, or other. That pot of mums and the empty spaces sold her the home. She found space and calm and light.
Staging a home does not necessarily mean leaving a fully furnished home for potential buyers. It means fresh and appealing everything in good repair, curb appeal, etc. Anyone with common sense knows what it takes to sell a home (the structure and spaces and fixtures within). It does not mean a house full of furniture. Folks want an updated home that would appeal the greatest number of buyers.
IMO, I don't really want to see your furnishings. I need to see open spaces and visualize my possessions in your home. While most may not have the ability to visualize furnishings in open spaces, some of us do have that ability.
What about folks who rent empty rentals. The whole concept tends to discriminate. The concept of staging is a marketing concept. Yes, there are statistics that support that homes that are staged sell quicker. But, there are no finite statistics that support that homes that are staged with furnishings sell quicker.
You want to appeal to buyers. Begin with curb appeal. Everything in good repair. Everything fresh, clean, and neutral. Look hard at kitchens and bathrooms because they date homes the most. Look at the price range and comparable properties and price range and whaqt they have to offer. Starter homes vs. mid-priced homes vs. high-end homes are in different prices ranges with different features and different comparable properties. If you are not priced right, you are not going to sell.
I am a big fan of homestaging. I love to stage homes. Staging homes, however, is not going to guarantee a sale. You can have the most awesome homestager in the world, but if the roof is bad, the basement leaks, the windows are old aluminum, the driveway and sidewalks are cracked, bathrooms and kitchen are date...You get the picture. I'd rather see an empty home in perfect condition and a pot of flowers on the hearth.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: twelvepole,
