Now here is something that almost reads like an April fools joke! Can it be true? My sister sent a link to an article about how a developer staged some new homes with teenage bedrooms out of control - complete with wadded up underwear on the floor and empty pizza boxes! Funny thing is, they credit the increase in sales to this unconventional tactic! Supposedly it makes the home seem more comfortable, livable, to the prospective buyers. Huh?
Let's see now. I am several years into my 5th and final teenager right now. I am a survivor of thousands of battles over bedrooms that look like a bomb went off. I can't think of one positive thing about any of those disaster zones that would appeal to ANYONE!
When I represented a builder we would stage our new homes with a teen room. But rather than an unkempt mess, we would use trendy posters, the hottest clothing (on hangers in the closet), the latest techie gadgets... Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought dirty clothes on the floor would be a nice touch!
I credit the quick sale of my own home last summer in a slow market to staging by the book. Doing everything I knew I should do in that regard. It became the family joke that my 14 year old couldn't walk on the carpet to leave a footprint, or drop a crumb, or actually use the stove.
Now I find out that if I would have just let him mess everything up I could have saved myself a lot of trouble? Nah, I don't buy it. Not for a second. Perhaps things are different across the Atlantic, which is where this story originated. But I will continue to advise my sellers to follow my advice and stage by the book. My experiences have PROVED that a properly stage home sells faster, and for more, than the others.
Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, CLHMS, provides a superior level of real estate services to home buyers and sellers in Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County, Idaho. Visit www.JannaScharf.comto search for homes in the Coeur d'Alene MLS for anywhere in spectacular North Idaho.
Janna Rankin Scharf, 208.651.9700 NorthIdahoJanna@gmail.com
Janna Rankin Scharf provides a superior level of real estate services to home buyers and sellers in Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County, Idaho. Visit www.JannaScharf.com to search for homes in the Coeur d'Alene MLS for anywhere in spectacular North Idaho.
No matter how grand or modest your real estate dreams may be, you can turn to me in confidence. Give me a call today and let me know what I can do to be of service to you!
Janna Rankin Scharf AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, CLHMS 208.651.9700
Hi Janna, I'm sure my teenagers room ( as it usually was) would not help to sell anything! Pretty amazing! I'm with you, if it was really messy- no chance :-)
Mary - As any parent of a teenager knows! For some reason AR won't let me post a link, the hot button isn't hot. When I can, I will link to the story which includes a photo of the room...
Janna,
I am withyou...I don't buy it....as you say a properly staged home sells...and underwear on the floor doesn't seem proper my any stretch of the imagination!
Janna, I can't wait to see the picture!
My house is staged to perfection then and I didnt even know it!
I don't buy it either. I lived through three teenagers and their rooms would not have made any one feel at home. Besides, you can't stage "teenage boy smell" unless they are selling that in a can now.
Ha ! You had me going for a minute ! - I have good experience with success of staging, especially older or vacant homes ... Happy Monday !