Home staging can turn a white elephant house into a hot property, but you must recognize a few key concepts. One grave mistake many home sellers make is forgetting that staging is not the same as interior decorating. When you stage to sell, you think of prospective buyers, not your taste.
The challenge can be especially significant when putting art on walls. Choosing art that you love to live with will be quite different from choosing art to sell a home.
Many home sellers leave their art work on the walls. If you have been living in the house for awhile, you could be making a significant mistake. Art that works for you personally probably won’t help sell the house.
Inappropriate or offensive – In ALL his glory, one stager walked into a house and was confronted by a gigantic painting of the seller’s naked little boy. That’s a little extreme, but prospective buyers can be sensitive.
Individualistic – Religious icons, Asian art, or an African mask collection…Buyers have strong feelings either way. You may get lucky and find a buyer who loves your collection. But buyers often have trouble erasing these images from their subconscious minds.
Bland and Ho Hum – Beige on beige? Art that could be viewed in a local motel? Even a new frame might make a picture stand out a little.
Walking a fine line in the art can be tricky. I spend a lot of time with my clients going over these items. They’re often surprised by how much difference the artwork makes.
by Pam Ellis
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