Painting your home, does it really matter? When meeting a client for a staging consultation, they may not be open to the idea of painting their interior walls. They start to think about the cost and the inconvenience of moving furniture around. Their mind set is that the buyers can change the colors once they move in, just as they had. But we all know that buyers can’t see past what’s in front of them. If they did, stagers would be out of a job.
Some homes need painting because the wallpaper is outdated, or the color is too bold. Others, the color may be good but the walls are in such bad shape with bangs, scratches, or peeling, that the whole house looks neglected.
So how do you get the home owners to be more receptive to your color suggestion? Timing! Don’t come at them with paint color suggestion. They may not listen. Instead go through the house first, making recommendation on furniture placements, de cluttering, removing items and suggesting accessories. Make your clients feel comfortable with the process. Compliment them on a wonderful job they have done to their home. Once you see they are more comfortable with the process, then you can begin by explaining to them that their home should now be treated as a commodity. And as such, these colors may not work. Buyers will not see the beauty of their home. They will be thinking about the cost of painting your home or worse yet thinking they could never live here.
Color has a great impact on people. And when you’re putting your home on the real estate market, you want to create an environment that buyers can fall in love with. Painting your home is one of the cheapest and most effective way to change the look of any room. It can transform a room, enhance architectural details and camouflage defects in the walls. If potential buyer are too distract by the colors on the wall ,they won’t fall in love. And you could lose a buyer. It may sound so simple but it’s true. So its in their best interest to take your advice and paint your home because it does really matter.
Carmela, I agree with you, I think paint makes a big difference. When we put our home on the market two years ago, our living room and kitchen walls were an off-white and our trim was white. These two rooms looks so washed out in the photos on MLS. We painted an accent wall in the living room "mocha" and painted the entire kitchen "peanut."
My wife spent two days doing this (I was working) and maybe $75.00. Our Realtor® retook photos of that room, and we started having more showings, and sold our home a month later! We then were able to move to where we wanted to live and I went into Real Estate.
Carmela, its hard to beat new paint and carpet. It really makes a big difference.
Hi Carmela: Paint is one of the least expensive updates a home owner can make and it makes a huge impact. I like your approach of making the homeowner feel comfortable with the process before throwing too much at them.
Carmella, Your recommendations on how to approach this subject with clients is very insightful and thoughtful. Great post!!
Carmella- I like your approach. I feel our Sellers think we're going to come in and immediately tell them to paint and declutter. If we gain their confidence, they become more receptive to our suggestions.
Carmela - great points made about color and you are right it does take time for homeowners to get convinced about painting their walls. Easing them into the idea is best. Thanx for sharing.
Carmela - great points made about color and you are right it does take time for homeowners to get convinced about painting their walls. Easing them into the idea is best. Thanx for sharing.
Hi Michelle, Paint is a great way to spruce up the home and the least inexpensive. Making the home owner comfortable I believe is key to getting them to be more open to the idea of painting.
Hi Nancy, Thank you I hope this helps other stagers!
Hi Kathy, Nothing scares off a client more then we when come in with guns blazing. Making them feel comfortable with us and the process makes it easier for everyone.
Hello Mannie, Your welcome. We have to be sensitive to their feelings, after all they did chose the colors and we don't want to offend them.
Nice approach Carmela.
It is a very touchy subject with some but it can make a huge impact with few dollars!
My recent post "that was then (1950's) this is now" show just that. We revamped a kitchen for less than $300 dollars. The owner was pleased as was the agent. It is amazing how transforms a space and influences the mind.
Hi Liz, It is amazing what a paint job can do to a room. And when you factor in the cost. it is by far the best why to revamp your home.
It is touchy when budgets come into play...even if I don't think they will invest, I always tell them the difference it will make and if they can do it, it will pay off big time!
Hi Carmela, I like your approach of first gaining the confidence of the client. I just have a client who recently painted their huge living/dining room in a very personal color that did not compliment their nice fireplace at all. It is a tricky situation to tell them that they should re-paint these large rooms shortly thereafter. Color consultation can be a tricky part in these regards - especially when they are very personal or reently changed.
Isn't paint WONDERFUL....and such a cheap update! I totally agree with your approach with the sellers...ease into things is always best!
I generally have success when I tell them that even though I do interior design and home staging for a living, I too, would have to repaint my house if I put it on the market. The colors are ones that I love, not the ones with broadest appeal. They feel better when they hear that.
Valerie, It's our job to tell them what needs to be done the rest it up to them.
Kathy, my husband is a painter by trade, so I know how wonderful paint is. I get him to paint our home just about every two years. Luckily he does it without complaining
Hi Carmela, I like your approach with the staging clients. Concerning painting over the homeowner's personal color choices, it's a great value for the money.
Hi Cynthia, Thanks, It's definitely a great value, I wish home owners would see that.
Great post and I so agree with you-big bang for the buck!