What Some REALTORS Advise. Is it Right or Wrong?

Just know that I'm not putting down REALTOR advice. We give advice to help you sell your home. The conflict comes in with knowing what the buyers are looking for. For instance, let's look at the dilemma with white walls vs. color walls. Some REALTORS believe that white walls will help sell a home because the buyer can then come in and choose the colors they want in the home. Of course, those buyers need to be good visionaries.

I tend to think like the buyer (realizing that all buyers are not going to like my tastes) but I feel that most people like to see color because it helps them visualize what their furniture can look like in that setting. Obviously, this does mean that you, as a seller, are taking a risk that the buyer might not like your sense of style, but people seem to be drawn to color, not white walls. Again that is my opinion and the opinion of stagers in the REALTOR magazine. Here's what they had to say...

White vs. Color

• Benefits sell home faster with decoration than without

• Having the "current hot design ideas at your fingertips will let you guide uncertain buyers struggling to visualize their new life in a home that may not suit their style." (Evans p 26).

• People buy lifestyle

• Warm, Clear Colors: purples, yellows, burnt oranges; along with Chinese Reds and Blacks, Burnished golds, copper, silver tones

Another Point of Disagreement Between REALTORS

Should you have personal pictures up when you are trying to sell your home? A lot of REALTORS will tell you to remove your personal pictures since they can be a distraction to the buyer. I would disagree and so would Nate Berkus, Oprah Winfrey's decorating advisor. According to Nate, "If you strip a home of its personality, you rob it of what matters most." (Ballinger, p48). WORD OF CAUTION: Because of the crazy world that we live in, you do need to be careful as to how many photos you have out of you and your family!

References: Evans, Mariwyn. "House Sense." REALTOR Magazine. February 2008.

Ballinger, Barbara. "Master Declutterer." REALTOR Magazine. February 2008.

Other articles of interest:

Staging - Is it the Key to Selling in Today's Market?

The ABC's to Conquering Clutter

10 Steps for Staging a Room