It's hard to imagine it now, but Christmas is only 26 days away, "New Years" will shortly follow, and then it will be "Spring Break".  Or the beginning of the selling season.  This is typically when homeowners list or re-list their homes in hopes of buyers striking while the iron is hot.   Competition is the toughest.  Everyone has to have their homes in show ready condition to intrigue buyers that have a multitude of choices.  Especially older homes, or homes that are just a few years old that are competing against the brand new homes with all kinds of incentives and upgrades. 

I see houses on the MLS system that have been on the market for months, even over a year.  The houses don't look that bad from the outside, so what is the problem?  I then click on the photos, and there is my answer.  The inside has absolutely nothing appealing or interesting about it.  Just another track home that looks like every other house in it's master planned community.   It is either empty, stark, and plain vanilla, or the furniture and decorating is distracting from any features the house might have.  From mismatched outdated furniture, bad paint choices, or akward furniture placement and use of rooms. 

I've seen some beautiful homes in Houston, that I've admired in certain neighborhoods, and have jokingly said, when that house goes up for sale, I'm buying it sight unseen!  Well, one of my favorite houses did go up for sale, and I looked at the internet photos.  I couldn't believe it, here was this gorgeous home on the outside, beautiful architecture, perfectly manicured, picture perfect.  I then looked at the inside and thought this can't be the same house.  Unfortunately it was, and the inside got left behind in the 60's, and the house was not that old.  It was the way it had been finished out, not attractive at all.  It would have to be updated if you could picture in your mind what it would look like, most people can't.    How many times have you seen a beautiful home only to be disappointed in the interior.  For most people it will be a deal killer, and they won't bother to even look at a house in person.

That is where home staging comes in.  All of these homes could benefit from some form of home staging, whether it be furniture placement, and re-purposing of items from other rooms, fresh paint colors, some new updated pieces brought in, new furniture and accessories in certain areas or just room by room recommendations. 

If you are selling your home it probably means you will be looking to buy one as well.  When you are looking at internet photos of houses to buy, remember, someone else is looking at the home you are trying to sell on the internet...What impression are they going to have?  Don't give them a reason to move on to the next house...make them want to see yours first!

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