Home Staging is about cleanliness and the less is more theory, but lately, I've seen homes that have been taking a sterile approach. They have become more like operating rooms, than warm inviting spaces. There is a balance between the two. Granted you want to see space, and cleanliness, and counters. But home buyer's also need to see a home that is attractive and illuminates warmth. Clutter is something a homeowner can purge. A home staging professional can also guide and give them advice on what to clear out. But if a home stager or real estate agent wants you to completely clear every counter space, and tabletop and tell you it is staged, I can assure it is not. How does that make your home look any more inviting to potential buyers? An operating room or sterile spaces do not give anyone a fuzzy warm feeling. Quite the opposite, it certainly won't make a potential buyer want to linger.
You can still have an effective yet simplistic approach for staging, but leaving a house sterile, cold and practically empty will not attract a crowd.
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Cindy
You make a great point here. I believe that most buyers are turned off by the hospital clean look and smell, and prefer the warm and inviting atmosphere that professionals like yourself are able to convey.
It is easy for sellers to get the wrong idea and totally empty the place. That is why it is best to hire a professional to decide what goes and what stays.
A great stager will find that balance of clean but not sterile and cozy but not cluttered. It's tricky and many homeowners just cannot do it themselves. Thanks for your post!
I've seen a few too. Also, when people paint, they are reluctant to hang ANY art back up. Nothing warm and inviting about that! Sounds like a blog post!
Trey-I agree, as a buyer it would do nothing for me
Sharon-That seems to be what they are doing, or over doing. It just doesn't work or look right when they do that.
Michele-True, it has to be a balance, it seems to either be too sterile or too cluttered.
Kim-True, or they paint it too neutral and it is blah.