The recent fires in Los Angeles have inadvertently gifted us a renewed appreciation of home. The tragic images of people sifting through the burned ashes of their memories is brutally painful. It serves as another reminder that homes are not merely walls, roofs, space, etc. They are the canvas of our lives, effectively our own personal masterpiece.
As a real estate marketer I am often confronted with a seller where there are ultimately just three options in how I present their home to the market when it's time to sell or rent.
1. I can clear out all of the furnishings and traces of the current/past life and showcase a blank canvas, possibly whited out to leave everything else to the imagination of the viewer.
2. I can leave things exactly as they are, or moderately modified, cleaned up or simplified that showcases the life of those who have lived in the home. Sometimes when it's Editorial-worthy, tidy and beautiful, this can be invaluable. However, even some exquisitely designed homes may just appeal to a very small audience.
3. I can paint, renovate, stage, etc. to showcase an aspirational life, one that inspires a better, more beautiful environment.
Research shows that a small minority of people have really, really good imagination, anywhere from 5-10% of the population. Which may answer the question as to what might be the best approach. The cost of staging (as well as the cost of living elsewhere while this happens) has to be weighed up against the benefits one might achieve in the final transaction price and or the cost of time.
There is a difference between decorating a home and presenting a home for sale, one being significantly more personal and the other designed to appeal to a wide audience. I know the difference and can direct my clients accordingly.
