Staging a Home to Appeal to First Time Buyers
We all know that staging a home for sale means turning it into a product that will appeal to the largest cross-section of potential buyers out there. However, stagers are well-advised to bear in mind the likely demographic of potential buyers for a given property. For instance, recently the market was stimulated by the availability of the increased first-time home buyer’s tax credit. Homes of a size and location likely to appeal to first-time buyers need to be staged to appeal specifically to this group of people.
Typically, who are first-time home buyers? Usually they are younger singles or couples – often with, or considering, a young family. In order to appeal to first-time buyers, sellers need pander to younger, more modern tastes. The best way to go is fresh, clean, and contemporary.
Aside from the usual de-cluttering and thorough cleaning, younger buyers are likely to be attracted to:
* A neat and cheerful garden without any old-fashioned garden trinkets like gnomes. A great way to dress up the entrance is with topiaries in elegant pots.
* Lots of light – go easy on the heavy window coverings and, instead, elect for something less oppressive like gauzy curtains or simple blinds.
* Contemporary furniture with clean lines.
* Neutral colors highlighted with accents of fresh, modern shades such as lime green, turquoise and red (it’s a good idea to check on the most current color palettes from Pantone to keep things up to date).
* Simple patterns – very ornate motifs can sometimes give an antiquated impression.
* Stagers usually make use of fairly generic art so as not to offend any particular tastes. If a home is meant to appeal to younger people, go for modern canvases and frames with simple shapes and motifs. You don’t want to put someone off by using old-fashioned still-life pictures or creepy portraits.
* Indicating the function of a given room is very important in staging generally. In this situation, it is important to stage the home in such a way that it is clearly family-friendly, with space enough for a family to grow such as space for a nursery, play area, recreational/family space.
It is an exciting and magical period in the lives of those out there looking to buy their first house. A property meant to appeal to this segment of buyers should make them feel like they’re coming home.
Nicole has lived in Namibia, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Israel and is fluent in three languages. She is the author of the widely-read Turquoise Décor e-zine packed with fun decorating tips, news about hot new products and informative articles. Visit her DIY decorating blog at http://turquoisedecor.wordpress.comand her website at www.TurquoiseDecor.com to learn more. While there, sign up for the free Turquoise Décor e-zine so you never miss a single issue!
- The Virtues of Interior Redesign - April 26, 2010
- Redmond Reporter features Nicole Wexler of Turquoise Decor LLC - April 19, 2010
- Staging Homes to Appeal to First Time Buyers - April 9, 2010
