“Who wants boring beige walls all over their house? Why would I want to paint the walls Realtor Beige when the buyer is only going to have to paint over it with something interesting. And- do you really think boring beige is going to attract buyers for this house?”
This question has been posed to me many times during staging consultations. It seems counter intuitive to some people to spend time and money making their listing what they believe to be boring and less desirable. After all, why would someone buy a boring blank canvas when they can purchase a Monet? Good question.
The answer is in rephrasing the question. What would someone offer for a Monet when what they really want is a Pollock or a Renoir? Or maybe even a Van Gogh? Maybe they will offer less than asking and hope to be happy or keep looking for what they are really desire. What is your favorite color? What is your least favorite color? Everyone’s is different and the chance that you will magically select the color a particular buyer is looking for is pretty slim indeed. And if you happen to be in love with opposite sides of the color wheel, there is wasted effort and money indeed. The house will need to be repainted for sure.
So we are back to “Realtor Beige”. First let me say, there is no such color. There are hundreds of beiges with life and vitality that will compliment your hard wood floors, cabinetry, tile, etc. and that are EASY TO LIVE WITH. A potential buyer can envision moving right in, taking their pack off, meeting the neighbors and maybe even throwing an open house before they ever need to pick up a paint brush.
On the selling end, you still want your home to interesting, colorful, and photograph well. After all, a totally beige house would be pretty bland. Bring in the color! Pillows on the couch, a new bedspread with color, a canister set on the kitchen counter will add punch and personality to your listing. Go for accessories and artwork that add life without dictating how others would have to live if they move in.
Make it easy for buyers to say, “We could move right in”. Think of it as Beautiful Beige.
Need help picking that perfect color? Call us, we’d be happy to help.
Sandy Gardner
Commonwealth Staging LLC