A Moving Experience
By someonesmom
@someonesmom (5761)
Canada
February 4, 2009 2:27am CST
With the current unstable economy, what would you do if you felt you had no choice, but to put your home up for sale?
I've heard a lot about what 'we in Canada' call staging your home. It's my understanding that this means doing all of the necessary renovations, repairs, etc., to get the best asking price possible. For one thing, this 'staging' dictates that your home 'must' be painted a neutral colour throughout, in order for it to sell at all.
This did not use to be the case, and I think that it's gotten out of hand, and is yet another sign of the way things are today. 
It's fine to do this if 'we' have the money, but what about those who don't?
Whatever happened to the fixer upper?
What are your experiences along these lines, in either selling or purchasing a home?
Would you try to 'stage' your home, to get it ready to sell?
Would you sell it as is, realizing you may not get the best price for it?
Even if you're not a homeowner, I invite you to share your thoughts here also.
It's fine to do this if 'we' have the money, but what about those who don't?
Whatever happened to the fixer upper?
What are your experiences along these lines, in either selling or purchasing a home?
Would you try to 'stage' your home, to get it ready to sell?
Would you sell it as is, realizing you may not get the best price for it?
Even if you're not a homeowner, I invite you to share your thoughts here also.2 people like this
9 responses
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
4 Feb 09
I would. Most of the things that you do to stage it are small cosmetic things. If you do them, you get a lot more from the sale than you put in. Painting is probably the easiest thing to do to raise the sale price. $500 for paint and you can get $50000 more o the sale. All the tiny things can turn a cut price fixer upper into a high price show house that will sell fast.
2 people like this
@someonesmom (5761)
• Canada
20 Feb 09
I really appreciate your response, and good advice here. I agree with you that painting at the very least, would need to be done. The thing is, I may be forced to sell this year, due to circumstances beyond my control. If this does happen, I'll just have to find the most helpful real estate agent possible, who will understand that I can only do 'so much.'
Take care.
@ElicBxn (63594)
• United States
4 Feb 09
Well, I've spent the last 10 or more years getting the house fully accessable, because I don't want to have to move. I rather plan on dying here.
Besides, they will probably have to pull out all the dry wall, or at least most of the lower levels of it to get the cat smell out of the house, so I would probably have to expect to sell it as a "tear down."
Granted, I don't live in a neighborhood where they are tearing down the old houses to build the "McMansions" like some of the closer in ones, but... well, there we are.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
5 Feb 09
since I could never afford to have a home in my almost 54 years on this earth, I have no idea what I would do. I would have probably lost it by now anyhow if I had one that is.
1 person likes this
@someonesmom (5761)
• Canada
20 Feb 09
Hi winterose,
Thanks so much for stopping by here. I'm sorry to hear that you've never had the chance to purchase a home. I would've never been able to do so either, had it not been for the sudden passing away of my husband, over fifteen years ago. I'd much rather still have him here with us, than be a home owner.
Take care.
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
11 Feb 09
I would be in trouble if i had to sell my house as it is not ready. We have a few projects we are working on like our whole basement remodel and well my shower is broken it works it just has styrofoam to keep water from going into my walls lol. We got the new shower just havent installed it yet.
1 person likes this
@someonesmom (5761)
• Canada
20 Feb 09
Hi Again, 
I hear you! Unfortunately, I'm in the same situation as you, as my home isn't nearly ready to sell. Sadly, I may be forced to do just that this year, due to circumstances beyond my control. I'm still holding out hope though, that I'll be able to find a way not to have to put it on the market.
Thanks so much for responding here.
I hear you! Unfortunately, I'm in the same situation as you, as my home isn't nearly ready to sell. Sadly, I may be forced to do just that this year, due to circumstances beyond my control. I'm still holding out hope though, that I'll be able to find a way not to have to put it on the market.
Thanks so much for responding here.
@eaforeman6 (8979)
• United States
4 Feb 09
Its important to remember that another house can be bought at a later time. If I needed to, I would, I have friends who are downsizing now into cheaper, homes and apartments. They may do bigger things later but for now, they want and need to save their money to make ends meet.1 person likes this
@someonesmom (5761)
• Canada
20 Feb 09
Hi eaforeman,
My house is nowhere near ready to sell, but sadly I may be forced to do just that this year. If I do so, it'll be out of necessity, as that will mean I can no longer afford to keep it. My circumstances will be changing drastically in June, but I'm still hoping to be able to somehow hold onto our home.
Thanks so much for sharing here.
Take care.
My house is nowhere near ready to sell, but sadly I may be forced to do just that this year. If I do so, it'll be out of necessity, as that will mean I can no longer afford to keep it. My circumstances will be changing drastically in June, but I'm still hoping to be able to somehow hold onto our home.
Thanks so much for sharing here.
Take care.
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
8 Feb 09
Staging homes have been done for years it has not been talked about as much as it is now. With the fall in housing prices they are trying to teach people how to get as much out of their homes as possible.
Some homes are worth less than new cars now a days that is sad. I know some people who had to sell their home and it was a relief by the time they sold it. With struggling to make ends meet every month and not being able rub those two penny's together enough to do it by the time they sell their home they feel like they can breath. Yes they are not renters but they usually do not have the large debt hanging over their head.
1 person likes this
@someonesmom (5761)
• Canada
20 Feb 09
Hi teapotmom,
Yes, staging seems to be 'the thing' these days. Sadly, I may have to sell this year, due to circumstances beyond my control. I'm on quite a limited budget, so can only do the best I can, if I do have to prepare to sell. I'm still hoping that I can find a way to hold onto our home though.
Thanks so much for your response here.
Take care.
Yes, staging seems to be 'the thing' these days. Sadly, I may have to sell this year, due to circumstances beyond my control. I'm on quite a limited budget, so can only do the best I can, if I do have to prepare to sell. I'm still hoping that I can find a way to hold onto our home though.
Thanks so much for your response here.
Take care.1 person likes this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
9 Mar 09
I hope you do not have to sell your home. I know how stressful it can be and the housing market keeps going down. Would you get a decent price out of it. Good luck my friend.
@sasklily (240)
• Canada
22 Aug 09
I, too, am getting ready to sell my home. I had big plans 20 years ago of doing all the renovations but that was not to be; and I'm now faced with a less than desireable house, with lots of fixing to do.
I think, barring doing all the painting and major repairs, you just have to do the best you can and hope for the best.
Decluttering is a must to simplify everything and make everything look roomier. I've already gotten rid of a lot of knick-knacks and dust-catchers. A good cleaning is another must and having everything tidy and in it's own place. Cleaned off counters, a bit of greenery and a nice tablecloth could add to the look; These are all inexpensive little things that could make a difference.
I don't really want to sell but as I get older I realize I just don't need such a large house...just too much upkeep and housecleaning.
Good luck and I hope everything goes well for you.
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
7 Feb 09
Thankfully we live in an apartment but my Mom owns 2 houses and she's been talking about selling one for years. It's definately a fixer upper. If she had to do a "staging" it would take way too much money.
I can see them saying that you should do repairs but to insist on renovations and special painting is to the extreme. Afterall, who says the new owners are going to want everything a neutral color.
[b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~
**STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
4 May 09
Hi, someonesmom.
We are faced with this very thing at the moment. Well, not selling because we have to due to the economy, just needing a different home.
We need some repairs done to the foundation of our home and we are deciding whether to do it or expect to lose that amount in the asking price. From what I understand about staging, it is all just about making each room look like the purpose it serves so that buyers see everything the home has to offer. An example of this for us would be that I have given up my dining room to my son for a play room, but during the time of my house being on the market I would need to 'stage' it as a dining room because more buyers would be interested in have a dining room over a play room. Personally, I wouldn't go to much expense staging my home.
1 person likes this
