Do Families Want Homes with that Lived-In Feeling?

Do Families Want Homes with that Lived-In Feeling?

A recent article in Inman News cited that when marketing to families a staged listing should evoke that lived-in feeling but is that true when prospective buyers can’t really picture living in the home themselves? Staging, when done right, can help sell a home but if it looks it too lived in, buyers may be turned off especially if you’re dealing with buyers without children in a home that clearly has small children currently living there.

How are families suppose to stage a home and how sterile do you make the environment?

I think it all depends on the buyer. If you’re working with a buyer that’s clearly a single person with a business minded attitude, showing them a home with play rooms, knitting rooms and lunchboxes on the counter, however neatly stacked, may not evoke the same lived-in environment as a contemporary or modern style home with an office. Sellers should try to appeal to a wide range of home buyers and even though they are unsure of the type of buyer that will be touring their home, they can set up certain boundaries, certain designs and create a neutral environment that will be pleasant to the majority of home buyers out there today.

Consider model showrooms; these are specifically designed to appeal to a wide range of home buyers regardless of their familial status, budget or economic status. Neutral colors, tones and a warm and inviting area can certainly evoke a lived in feel without being nasty or cluttered.

Knowing the buyer really helps agents understand what they’re looking for and how to achieve it. Those with small children will find appeal with extra family rooms, playrooms and pay close attention to any major hazards. Those without children or single-minded individuals typically won’t be bothered by stairways, sharp corners or a clean and sterile environment.

Every individual and family is unique and according to the article, “when selling a family a home, most families want to feel like it is a warm and welcoming environment. Yes, they want it neat and in good condition, but still looking like a real home. When the house is too perfect and it has too much staging, it can take away the warmth and friendliness of the home and turn the buyers off.”

So what do you think? Here’s some of the responses the article provided.

“Not my experience. The cleaner the better. The biggest problem I’ve seen is that buyers, about 90% of them, may lack the vision to see past the current occupants’ stuff and make the home their own.”

The agent is really doing their job when they listen to the clients, hear what they’re saying, and try to find the right home for their needs and their situation.