Living Room - After (Virtually Staged)

Now, Just Add Hardwood Floors!

If this "Before" and "After" sequence doesn't make you a staging convert -- nothing will.

Even this photo doesn't do the room justice, because there are oak hardwood floors under the carpet.

My favorite details?

The reflection in the (virtual) mirror above the Fireplace, and the (far end of the) Dining Room chair and table, in what is now an empty room.

This virtually staged Living Room -- and 2 other virtually staged rooms -- are a key part of my marketing campaign for 2705 France Ave. South, which came on the market last week at $439,900.

http://matrix.northstarmls.com/de.asp?k=411903X1JL0&p=DE-64969245-981

This smart Cape Cod has tons going for it: location just one block from Minneapolis' Cedar Lake; great curb appeal; quality construction; nice size (over 2,100 FSF) and floor plan; a 3 1/2 (!) car garage (2 1/2 detached, 1 car attached); updated mechanicals, etc.

All it's really lacking is cosmetics/decor.

So, I'm just offering prospective Buyers a little help visualizing the possibilities -- with full disclosure, of course.

The Downside of Touting Upside

The Doubled-Edged Sword Called "Potential"

Although you wouldn't necessarily believe it looking at all the MLS listings with the word "potential" in them, Realtors use the term carefully, if not reluctantly (or at least I do).

That's for two reasons:

One. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder -- at least to a point (pun intended).

Especially for a multi-family (condo) building with older demographics, a unit that some might label dated might be just perfect for someone nearing retirement, with more "vintage" tastes.

So why concede anything?

Two. Related to that is that you don't know the Buyer's budget.

If they can barely afford the home as is, trumpeting all the things that can and should be done to enhance its appeal . . . . just serves to underscore its current deficiencies.

I recall showing a home a few years ago that my Buyers liked just fine -- until the listing agent pointed out how great the home would look with $75k in new dormers.