When it comes to showing kitchens to buyers, there are two very different thoughts on how they look their best. Some believe they show best when they are completely empty, spotless, without a single item on the counter-tops. Others believe a few bright and colorful accent items showcase a kitchen’s best features. I don’t know about you, but when it comes to kitchens, I would like mine spicy please!
Maybe it is all those fond memories of childhood that revolve around times in the kitchen, baking cookies, learning how to make traditional family dishes, sitting around chatting before and after actual mealtimes. Perhaps it is from when that fabulous recipe for the red sauce was finally perfected. Maybe it is the fun that continues in the kitchen now when friends and family gather to help prepare meals, try new recipes and where folks sit over a cup of coffee to discuss their thoughts and plans.
This new construction kitchen with its granite and steel surfaces is beautiful, but it lacks warmth and emotion.
Kitchens today are built with granite, steel and concrete-hardly warm and cozy surfaces. It is difficult to get all warm and fuzzy feeling about cold, hard granite, no matter how clean and beautiful and it is. But adding just a few accent items can change these sterile surroundings into warm, inviting spaces. The emotional trigger of a cookbook, teapot and a bowl of fruit can instantly transform those hard surfaces into inspiring spaces, something that buyers can respond to.
Whether your seller has a kitchen that needs to be completely redone or if they have a state of the art masterpiece, my vote is to spice that kitchen up! What do you think-mild or spicy?
Mary Pope-Handy
September 27, 2008 at 9:03 am
Either will work but spicey is better. Most buyers will see an old kitchen with staging as a nice looking old kitchen (that they don’t want) and will see a non-staged new kitchen as one that they can make look good, but a staged new kitchen as a dream. For less than $100 in accessories, agents or stagers can put the icing on the cake. In today’s market especially, every reasonable plus to the home is a good idea.
Mark Eibner
September 27, 2008 at 3:16 pm
we’re at it again Kitchens-Mild or Spicy?: We\’re done announcing new writers today… .. https://tinyurl.com/4pbnbv
Missy Caulk
September 27, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Nicki, I use a local stager on ALL my vacant homes. I know it works, woman buy kitchens, men like garages and basements in most cases. We have the homes, “lightly staged”, not with furniture.
Rich Jacobson
September 28, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Make mine “Spicy Extra Hot!” Of all the rooms in a home, the kitchen is one that definitely warrants an extra dash of color/spice.
Colorado Real Estate by Kathy Torline
September 29, 2008 at 5:23 am
My vote is for lite spice — not too strong, just a little spice for flavor.