I couldn’t help wondering why this client had asked to consult with me if she was opposed to everything I suggested. Our meeting felt like an arm wrestle as she flexed her muscle throughout our time together leaving me wondering which one of us had more experience in Home Staging.

The slightly dated bathrooms and kitchen were the least of her problems. The main fault from my vantage point was the poor choice of paint colors she had used as accent walls.

Now Seattle is renowned for grey overcast days that is other than the five minutes of summer we had this year. Fall has arrived in all its glory considerably earlier than usual and now we are back to dealing with dull, overcast days and a listing consisting of accent walls in a somber blue. I think the best way to describe it would be moody blue, a dark, flat and murky blue. I recall being intrigued at her choice off color, especially as it was coupled brick walls. My client indicated that this was the work of a color expert. What were they thinking? Well there was absolutely no way she was prepared to consider repainting the walls and despite my opinion, she appeared confident and committed in her decision.

My sentiments are that 'you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.' Well that was eight months ago. In the last eight months, inventory in her area has grown and sales are down. The house which was fairly well priced at the time is now overpriced in today’s market. Remember this was the house with the dated kitchens and bathrooms. What an enormous difference lighter colored walls would have made to this listing. Yes there is a place for accent walls it we chose to live with them, but there is a lot to be said for rendering those colors neutral prior to listing the home. Color is such a personal thing. Yes there is the slight nuisance factor in repainting walls, but life is hectic and while the slightly dated kitchen and bathrooms might be acceptable to a buyer, I feel adamant that depressing colored walls that govern your choice of décor are not.

Today’s buyers want to move right in, unpack and get on with their busy lives. Staging not only presents the home in optimum light, it also allows the new homeowner to do just that, move right in, unpack and get on with their busy lives.