Home staging for empty nesters can involve trying to market to older property buyers as the target demographic or can describe ways in which older real estate sellers can attract young buyers. Empty nesters are people who have already raised their families and are now free from having children living in the home. These older people often find themselves looking for a change in living arrangements, since their needs are no longer met by their large family homes.
Empty nesters are a major buyer and seller demographic in the real estate marketing sector. Understanding their needs is crucial in order to help these people to realize their property buying or selling aspirations.
The scope of this article highlights empty nesters in the real estate marketplace. We will examine how empty nesters can improve their saleable properties to attract young family-oriented buyers, as well as ways in which any property can be enhanced to appeal to empty nester buyers.
Home Staging for Empty Nester Sellers
A time comes when the children leave and a couple finds themselves alone in a large family-style home. They are getting older and do not require the large space, the large yard or the considerable upkeep associated with their current property. This couple probably has many friends who have sold off their large residences in favor of something more convenient and smaller; a property perfectly suited to the needs of older people without the encumbrance of children. They have therefore decided to follow suit.
It is vital to remember that the properties these couples want to sell should usually be marketed to younger family buyers. However, it is also common for these older sellers to need to update and stage their home extensively to appeal to today’s demanding young buyer population. Therefore, here are some simple pointers to keep in mind when staging an empty nest to receive a new young family who will love the home for many years to come:
As children leave, the large family home tends to change in it set-up and usage. Former children’s rooms become storage rooms, work-out rooms or home offices. It is vital to restore these rooms to their intended bedroom purpose using home staging techniques designed to make children’s rooms look fabulous.
Yards tend to lose their focused attention and play equipment tends to deteriorate into rusty waste. Many above ground pools are abandoned and also become eyesores in the outdoor environment. Remove, repair, restore or replace outdoor play and party fixtures to make the yard safe and appealing to new prospective buyers.
Kitchens and bathrooms are likely to require considerable home staging or renovation in order to make them pleasing to young buyers who want a fresh and functional look and feel to their new home.
Careful objective analysis of the entire property should be performed to generally update the residence and bring it into the current decade. Light fixtures should be changed out, wallpaper removed and carpeting taken-up in place of laminate or wood flooring in most properties.
Home Staging for Empty Nest Buyers
Once empty nesters decide to market their present homes, they will also need to find somewhere new to live. In communities that cater to older buyers, every effort should be made to provide these specific property consumers with the exact things they want and need to get a new start as they enter their golden years. Below are listed some of the home staging strategies that can be utilized to attract and sell older empty nest buyers:
Older buyers prefer low maintenance homes, so all efforts should be made to provide easy living for these select buyers. Convenience and self maintaining features are definite buyer pleasers.
Most empty nesters anticipate visits from children and or grandchildren. Therefore, staging a dedicated welcoming guest suite is always a great idea in any property.
The need and want for outdoor space is usually greatly reduced for empty nester buyers. Additionally, outdoor surfaces should be more adult friendly with less need for maintenance in garden and grass.
Smaller kitchens are common in homes appealing to empty nesters. Many older couples prefer to cook less and dine out more. However, updated fixtures in kitchen and baths are always nice to install to court higher-end buyers.
Single level residences become increasing popular as buyers get older. Therefore homes that fit this description often tend to attract empty nester buyers and may benefit from these staging suggestions in mixed buyer communities.
Providing Home Staging for Empty Nesters
Home stagers should always work closely with sellers and real estate agents to provide the specific type of marketing look and feel that will best serve the home’s buyer appeal. Recognizing how empty nest buyers and sellers can benefit from staging is just part of the many rewards of hiring an expert home stager to prepare the residence for a profitable sale.
Stagers who are working with empty nester sellers must always remember that the family home holds great sentimentality for their clients. Therefore, it is necessary to use kid gloves when discussing aesthetic changes that need to be made. Focusing on the potential for monetary gains is a great way to prevent hurt feelings in families whose homes desperately need updating prior to marketing.
