Log cabin staging can improve the marketability of this traditional housing style. Log cabins remain desirable properties in some areas of the world and certainly do provide a unique and charming housing option for interested buyers. However, there are also specific attributes of log cabins that can be both beneficial and detrimental to the sales process. Therefore, it is best to optimize the appeal of the property using home staging before listing it for competitive sale on the open real estate market.
This report provides strategies which will maximize the value and desirability of log cabins in the real estate marketplace. If you have a traditional log cabin or an updated modern style log home, these tips can help you sell faster and for more money.
Log Cabin Staging Issues
Log cabins have very limited appeal and are usually only successfully marketed in geographic areas that attract people who are specifically looking for this style of home. No amount of traditional home staging will entice a buyer to purchase a log cabin if they are looking for a different style of property. Therefore, sellers will have to focus their marketing efforts on attracting buyers using the attributes that log cabins personify.
Log cabins can have many common problems, including some structural, some functional and others purely aesthetic. The last category is easy to fix with basic home staging techniques, but the latter 2 categories might take a bit more effort to resolve. Structural issues will need to be repaired before attempting to sell the log cabin, while functional issues may or may not be deal breakers, depending on many case-specific circumstances. Let’s examine these problems further in the section below.
Log Cabin Staging Solutions
Structural problems with a log cabin are commonplace, since the materials used to form the home are degradable. Common issues include gaps in between log components, warping of wood materials, water infiltration, water damage, wood rot and insect infestation. All of these conditions should be diagnosed and remedied by a specialist in log cabin construction for best results. Do not attempt to pass along structural issues when trying to sell your cabin, as this can make the sale very difficult and might even expose you to litigation risks if the new owner has a serious problem in the future after purchase.
Functional issues are common to log cabins and might include poor layout, bad space design, underdeveloped infrastructure for plumbing and/or electrical, disappointing kitchen and bathrooms or other issues. Some of these concerns can be easily rectified, while other might require renovation work to resolve. I recommend reading my detailed analysis of the pros and cons of home renovation to determine if a complete overhaul is needed in your specific case.
Aesthetic issues are the easiest to fix, as these are exactly what home staging seeks to correct. Keep in mind that you will want to preserve the traditional appeal of the log cabin when staging it for sale. However, you still want to remove taste-specific decor and attempt to create an atmosphere of universal appeal, at least among buyers of log cabins. A bit of research on the design elements and style of log cabins goes a long way for home stagers who work with these properties regularly.
Log Cabin Staging for Maximum Profit
If the cabin is structurally sound and functionally appealing, it should be simple to get it looking great, enticing buyers into making offers. Do not forget to stage the exterior of the property, as well, since curb appeal and natural vistas rank very high on the wishlists of log cabin buyers. Be sure to invest equal effort into the outside of the home in order to make it just as beautiful and desirable.
It is best to tone down the decor of any log cabin as much as possible compared to more traditional construction styles. This way, the rugged, earthy elements of the home itself become the main attraction and save you money in the process. Therefore, choose design elements carefully and do not allow them to steal the thunder of the beautiful log home’s inherent design. Remember also to stage the home in order to take advantage of outdoor views, since nature is typically an important consideration for buyers of log homes almost anywhere in the world.
