Walking into an open house that looks like a page from your favorite magazine can be comforting since it is easy to see all the potential. You may even start to visualize your own furniture and family members in each room. However, while a staged home looks nice and can certainly highlight a home’s best features, it can also be used to hide some trouble spots. Here is a list of some common problems staging has been known to hide.
Damaged Walls
Check the condition of the walls to see if any wallpaper has been painted over. Removing wallpaper is a pain and some sellers will go the quick and cheap route of just painting over it entirely. Although this is considered to be a simple fix it can cause the new homeowner headaches down the road. You may also want to check behind pictures that are hanging on the wall that may have been used to disguise holes, cracks, and even mold.
Pet Damage
Even if you are an animal lover, you’re not going to want to repair or clean the messes of someone else’s pet. Pet urine, most likely, will not cause structural damage but it can cause peeling and warping. So, be sure to pull up a corner of the carpet and if you see paint on the floor, it’s likely covering a pet stain.
Weird Furniture Placement
When pieces of furniture are placed in a strange place on a rug or by a fireplace, this should send up some red flags. So if something seems off, be sure to check underneath.
Music
Some nice background music can add to a home’s appeal, but it may also serve another purpose: distracting you from other sounds such as traffic or construction noises. To drown out the sounds for open houses, it is common to play mood music and have it span across each room.
Damaged Floors
Rugs and runners can make a world of difference in a room that’s in need of some color and warmth. However, floor coverings might be used to repel attention from warped hardwood or damaged floors. Walk back and forth along as many rugs and runners as you can and if the floor makes a squeaky noise or the wood seems warped, there may be an issue with the house.
