NOTE: Since I love plants and I encourage their use in both decorating and staging, I thought this was a great article to share with my readers. This is a guest blog post by Madoline Hatter. Her info follows the article. I hope this gives you some inspiration for using plant-life in your home -- whether you are selling or not. And remember, there are plenty of options for indoor plants. Choose those that match your skill level and particularly, those that are low-maintenance.
Kristen
USING PLANT-LIFE TO ENGAGE BUYERS
By Guest Blogger Madoline Hatter
When you are looking at a comparison of two homes, are you interested in the one that is surrounded by dirt and a fence or are you attracted to the one with a lush green yard, rosebushes, and a towering tree providing shade to the lot? If you're interested in the lot covered in dirt, then you are of a very small minority. When it comes to the home, most people take notice of the plant-life on the outside as well as those on the inside.
- A Touch of Nature:
Plant-life connects us to nature, which is the driving force behind many decisions people make when furnishing their homes. Although you don't need a full rosebush sitting in the living room when you develop your staging techniques, a vase of roses can add more to the room than many may realize.
A low-maintenance yet attractive succulent plant.Copyright 2011 by Time Anchor
When you're staging your home for sale, you are essentially showing the buyer what the home could look like with his or her own furniture. Adding the vase of flowers creates a touch that connects on a subconscious level. Think about it. When flipping through magazines of home decor, how often are you more attracted to a set that features a plant than those that are bare? - Sustaining Life:
A dead plant can make for an unpleasant scene within the room. It sticks out like quartz-crystal rock in an onyx rock garden. The last thing you want your buyers to do is associate that particular room with death and decay. Make sure to check on plants and remove any that are dead or dying. - Perfect Addition:
If your home has specific themes to each room, finding plants to match can give it that extra look that could solidify the buyer’s commitment. For instance, cacti and other desert plant-life can make a great addition to the decor of a room that has been designed Santa Fe.
Each room can have an accompanying plant in accordance to the designed aesthetics. Many plants are universal and fit in nearly any kind of a design including spider plants and ferns. However, indigenous plants that are related to the style of the room will always have more appeal. - First Impressions of the Yard:
Although many appraisers don't take into consideration certain aesthetics, that doesn't mean that your home is worth less. Simple additions to the right person could increase the value of the home exponentially. For instance, a technological-savvy buyer will appreciate built-in Ethernet over one who doesn't even own a computer. The same goes for the aesthetics of your yard. Many people have been known to buy homes for no other reason than because the front yard was in such immaculate and well-kept condition.
Plants make buyers feel at home--both indoors or out and whether it's night or day. Who what potential buyer wouldn't want to entertain in a space like this? It would still be beautiful but something would be missing without the plants.
Copyright 2008 by Landscape Design Advisor
Plants can do a great deal for humans that many are unaware of. For some people, the mere presence of a plant can melt away some of the stresses of everyday life - which in your case could help the buyer feel less stress when visiting the locale. While many more are unable to pinpoint why exactly they enjoy having the plant around, they will surround themselves with nature. Providing that same feeling when someone is looking to buy your home can help you entice the sale without much additional effort from yourself.
