STOP Designing Like HGTV to Sell Your Home!

[@KatiSpaniak]

Download the Seller's Playbook Here: bit.ly/SellerPlaybook83

[@LambentLark]

At my old house I painted a mural in the master bath. When we went to sell ithe place, the real estate guy said it should be painted to a solid color. The day I started to do it, I got a call from an agent. A couple had drove buy and wanted a showing that asap. I really wanted to sell it so I said, "is now good for them?". 3 hr later we had an over full price offer and the buyer said, "don't paint over any more of the mural! In fact they wanted me to repaint the part that was gone. I shamed my agent so hard, he paid for me to repaint of the mural. Lol I isn't cheap. A few months later, they got ahold of me through the agents, they needed a mural painted in their new babies room. I have done over 15 murals thanks to that one. I still tease my agent.

[@sleeplesscrafter]

Wow, I would love to see the mural.

[@LambentLark]

It's on a flash drive around here somewhere. I'm moving come spring. I'm painting a new one wheN I get there.

[@Daniela-Christianson]

Murals aren't to everyone's taste but so what? My neighbors painted their richly colored walls and beautiful wallpaper a bland tan color. It went from wow to blah. Totally ruined the aesthetic in my opinion, to "appeal to everyone". The owner is a realtor. It took a long time to sell in a neighborhood where the houses went fast. I think it's because of the paint, lol.

[@barbarafrezza5299]

Some things just work. My last house was a period cottage with a gorgeous stone fireplace in the LR flanked by built-in bookshelves. The living room and dining room had solid wood chair rails and wainscoting. I used a 4 color paint scheme in the living room and 2 colors in the dining room.the LR walls were a pale French gray, and the DR walls were a pale salmon. One Realtor suggested I paint all the walls in the house Navajo white. I got another Realtor.

[@sleeplesscrafter]

@@barbarafrezza5299 Yes! Just like the old Home Alone house. They should have NEVER updated it. It's a classic and holds sentimental value. Now it's all white and looks so plain.

[@1234dvarela]

I staged homes for 15 years. My best advice….Skip the trends and fill your home with things you love. When it is time to sell, keep it simple, inviting and clean. You will be fine.

[@SG-rb2zy]

I was never not tired of Chip and Joanna! They are exhausting!!!

[@johnwalsh990]

Not only are they exhausting, but the look they sell was never NOT unappealing. Cheap fake plants and not decorated but staged. It always was nothing but a gift shop.

[@SG-rb2zy]

@johnwalsh990 I completely agree

[@jennifers8843]

@@johnwalsh990That they’ve now brought to Target

[@clarity2118]

I love a unique traditional house. Old architecture - Victorian, Tudor, etc is gorgeous

[@ratanyiapage6610]

Oh man! Tudor style homes are so beautiful!

[@JustMeOnlyMeIndeed]

Clean, neat and priced right is the key! Also...neighbors of ours replaced their flooring throughout with LVP at the same time we did. They put down a gray color and we put down a medium warm oak look. We get compliments all the time on what a beautiful floor we have. The gray is trendy. Wood in warm tones (not dark like espresso...that's just a dust magnifier!) is always in style. Nature and it's colors never go away.

[@maryanncrowl1624]

One of your best videos yet. I think the most important thing you reminded people is to focus on a clean house with no deferred maintenance. It's easy to get hung up on how to stage or decorate but the cleaning and maintenance are the low-hanging fruit. It's much easier to decorate our homes when the clutter is gone and broken things are fixed. I'm speaking from experience, ha.

[@KatiSpaniak]

Thanks for this! This was from the heart for sure

[@ChillinWithMissSue]

My husband and I are looking for a home now and yes as long as the home is CLEAN and maintained that is always a plus!

[@rayshelld791]

Being a retired real estate company owner. I have found that when it comes to a kitchen, having matching color cabinets sells quicker. You have gray bottom cabinets and white top cabinets just isn't the greatest seller. And do not take a 1950s cottage or any older home, and remodel it in a trendy style. You have to respect the house for what it is. Cant say how many houses I have sold, that the first thing the buyers said they wanted to do was bring the house back to the original design. If you want modern or trendy, then buy a house that can support that design.

[@scarlettwinters5642]

Very few things make me angry but opening my Zillow app to find an all grey house and carpet makes me super angry. The very worst is looking at an old 1920’s farmhouse and finding they’ve destroyed it by making it look like a cheap modern apartment. It should be illegal to ruin an old house

[@ironman2326]

Right! We just bought a house this year and like 99% of them were grey throughout the entire house! All I can think is I'm going to have to paint now...We finally bought one that was painted an ugly grayish brown in every room. I have single handedly painted every room, except the kitchen, which I will start probably this month.

[@susanmacmaster5804]

Ugh, I hate grey; sad grey homes, so unoriginal. 😝 Give me light, bright color.

[@CecileEdwards]

@@susanmacmaster5804 I hate gray, and I hate beige when I lived in the south I saw so much beige on everything buildings houses you name it

[@jrahn66]

Yessss!!! Agree!!!

[@jrahn66]

@@ironman2326grey is boring and banal. Lacks life, vitality and creativity.

[@lisahunter6556]

This is a great video. I personally love a quirky house and have literally told real estate agents, "Show me the house you aren't able to sell" because it's often the weird place that sings to me. I LOVE the example of the old church with the original woodwork.

[@KatiSpaniak]

Thanks!!!!

[@Pinnfeathers]

I bought a quirky house that I absolutely love, abandoned for a decade, the worst house in the best neighborhood. Who wants what everyone else has? That ubiquitous HGTV gray floor-white quartz-shiplap everywhere aesthetic is SOOOOOO incredibly boring.

[@MissMolly3377]

@@PinnfeathersYes it is. I hate it. It feels cold. I love the houses that you can see and feel the love that was once in that house. It’s lived in, it’s loved, it warm.

[@LouisGonzalez-py1zd]

Joanna Gaines is a one look designer

[@TFMuhamet]

What the wall needs is a massive clock... 😂

[@betmo]

most of them are

[@jrahn66]

My niece went so far as to look like her while she was going through her new house transformation period. She still looks like her. Ugh.

[@seanboate9960]

Chip and Joanna, The two people I blame the most for breaking Waco, TX.

[@homeloveeverything2932]

I went with a realtor friend to look at houses on the market. After a while EVERYTHING looked the same. They had pretty much the same light grey walls, the same painted white cabinets, the same white bathroom cabinets with floor to ceiling glass shower walls, etc. Most had the similar neighborhoods with 1/3-1/2 acre yards. I really couldn’t remember which house was what. Years ago I looked at houses and I could say something like, “Remember that house that had the red dining room, that flowed into the kitchen with the honey cherry cabinets? I loved that house’s layout…”. Or, “Remember that house with the light bluish walls and the black accent wall in the formal living room? That had a great yard.” Perhaps leave at least one distinct but clean room to make the house stand out to buyers who look at so many houses?

[@room2growrose623]

I get it 💯 I have felt completely paralyzed. I’ve thought in terms of future buyers, my husband squashed that, he said, “I’m doing these things for me! So I can enjoy it. I don’t care about future buyers”. 😂. Ding ding ding ding. Woke me up.

[@KatiSpaniak]

Love that!

[@sleeplesscrafter]

The best decision my husband and I made was doing the Love it or List it thing. We updated and remodeled our home based on how WE wanted it, but also keeping in mind to sell. When we were finished with it, we likes it so much, we didn’t want to sell. Now every home we look at, looks horrible compared to ours.

[@KatiSpaniak]

@@sleeplesscrafter This is great to hear!!

[@Tomes23]

My husband and I are the opposite. I always feel like a squatter in our homes.

[@tamb7587]

I have recently been looking at homes with the possible intent of moving. I’m looking in the $600,000 range. I am sick to death of seeing these houses that have been flipped and everything is white and gray. First of all that is out, but it seems like the flippers are the last to know or to find out that painting everything white or gray, and going with vinyl plank flooring is outdated now! I wanna buy a home that is in its original state and then I will determine what I want to do to it if anything! I so agree that everyone has been brainwashed to this same aesthetic that I don’t even like. Come on people where is your individuality? Where is your creativeness? Stop buying into this HGTV aesthetic , no it has been so overdone ! Let your own individual creativity shine… when I’m on KZbin I go to sites like “Homeworthy” and watch them give tours of homes that are unique and the owners have let their individual taste and personalities shine through.

[@tammiejo]

Someone in our neighborhood painted their brick home white with black trim, totally stripped it of character- it’s been on the market for 6 months despite being very newly renovated and in a desirable neighborhood. I’m sure the listing price is too high, but I can’t help but think the paint job was a terrible decision. I am so glad Paige’s video came up for you- she’s got a great eye

[@susanlajoie2053]

Caroline Winkler is another great content designer

[@dmulkey4185]

Our 135 year old family home has had the brick painted white for decades. It is very attractive and we get told so often and most people do not even know it was ever a red brick farmhouse. A lot of people have said it is the prettiest house in town. So sometimes painting brick makes a house look better.

[@beverlychase3587]

@@dmulkey4185I agree

[@mwebb3014]

I have always painted and decorated for me and me only because my home is for me. I have sold three houses in Dallas with walls painted brick red, sage green, lilac, blue, etc, and not a speck of grey anything. They were beautiful, cozy and wowed the various realtors I used. My houses were all very well maintained and super clean with beautiful front and backyards because I love to garden. You spend a lot of money on a house so you do you!! You’ll be so happy!

[@JGirl.7]

I am right there with ya! I’ve purchased several homes and always changed the colors. I never let something as small as paint colors deter me from purchasing any house because 9 at of 10 the color is not for me. Especially if it’s grey. I am a warm color gal. I can handle white but I really hate gray.

[@adriaba790]

Not all buyers are capable, like you, of going beyond the colors and seeing the house beneath!😅

[@karylmorgan7320]

Agree

[@vohh7401]

Different strokes for different folks. 2 things can exist at one time. I love Chip and Joanna Gains. I love their style, but my home is styled differently. It’s more authentically me. I love HGTV and its purpose to stimulate imagination and interest in home improvement. All the best ☮️

[@KatiSpaniak]

Yep! I hear you on this!! This was just real insight for me!

[@levans3447]

My agent tried to point out things i should " update" to sell the home and I said absolutely not. Sold my home in one day . Period.

[@cjtzioumis686]

Enjoy Paige's content, loved seeing her on this video. So happy you saw the value in her work

[@backpain4ever505]

Buyers are not stupid. They don’t need a sparse home to see the value. Clean is more important.

[@sherlhoeppner2392]

I have actually walked out of a few homes I was shown--so filthy or smelly I couldn't even finish!😢

[@ivyroses4380]

I agree. I walk into a home and as long as its not dirty and old Im good. I can use my imagination. I dont care about the wall color.. I am going to change it... etc etc.

[@sherristockfleth746]

As a mostly buyers agent I try to school my buyers NOT to look at the paint or furniture. I talk with them about layout and trim and cracks/no cracks etc because everyone should be decorating their homes for their own taste!

[@cj222100]

Sometimes I look at Zillow or Redfin for fun, & I remember a home that sold that was really dated. Honey oak everywhere, the walls were either peach or brown, some of which had that sponge painting effect. Border wallpaper, hunter green bedroom, basically every 90s thing you could think of, you name it, this house had it. But, it was immaculate & perfectly maintained. It sold in probably like 2 weeks.

[@privateinfo1711]

I enjoyed watching Fixer Upper. I really wasn't crazy about Joanna Gaines' decorating though. She seemed to do the same thing in every house.

[@pauletteyoung112]

Totally agree. Can’t stand word signs, big clocks and shiplap

[@texasred2702]

I watched one show of theirs that featured a 1960s home with an atrium in the center of the house that had a rockery, mature plants and a water feature. Needless to say Joanna ripped it out--I forget what she replaced it with but no doubt it involved shiplap and one of those stupid giant fake clocks she loves. Ruined it. Never watched the show again.

[@aqueenceereid4249]

​@@pauletteyoung112when I watch home showings on KZbin I get so angry when a house has shiplap in it. I despise it.

[@ltldxy71]

I couldn’t agree with you more. I’m so sick of every single house looking exactly the same. I recently saw that C&J were renovating a MCM home and I was destroyed thinking “OH GREAT, now that style will go outrageously crazy popular!” Which I would hate because I have loved MCM for decades. I hope they don’t ruin that, too.

[@vonbook1973]

Sidenote: You remind me of actress Meredith Baxter-Birney, the mom on '80s sitcom Family Ties (Fellow Gen X-ers will probably get that reference the most, lol😉)

[@zeldazpolarbearz]

The amount of homes I have been in that were recently renovated and its just white on white is so sad. These people plan to love there for a long time but their whole house has ZERO personality, and other than maybe a photo of family, there is nothing to indicate who lives there. It's so sad, people 'decorating' for others but not for themselves. It's like they are just renting space in their own home, afraid to move in and make it their own. Thank you for encouraging people to embrace living in a HOME, not just a HOUSE.

[@MissMolly3377]

Yes, we are in the influencer world, sad beige, boring and cold gray, and even worse, Greige, or white. It’s horrible. They’re trying to keep up with the Joneses, while the Joneses aren’t trying to keep up with them. It’s wild.

[@GEOMETRICINK]

I absolutely adore this video, I’ve probably commented 5 times 😂😂😂 I’ve just got to mention, trends come and go so fast. Decorating your home with your own personal style and what you truly love is everything. You’ll enjoy it for so much longer. I personally love walnut, brass, and white. I’ve been collecting walnut/teak antiques for decades now. So when the white oak flooring and gray walls trend was in full force, I was so close to getting white oak hardwoods and painting the entire house gray. My husband wasn’t so sure, knowing me as well as he does, insisted we reconsider. I ended up going with what I’ve loved for years, a walnut toned hardwood and creamy white walls. The furniture I have collected over the years, that truly reflects my style, looks great in this space. And don’t ya know, darker woods are back in style as we speak. So glad I just went with what I love.

[@KatiSpaniak]

Thanks so much for your comment and your engagement on this!! It means a lot to me!

[@TexSquirrel]

My elderly parents were convinced by a realtor that they needed to remodel some areas of their home in order to sell. This wound up not being true. The town they were in was going through an oil boom and there were very few homes available. People were buying homes without seeing them in person and waving inspections because they were desperate to get out of hotels. My parents poured money into the house. After spending a bunch of money, the realtor then wanted them to buy all new furniture. They fortunately didn’t do this, but they got rid of the most “offensive” pieces of furniture. It was put on the market and the realtor advertised it “as is”. Their home was neutral, but the realtor warned it might take a long time to sell because they didn’t make all the changes she wanted. My parents didn’t have the money but they needed to move closer to family because of failing health. The home sold in week, and the person who bought it tore out all the upgrades my parents had done. It was such a stressful experience for my parents.

[@KatiSpaniak]

So this is exactly why I have a passion for making these videos. This sums it up perfectly. I’m so sorry your parents when through that. Very very painful and not worth the effort or the risk with the money they had to put in.

[@sandihanna768]

I recently purchased a new older home. I knew it would need new floors, kitchen & baths, paint, but, it was immaculately clean. I actually mentioned this to the realtor several times.

[@papercityvlogs4325]

Wow. Not sure why I came across the video. I fell in love with a set of lamps yellow and blue. None of my friends liked it and so I didn't buy it. But kept thinking about these table lamps and finally got them. This video makes me feel better

[@PhDdoctornurseAGACNP-BC]

I just found your channel. Your engaging and authentic personality is what drew me in!

[@hadrianwall-r7h]

I am pleased to see you featured this young designer. She is a smart cookie. Can you give her credit or a link to her channel?

[@stephanieo222]

Thank you for expressing how I feel about decorating!

[@KatiSpaniak]

You’re welcome! Glad I’m not the only one.

[@Fuzzmom903]

Thank you!! Finally, someone besides Paige (whom I also watch), gets it! I’m currently renovating, and I have to constantly hear about how ppl pull down wallpaper, because I’m putting up wallpaper. I’m just like, and???? I’m not living in my home based on what the next buyer will want. I’m living in my home based on what I want. It’s my home, not the next buyer’s. Contrary to popular (HGTB) belief, I love pigment, wallpaper, brown furniture, honey oak. . . I don’t like gray walls, beige walls, blue walls, microwaves over the range, quartz in the kitchen (heat is an issue in a kitchen), clean lines, stainless steel. . . Last point, a friend was telling me that a relative’s Gen Z kid just bought a brand new house, and had “ruined” it by painting every room a different color, “like a clown” house. Somehow I the gray walls should have sufficed. Wow. Just wow.

[@KatiSpaniak]

Thanks for your comments!!! Glad to hear this!

[@donnakinsey2053]

Military family…. Our favorite home was in Hawaii, had just been completely redone and every room was a different color. Very tastefully done. There was a beautiful surfboard rack just inside the front door. 😃🌺 🏄

[@melissacleaver1612]

Thank you so much for this video! I am currently building a new home, and will be selling our current home soon. This was so helpful to see both perspectives about what we should be doing or not doing based on buying or selling. I’ve watched what seems like hundreds of interior design videos, trying to figure out what to do with our new home vs. our current home, and this answered so many questions. Thank you again!

[@dawnb7457]

As someone who has a designer in the family (formal education and actual experience), Joanna calling herself a designer always bugged me...and her designs always looked the same. I always work with the design of a house and go with that style...clean and neat always sells!

[@AZJen480]

She's a one trick pony. Definitely not a designer or decorator in my eyes.

[@sherlhoeppner2392]

I'm an artist(graphic designer) but I have done my share of interior decorating! The house must be CLEAN and NEAT!! Think "clean lines". A house will sell better empty than with dirt and clutter. Even remove kitchen sink rugs, rugs near toilet(make SURE the toilet lid is CLOSED --especially in photos!) toiletry items--use your storage spaces!! Honestly there should be nothing in your bathroom but a decanter of hand soap, a plant/floral arrangement and maybe a single(preferably solid color) hand towel. It will look bigger and feel cleaner! If you dont have a bona fide "style", try to determine what your style is most like--and pare it down! "Keep it simple, Simon!" And "Less is More!" Are 2 things I learned in college. Color and Light can make or break the way your space FEELS!!!❤

[@elisabethvismans]

My home is for me to live in. I took out the bathtub in the master bathroom because I don’t like a bath. I shower. The bathroom is redesigned the way I want it. Most buyers rip out the bathroom anyway. The plumbing is still there so easy to replace the fixtures. When I buy a house I look at the bones of the house. Not at the stuff that’s easy to change. This house was not niceley decorated but everything was high quality. I’m from the Netherlands and lived in several different countries. Here in the States everyone has the same matchy matchy design, over the top or just plain horrible. I’m a visual artist. My physical environment is important to me. When people enter my house the first thing they say is how much they love it. We, Europeans collect things and find a nice place for it. We have old and new. It has character. I lived in Paris and designed my bedroom in the French style. That is the main team in house. Subtle though. Not in your face with Eiffel towers, chickens and definitely no words like kitchen, home sweet home etc. The walls are painted a cool blueish white which goes well with my colorful oil paintings. I do have some variations in all color. One accent wall is painted in the rijksmuseum color blue. It’s so cool. It’s my home and I love it. It was somewhat outdated, built in 1993, but very clean when I bought it 4 years ago. I changed all the wall colors, new light fixtures. Painted doors white, replaced door handles throughout, ripped out carpet in the bedrooms, etc, etc. This year I worked on the outside of the house and the yard. It looks awesome. It’s unique. It’s me. The next owner can do the same for all I care. I buy and sell on FB marketplace where I have found many beautiful well made pieces for a very reasonable prices. I also have a lot of plants which brings nature in. I live on a golf course in WV with lots of trees around. My front yard is more like a forest. Anyway the interior designers on KZbin all mention the same old stuff. Boring. Why don’t they mention to buy art, real art from local artists instead of from major box stores?

[@robinbirdj743]

You’ve got really good points. One mistake: „ Most buyers rip out the bathroom.“ I’ve bought and sold 5 houses and no, NOT ONE of them has been even updated. The one with dark green tile? Not redone. The one with a cabinet from 1940? Not redone! The one with a claw foot tub? The new owners sold without even painting. Just fyi, maybe it’s true at higher price points but certainly not everyone rips out good but not great bathrooms. ❤

[@karylmorgan7320]

Exactly. I buy art in every country I visit. It means a lot to me because of memories. I live pottery and ceramics from my travels. Love vintage shops. My house looks like me. Thanks for your thoughts.

[@woodlucker1968]

I think design trends are really changing quickly right now. We are definitely moving away from the modern farmhouse and gray to more of what this young woman describes in her KZbin. I follow her and I think she has a very solid take on what people want. Especially in the larger urban areas of America.

[@sleeplesscrafter]

I think it really depends on the area. I live in a rural community and all the newly built homes are gray and white.

[@lookouthill11]

@@sleeplesscrafterrural areas are 10-15 yrs behind in design trends.

[@sleeplesscrafter]

@@lookouthill11 yes I know.

[@jeme7339]

Thanks for clarifying. I never thought my previous comments would get so much traffic. It was just disappointing while looking at beautiful old houses that so much was changed or painted over.

[@nabimiso]

That “church” house was AMAZING! I’d love it!

[@tattoodhobomom]

I absolutely love Paige Wassel, her interior design is so great!! And her sass/sarcasm is unparalleled

[@NotByChanceJulieO]

I am sooooo enjoying these videos! I found out my biopsies were clear of cancer today and I am finally being able to plan for something besides my funeral! Thank you for all your great insight and just giving me something to relax with finally! :-) I loved the "church house" the most!

[@KatiSpaniak]

You made my day with this!! So glad for your good health!!!!

[@bluemac9476]

Excellent helpful video! Won't probably want to sell for a few years but great to have advice to start planning now. Thank you ❤

[@hibiscus-dreams]

Thanks enjoyed this. Have been looking online at homes. I've been entirely unimpressed. I don't know what builders are thinking but they seem to continue interior designing with the FH look. If I see FH in a photo, I move on I have never cared for gray. And then, only select shades of blue. Out of 20+ houses I visited this year - only 1 - a custom built that I toured twice is one I won't ever forget. Homeowner built it. None of the brand new homes with modern finishes could touch it.

[@stillwatersfarm8499]

We had a real 1910 farmhouse on a real small farm. Updated tastefully and maintained. Out buildings, pastures, orchard, garden and landscaping. You wouldn’t believe the people who would come in and complain it needed too much work. It had all new flooring, updated kitchen, brand new accessible bath, beautiful wood moldings. It was offensive. Thankfully we found a buyer who actually wanted a farm. I was NOT going to sell it to someone who wanted to screw it up.

[@bitrudder3792]

i’m glad you found the right buyer. For me, I look at beautiful homes online that are for sale, and I see their beautiful granite countertops and their rich hardwood kitchen cabinetry, and a stained wood molding, and I look at the price of the house. I don’t like any of those things, they depress me so much. I would have to calculate the price of “fixing“ something that was perfectly good for someone else into the cost of the house. there are any number of styles that affect me negatively like that, including the All gray approach of the last few years. it would feel so wasteful for me to destroy something like that just because my taste is different. Not to mention expensive. It shocks me that kitchen renovations can cost more than our first house did!!! not to mention how stressful they can be, because those kinds of projects rarely go smoothly. It sounds like the right people got your home, and your beautiful farm.

[@tmusa2002]

I relate!! We live in a big, old, lovely 1904 farmhouse on an acreage (it was part of a big farm but the family sold it and five acres to us in 2009). Our kids are grown and the time is here to sell. I’m terrified somebody will come in and gut it because they like modern design. We may build down the road on a different piece of land and literally see it from there. Too many people buy an old house and destroy it with updates or just let it fall apart around them-because owning something this old and big takes upkeep. I am too emotionally tied to my homes and this one is extra special for many reasons.

[@stillwatersfarm8499]

@ oh yeah, especially if you live close you are going to want the right buyer. I don’t know if you are a praying person, but that’s what I did - prayed for just the right family to find it and love it.

[@bitrudder3792]

@ - I've done the same, twice! Prayed for a family that would pray for and bless the neighborhood! Testimony of the goodness of God: Both times we sat with two mortgages for about 5 months, but God provided not just the finances to cover that, but PASTORS as the new owners! The first bought our home to be able to minister to the youth on the deck I was sad to leave, and the second was actually one of our own pastors, who not only did not realize it was our house, but felt like it was "home" as soon as they stepped in the door, and are avid neighborhood prayer/walkers! And they didn't think they could afford the home, but we felt at peace accepting the lower offer.

[@stillwatersfarm8499]

@ Those are lovely stories! We recently visited a rabbi who had purchased a home for a similar reason - a deck to hold prayer services for college youth. After they moved in, they discovered the previous owners were Holocaust survivors, and that gave them such a sense of connection to the place. I believe selling a home can be a spiritual act of stewardship.

[@SarA-cw9xc]

The old historical home you showed is amazing! If it’s in good condition I bet it could sell for a lot because it is hard to find these kind of homes.

[@chriscarson7384]

Thank you for this video, Kati! I'll be watching Paige's videos next! I absolutely believe in making your home personal and comfortable FOR YOU. But when I sold my house four years ago, my agent used a stager, and I cannot say enough nice things about her. The stager made a couple of recommendations to make the interior of the house more appealing to young buyers, then used a mixture of my furniture and her "show pieces" for the photos and tours. I got 15 offers, mostly from young buyers.

[@willsx2]

Katie, if you want to start less stressful decorating of your home for you and your family, Nick Lewis just dropped a video today about finding your design style and how to work with it. Personally, I love what you have done with your bookshelves!

[@maryanncrowl1624]

I second that. I love Nick Lewis...

[@KatiSpaniak]

Thanks so much! I will check it out!

[@VioletFlowerz]

Nick Lewis is a fantastic content creator and is so much fun to watch in addition to providing really usable suggestions for finding your style and making it work.

[@AZJen480]

❤ Nick

[@rettaroo5972]

I think it would be a really fun video clip. If you were to change up the shelving behind you and show us what you would do if you were going to sell your house. It wouldn’t be too hard for you to do and the contrast would give us a really good example.

[@katenoke1571]

Paige is the best. Form, function and originality. And she is the big fan of thrifting and repurposing. When I finally purchased my dream home on cape cod, I bought it for the bones. Post and beam construction and a non cookie-cutter yard. I don't care about the blue tile flooring and wallpaper. They add to the charm. I will add and subtract as I go.

[@well57seasoned]

Terrific video. Loved the designer because she caused me to really think about my own buying decisions. As a senior who sold our large home in 2021, we had a professional stager who removed most of our furniture and brought in her staging items. Best decision. We bought our current home in Tennessee all online. What we couldn’t do was “hear the road noise” behind our house and the tight parking situation for our cars. But, the house met our needs even though the master bath was painted “Vol” (University of Tennessee Volunteers) ORANGE!! Quick paint job fixed that. And, that’s one of the difference in generations. Those of us in our first 60’s and 70’s always knew that we would have to do something to the homes we bought and learned how to do that (painting, fixing up floors, etc). We were busy, too,

[@lindawilson4625]

I love this video LOL! Thanks for the clarification, but I felt I understood what you meant when you said make it look like HGTV. Sparse & crisp describes it well. In a nutshell: keep your home well maintained, then when ready to sell...deep clean & declutter (depersonalize while you're at it), fresh paint that photographs well, then stage it with HGTV type of stuff. Not dusty old "Grandma" stuff. Doing that will appeal to older buyers who can see past the decor and younger buyers who often can't. You won't "turn off" and market segment that way. The home we bought in 2019? Built in 1977, never updated, but well maintained (including the yard) & very clean...we love it. After we painted the interior another couple really wanted to buy it, too! We will keep it "as is" as long as it remains fuctional for us. Our bathrooms would make you burst out laughing, but the whole house has a cohesive vibe :-)

[@KatiSpaniak]

Thanks for your comment!

[@tastx3142]

I agree. The custom homes in my neighborhood have been updated/remodeled and turned them into tract home appearance. Every house but mine on the block is now white, even the brick and natural stone have been painted. Why do people want another item that is now changed from low maintenance to higher maintenance? The home builders now label their houses as custom homes but they all have the same roof color and 5-6 plans. The custom part was choosing fixtures from their selected items always lower grade. It’s crazy how the perception of buyers has changed over my lifetime and I do attribute it to the shows pushing what we ‘need’.

[@nancyschaefer8910]

Agree! This whole black and white thing is so overdone, there are entire subdivisions of them near here. Fortunately our neighborhood is about 20 years old and I plan to stay a while

[@tastx3142]

@ My neighborhood is from the mid-80’s so it’s likely in a few years, people will change your neighborhood’s look as well. Once a few are bought by flippers who embrace the look that designers are pushing through media and buyers want to have the latest product, others follow suit. Only one 80+ year old neighbor who moved into a smaller single story home left everything in good condition and functioning properly was bought by a couple with a young baby. So far, I haven’t seen the dumpster out front and everything being removed as every other house has had, so they might just live for a while and decide what they want and maybe paint walls and ceilings or change flooring to suit themselves but plan on raising a family.

[@nina4161]

Nothing in my house matches. The items are a lifetime collection of unique things I love, so the common denominator is things that make me happy when I am in the space and it all flows together and is very aesthetic.

[@edennis8578]

That church house is gorgeous. The woodwork, the fireplaces, everything. Chef's kiss!

[@annied3276]

Okay, I must be a complete weirdo, but I absolutely LOVED that second house with the gaudy "heavy" furniture. It was immaculate. I'll be a first time home buyer within the next year or so, and that's the kind of house I'm looking for. As far as the furniture goes, I lean more towards a toned down French provincial design, so their style actually helped me to visualize how I would like to decorate my own home.

[@rebeccacampbell585]

I have learned in my home to work with what I have. My home is late 80s early 90s, what we call rambler or I think others call it a ranch house. I decided I don't need to add crown moulding. I don't need to tear out the quality honey oak elements, etc. I have chosen colors that compliment the oak, and I just choose simple styles, a little eclectic. I change rugs and stuff like that but I don't have a need to rip out cabinets and the granite counters that came with it. I choose colors that go with the Venetian gold granite. Just make it work.

[@seabreeze8467]

Hi Kati, thanks for all the valuable info. My sister told me about your youtube channel. I'm working to get my real estate license in the state of Florida right now. I'm hoping to become a knowledgeable realtor! I just downloaded your sellers playbook. You have done an excellent job!

[@KatiSpaniak]

Thank you!! Good luck!!

[@rosemarybanner]

There was an attractive old home decorated and cleaned up appropriate for the age of the home. It was beautiful. The next owner liked a more contemporary ( and I’m not saying contemporary style is bad) and they changed everything. Then they tried to sell the home. It was on the market for years. You have to go pretty much with the style of the home . This was a real eye opener!

[@helaineclendennen8603]

I appreciate your clarification, but I never confused staging with decorating because I remember you did address that and I understood the difference from what you said originally. But then I listen to everything, and maybe somebody else came in and heard one thing and misunderstood it. I’m still really appreciating all you do to assist sellers in getting the best price. We have decided to hold off selling right now because prices in our area are going down in order for people to sell their homes and we can afford to wait, but I am so happy knowing that I will be ready when the time comes!

[@xpsxps1339]

Great video (I know the influencer you refer to; her content is out of the mainstream and therefore even more valuable)! I live in a highly desirable area (regardless of the climate challenges) where the housing market is from the definition always pretty busy. Two examples from a close neighborhood I regularly walk by. 1. An old house built basically directly on the soil. Freshly renovated. Not worthy of that, which the new, probably wealthy buyer also thought too. They completely bulldozed the renovated house, built an elevated base, and they are building a completely new house on it. (IDK anything about the financial aspects, but the original, freshly renovated home was torn down immediately when finished and sold/purchased.) 2. Different neighborhoods, similar story. An old house was neglected, so purchased by some builders, obviously for profit. The new house was built between 6/2023 and 6/2024. It's modern, clean, minimalistic, lovely, and - totally genderless (as most minimalistic houses usually are; when you are in the fourth one, you already forget the first, and when you visit the eleventh, they all merge in one whitish/grayish/beige, boring unidentifiable conglomerate you easily forget about. Sitting on the market since June 23 this year, and clearly, nobody is interested in buying it. Moral. Build, decorate, and enjoy your house FOR YOURSELF, your family, and YOUR lifestyle! And if you by chance want to sell it once for whatever reason, it will probably not appeal to everybody, but it will appeal to like-minded people. And that's enough. Do not worry that you are so "unique" that you will not find some like-minded buyers. You will do! Maybe not many, but you will do. Vice versa, those genderless homes are now not much sellable, because they all look the same, which significantly decreases their value! Rules for a good (and sellable!) house are not complicated. 1. Build a proportional house. A huge house on the smaller lot is an idiotic idea, especially, when you have "nice" neighbors. (And you never know if you may not have such one day...) 2. Noisy and too busy neighborhoods are not popular even in the popular cities. 3. Keep it simple, logical/practical, authentic, clean, tidy, and as easy to maintain as possible. Uncluttered!!! 4. Greenery, especially the mature trees at a safe(!) distance from the house which creates privacy and separation is a huge plus. 5. Don't go wild with colors on the large areas - walls, ceilings, flooring, furniture cabinets. If you love magenta, that's great, I love it too, lol. But don't paint the entire living room with it. If you cannot help yourself🙂, I get you, purchase the magenta rug and some throw pillows. They are there, making a statement and reflect your personality. And if you stop loving it you simply remove it in less than 3 minutes; problem solved!

[@didomilan1725]

Paige is great, also Caroline Winkler. the cleaning and de cluttering are the most important IMO, and that’s what I’ve taken from you Katie. It’s made me look at my habits differently.

[@katenoke1571]

Yes! Love Caroline's work

[@rachelbrown4066]

I like watching Paige. She does staging, but she is correct on unique style is ok. Thanks for this video.

[@KatiSpaniak]

Thanks for watching!

[@Gigibuttercup]

I love Paige, her advice and recommendations are solid!

[@harborlite9002]

I loved this video! Thorough analysis. Also, thank you for introducing me to Paige Wassel’s YT channel to which I subscribed. As a senior citizen, I enjoyed her content and suggestions. Hence, I also subscribed to your channel for the same reasons. Well done!

[@nancybathe9391]

last two homes of mine--I packed and put into storage as much as possible to minimize clutter. It was worth it. Plus, my 2 kids and I each had a checklist of things to take care of when the realtor called for a showing and whoever finished first helped someone else out--the house was always ready in under an hour. With both homes, half my belongings were in storage before listing and both had offers in less than a month. The second one was bought by the very first person who walked through. Did minimal home improvements to sell with the first and more on the second, but didn't matter much with either.

[@cc1k435]

Is this all about shiplap? That's when I sort of fell out with Chip and Joanna, long ago. Shiplap reminds me of my aunt's old farmhouse, where the old siding was visible in the later added-on bathroom, or else it makes me think of video rental stores, circa 1990. 😂

[@tool-nh8mk]

I loved this! Its refreshing to hear.. and a good reminder. Its our home, our space.. it needs to work for you now. If its clean, tidy, clutter free and functions (appliances work, water filter etc..) for you in your current life, then we much to be thankful for and yes it takes some elbow grease. The rest is vanity and trying to impress others.. what a shallow way to live. Budgets and children will humble any human. My number one rule: Cleanliness & functionality. The rest is cosmetic. We can still live comfortably in our home and that looks different for most people❤

[@sleeplesscrafter]

I started remodeling my home based on Joanna Gains style and Love it or List it. I absolutely LOVE it and am so glad that I decided to do it. Will I make the money back? Probably not. Will it help it sell? Probably. Did it need updated? Most definitely! I had so many broken, run down cabinets and plumbing that was like that when we bought it. We definitely overpaid for the house, but it was at a time when the market was soaring and everyone was looking for exactly what our home was.

[@mykidsaresupercute]

I get this completely. I find that if an item is tasteful, your home will look good enough to sell. There is only a couple items I would need to remove if we sell. I chose a paint color that I love but can go with anything. The deferred maintenance is the biggest issue. We've spent the last year doing minor deferred maintenance and it's a pain! Our house is only 10 years old and there is still so much to do.

[@KatiSpaniak]

Always so much to do!!

[@LaBefana-j2r]

This resonates so much with me. Where I live, a lot of people are looking for something vintage and artsy with unique features. More of a “pinterest” look as opposed to the HGTV look.

[@nealiecruz2532]

Keep it light, fresh, airy, cozy!!

[@annyjayableful]

My opinion: If you are planning to stay in your home for a very long time, get the green carpet and purple counter tops. However, things in life can change - jobs in other locations, divorce, death, etc. Start with a style that’s unlikely to date with flooring and cabinetry. Personalize it with wall color, furniture, art and accessories. If anything changes, throw some neutral paint on the walls, depersonalize and sell it.

[@hchayes9431]

Homeowners need to realize that they need to retain the character of the house. A mock colonial townhouse is not a 1950s Atomic MCM house.

[@bitrudder3792]

😂 I have always loved the idea of decorating in a way that honors the original architecture, but that led to quite a dilemma for me in our current house. How do you decorate a house that is Texas farm house/ contemporary colonial on the front, pretty plain farmhouse on the back, courtyard on one side, and full of pinky peach ceramic tile and cinnamon shaker cabinetry from 2001 with a light travertine backsplash in the kitchen.… With a mix of crown molding in some places and very contemporary window arrangements in some areas and divided light windows in others? basically I have a 2001 Life Forms home that is a far cry from their original contemporary designs? i’m not sure where housing prices will land, but I have seen houses linger on the market in our neighborhood because of too much personalization. I’ve had an entertaining time trying to fancifully come up with a name for the style of our home, and marry it logically with some decor style name (despite the fact that my husband and I have different preferences when it comes to interior decor!), But I did end up simply embracing the tile and the cabinetry that he likes, partly out of being agreeable and partly out of common sense, by which I mean financial considerations. We had a freeze with pipe burst and water damage a few years ago which spurred the need to repair and repaint ceilings and walls. with great trepidation and yet resolute willpower, I boldly went where I never thought I would go. Various dark brown wall colors that had a coral undertone what is the best way to pull the cabinetry and the floors together in the kitchen/family area as well as a home office ( making technology disappear while bringing attention to the natural beauty outside of the windows, and light colored elements in the rooms). I don’t know quite what to call it except “transitional“ because it’s in between other styles, but I do kind of like it when people come in and ask me if we got new kitchen cabinets and say that it looks beautiful. Not every wall is that dark, that would drive me absolutely crazy. We have embraced the original pinkish taupe that was popular when the house was built and still exists in parts of the house. And now I am trying to figure out how to repaint the upstairs so the house feels calm and consistent (my personal need for serenity), without having it be boring. Because honestly, I repainted the house from that color because it was really boring upstairs in particular. I live in a suburban box. Granted it is a large and fairly interesting box in many ways, but a box nonetheless.

[@Coriscoffeewsuga]

During the holidays.. home tours for charity, is profitable! The better decorated homes, and the extra with Christmas decor are enjoyable, I have seen many that have given many changes and updates. Some are appreciative to include their homes, but not have been updated for years! Toured a home for sale… 2.2 million price… it hadn’t been updated for 35 years!!! It was on the higher market for months! It finally sold, for a much lower price.. the buyer knew they would have to redo Everything!

[@peynattyl]

This is why I stopped watching HGTV and now I watch KZbin channels like Homeworthy, where tge homes are unique and charming for the most part.

[@kitw76]

I thought farmhouse style was out. I know dark and moody is popular . My home never had grays. My home is more warmer tones even when we got new flooring I went warm brown tone. We did a kitchen remodel earlier this year and I went with white cabinets only because previously we had very dark ones. I went with a countertop with creams, whites, tan and darker tan/blackish tones not just white. It does have a nice design but not over the top by any means. I thought it helps flow with the flooring and wall color which is Accessible Beige. Katie mentioned she has this wall color. I have accent colors of blues. Overall our decor is blues, creams, beiges and whites. It’s coastal colors but Not beach theme at all. We live in Fl so it works nicely.

[@patty2049]

I follow Paige and yes I love that the younger gen doesn’t follow trends. I’m older than both of you and I always had my own style and things I love. Thanks for the video. I’m a broker too. 🤗

[@GEOMETRICINK]

In renovating my own personal home I look for quality materials, beautiful woodwork, just honest to goodness craftsmanship. The style is my own, the tile color, the wood color, the paint color are my own, but the work better be PERFECT, top quality, for resale purposes. Since I do this, my hope is other buyers do this also and overlook cosmetic choices and focus more on the quality of the work. An example, if you redo the kitchen using a great quality cabinet, that’s installed well, well laid out, any buyers will overlook the color of the cabinets that you personally love and will see the quality and think, I love these cabinets, I can easily paint them white.

[@menfreya1591]

Thank you. I’m not looking to sell or buy right now, but I love having the permission to live in my home lol. HGTV and influencers have ruined me in the past. Now I just want. my house to be my home. BTW, your shelves behind you look great. You don’t need to declutter them at all!

[@terrikim4992]

Katie these are such interesting and helpful videos. You should have many more subscribers.

[@KatiSpaniak]

Thank you, you are so kind!

[@AlexandraLynch1]

We are different people, and our house is different. We have a lot of books on our bookshelves. We have fine art repros that we like on the walls. I keep the house clean. When we sell it, I'll put away the dog toys and probably box about half the books so they don't overwhelm, but we bought this house because of a massive built in bookcase and a sunroom and fireplace, and those features are probably going to sell it when we're done with it. It's an old house, and by the time we sell it it'll be about 80 years old, and if people don't like early 1960's cottage style, well, that's just that. Someone will want it.

[@lizajane2971]

Oooo, built in bookcase, sunroom, fireplace? All those would be a positive for me! 😊

[@notsurewhatisgoingon]

Perhaps it's due to the uptick in home flipping; but homes scrubbed of all personality are an instant turn-off. So many homes on the market, with their cool-toned whites and grays, feel soul-less and unwelcoming. I'm so sick of everything looking the same.

[@adriaba790]

Hello Kati, Good advice as usual...understanding staging vs decorating BTW what happened to the Monday live podcasts with Warrick?

[@KatiSpaniak]

We've taken a break. We will be back on the saddle again soon!!!

[@kathyn91]

Great video! I enjoy Paige Wassel's videos, too

[@reebeeable]

I’ve collected high quality mid century modern furniture and art over the decades. I love each piece and my tiny house feels cozy though has a lot of deferred maintenance. I have been thinking about moving so had an agent stop by to get advice and an idea about sales price to downsize. She thought we’d get the best price my moving out and showing the house empty or staged. Oh gosh that was hard to hear. We wouldn’t get enough to buy another place so we’ll stay put, spend a couple years on deferred maintenance and decluttering. I love your playbook and will upload the update. Thanks.

[@EmmazingGal]

Hmmm.... in my own opiniom it is hard to be unique if following the HGTV formula becuase if you style your house the tv show way and have one unique feature, that feature is gonna stick out like a sore thumb and may clash with the whole design of the rest of the house and be at odds with the people coming to view the open house. Aslo I think another problem is that having an open layout for the entire livingroom, diningroom, and kitchen you loose the ability to style each room individually which limmits spaces where you can showcase your own stastes.

[@KatiSpaniak]

Yes. Good point

[@JodieHosey]

Yes. Staging to sell and decorating for yourself and family are two different things. As a buyer I am looking at space, layout, upkeep, what maintenance will we need to do, will we have to replace carpet or refinish floors, how's the structure, the roof, etc. I try not to look at a sellers stuff except to gauge what size furniture I can fit in a space. At the end of the day the house does not come with the furniture or decor. I'm not even too worried about paint colors, because I'm going to want to paint it my own choices. Clean, decluttered and as little maintenance or broken things/ projects to do is more important. Buyers need to see the house, not your stuff.

[@user-hm5zb1qn6g]

The enduring popularity of Tex and Edna Gaines has always mystified me.

[@mwebb3014]

😂😂👍

[@vikingprincess634]

IKR? What made them the beginning and end all of home fashion? I don’t get it either. 🤷‍♂️

[@janetsmiley6778]

I always thought their last name was Shiplap.

[@mwebb3014]

@@janetsmiley6778 😂

[@stevenadam22]

I got tired of seeing just about everything in the house black and white

[@DeplorablesGarbage]

Get rid of the dustables. Gives you more time to do other things. I have always loved a French- Italianate look. There was a bedroom set that I had wanted since 1986. I found it on Craigslist last year. I bought it and I love it. I have a couch and a chair and ottoman from the 1890s. I get such enjoyment from sitting in them. I found two 1990s over stuffed chairs that match everything like they were made for each other. I struggled because I had been a Realtor and stuck in the “staging” mode. Recently I decided that I want to live in MY HOUsE! I love my furniture. I have no deferred maintenance and I keep everything clean since I got rid of the dustables. Enjoy your home and decorate it how YOU will enjoy it!

[@sleeplesscrafter]

My friend from Russia had a spotless house. She said anything on shelves is just dust collectors. I have kept that in mind every time I decorate.

[@BlessedAssurance.]

I love the house with the biophilic feature.

[@bymilliebphotography8249]

Sellers just need to price their homes well. At the right price, anything will sell. I'm in the field of real estate and I don't agree with your premise. In my local area, most buyers aren't looking to purchase homes that resemble HGTV remodels. Most sensible buyers are looking for the basics: a good location, nice curb appeal, a nice kitchen and good-sized bedrooms and baths. Homes should have a decent amount of natural lighting and have a functional layout. You wouldn't believe how hard the basics are to find!! And, not for nothing, but HGTV produces very few beautifully designed/ decorated homes. With the exception of a few HGTV designers, most of their shows are hosted by talentless so called "designers".

[@greeneyedmonster7806]

I live in Texas and live in a neighborhood built in 1982. At least 10 houses, the brick, has been painted white. The interiors are all gray with a gray floor. So tired of it.

[@anon-mx4jx]

This waterfall indoor garden home with granite floors is actually perfect in its uniqueness. It's tasteful and beautiful, the wooden accents, I wouldn't change a thing, and I think I am not the only one in the younger generation who likes this and that's what many real estate agents these days get wrong. I don't want the cheap grey kitchen, I want quality materials, just like this wood and granite combination.

[@jdbfortney]

It takes me forever to decorate. Not because im worried about making a "mistake" but i know EXACTLY what i want!! I plan for months/years. We built our home 25+ yrs ago, finally finished the den!! Drove hundreds of miles, numerous hours on the computer, visting dozens of stores for the couch! I had to touch the leather, i had to sit on it, i took my banket & curled up on it! Everything is too $$$ for me not to ❤ it! We absolutely ❤ watching a movie infront of the fireplace now! Idc if a stranger likes it but we plan on dieing in our home.

[@KatiSpaniak]

I admire you!! I have zero patience for this!! HAHA!! I'm sure your home is beautiful!

[@jasperdilincoln2341]

Ive been saying this for a couple years now. Everytime i watch HGTV all homes that are renovated. Of homes that are being Purchased all look the same nowadays with the same blah contrast colors. Mainly White, Beige with a touch of gray or black as accent colors. Looking at Pictures of interior for Homes during the 50s,60s,70s,80s and 90s. Although some styles look very tacky now. At least had some character. It seems by the late 2000s, the white canvas look became in style 😳

[@user-zr4rm7ii9n]

That yellow giving me deja vu..Popular in 2000...Soffits are not bad if you know how to decor them on top properly.

[@Shayne_T]

My FAV designer is Frances Merrill of Reath Design.

[@jeanlanz2344]

Gorgeous daughters. Congratulations!

[@jeanettetran97]

This is the video I needed rn. I am moving into my new home and I’m not painting it white when it’s time to resell. I’m making it how I like it

[@KatiSpaniak]

Good to hear!