Home staging is a great way for a seller to get a home sold faster, however, some staging is designed to cover up major flaws in the home from a buyer. North Carolina is a buyer beware state, meaning the buyer must discover the home’s flaws and must do so prior to closing. When you are moving through the home, use all your senses to experience the home. Do you smell air fresheners, scented candles or fresh paint?

  Are the added scents to the home masking other unattractive smells of moisture or pets? Dig a little deeper to see if the fresh paint is just to spruce things up or if it is covering up underlying problems, such as a leaky roof or plumbing problems. A home’s carpet may look clean but the pad and flooring underneath may tell another story. If there are area rugs over existing wall-to-wall carpeting, they may be covering up flaws in the carpet. Look under all area rugs to see what lies beneath. Large pieces of art or mirrors may be covering up flaws in the walls. Also, most large pieces are anchored in the wall. Make sure you know what kind of holes those items will be leaving behind. Normally, when a home is on the market, the sellers will turn on all the lights and open all the blinds and curtains. Be wary if you visit a home that has all the blinds and shades pulled. This may be covering up bad windows. Putting smaller scaled furniture in a small room will give it the appearance of being larger than it actually is not. Just be aware of the true features in a room and do not get distracted by staged furniture. This is just the tip of the iceberg. To discover the true condition of the home you want to purchase, you need to have an experienced agent on your side to help you spot the indicators of larger problems in a home. Our knowledge of these and other common staging pitfalls will help you and your friends avoid these hidden problems.

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