Indoor Bananas and Staging
 

Has anyone tried to sell their house and run into issues with having bananas inside? I have 6 bananas that had to be removed from the Iowa ground due to frost and they have all settled nicely into their own spots around the house. Largest is a Basjoo, which is 7ft.

Do you think it's a good idea to remove these if/when we show the house to perspective buyers?

Re: Indoor Bananas and Staging
 

It might not be a good idea because they will proably ask if you will throw them in on the deal.....:woohoonaner:

Re: Indoor Bananas and Staging
 

If they look nice and healthy in your house, leave them. It creates a nice atmosphere for potential buyers. I don't they would want the plants included with the house.

Re: Indoor Bananas and Staging
 

That's a good point.

Re: Indoor Bananas and Staging
 

This is my thinking too. My wife believes that they make the rooms look smaller. Which I agree, but it's obvious that the rooms appear smaller because there is a 7' banana in the room. I would think a buyer could make that conclusion but maybe I'm wrong.

Re: Indoor Bananas and Staging
 

Ok, if the room appears small, then that is bad. Take them out for sure. Larger rooms will equal more money for your house!

Re: Indoor Bananas and Staging
 

I totally agree... go for the room...

Re: Indoor Bananas and Staging
 

Most people don't always come to any conclusions or they come to some conclusion that does not make any sense to you! Best to move the plants in my opinion...

Maybe people will spend too much time wondering why in the heck you have a 7ft plant in your house and not even notice things they might like about your house...

Re: Indoor Bananas and Staging
 

Well besides being a banana nut, I'm a Realtor and an Accredited Home Staging Professional and heres what I think: Move them out of the house while its up for sale.

Theres how you live (with banana plants indoors) and how you sell.

Staging is all about showing your home in the best possible light. You don't want any distractions.

Large plants can and do make a room appear smaller, and dollars to donuts they'll remember the gigantic plant and nothing about the space.

Besides, and I know this is probably not the case - but I wouldn't want to take the chance that during a showing would be the one time that bugs or fungus decided to put in an appearance.

I always tell my clients that they should stop considering the house theirs as they've already decided to move, and to put away/get rid of all clutter and that includes plants that are spindly/overgrown or too big.

Many buyers cannot visualize what a room would look like in a different color, or without a 7 foot banana plant in it.

If you're asking the question, I think you already know the answer ;-)

Good luck with the sale!

Re: Indoor Bananas and Staging
 

Solid advice deruo, but I do have one question for you: What if the room the plant is in is HUGE and has giant ceilings? Wouldn't it help to have something large to show off the space? Especially if it looked really really good. Just a question.

Ultimately...
:pics:
(secretly have wanted to use that guy in the past)

Re: Indoor Bananas and Staging
 

Define "looks really, really good". ;-)

Not meaning to sound flip, but I find that generally speaking, owners lose perspective on what looks good (or what CLEAN means) because they are too close to be objective.

It helps when you have a trained third set of eyes come in and look.

My short answer is no, but I would need to see a photo of the room, plant and other furnishings.


"Plants are like children... there comes a time when they've grown up and need to get out of the house - especially when you're trying to sell it!"

Re: Indoor Bananas and Staging
 

Thanks for all the advice!

Re: Indoor Bananas and Staging
 

There is no need to remove the plants as they are very well settled and giving the fruitful bananas too so it is going to be beneficial to them only. If they do not understand that than it is their tough luck dude not yours.

Re: Indoor Bananas and Staging
 

Seeing how this post was from Oct of 2009 I would imagine the bananas are no longer an issue with staging the house! :ha: