Both our realtor and stager (provided by the realtor) have suggested we change all of our interior light bulbs from soft white to daylight. I made the switch in the kitchen and bathrooms and started replacing the lights in the dining room and bedrooms but the light looks really off-putting/clinical in those rooms. Is it common to use daylight lights throughout the house for showings?

Daylight bulbs are trash, 90% of the nation uses soft white, why confuse them when they walk in with something they are use to?
Just use a higher wattage if you want to brighten up the space, open windows, blinds etc.

It's so much personal preference. We have 5k in the garage and laundry but have found 3k to be preferred elsewhere.

I abhor soft white lights. Like makes me want to gouge my eyes out. I think most of the house is 5k but can't recall off hand.

Sea Speed said:

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I abhor soft white lights. Like makes me want to gouge my eyes out. I think most of the house is 5k but can't recall off hand.

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I am also buying 5k bulbs. We have an older home with lower ceilings and less windows, so those really improve the "brightness" of the interior.

It can depend on certain things. How much natural night comes into the house? What color are your walls painted?

From their perspective, it mostly helps with getting more light into the photo lens for the listing. With the market as hot as it is, I don't think it's necessary for you to spend the extra capital on a house that will sell regardless.

I have actually seen some houses that I thought would sell quickly get stuck on the market in about the 700k range on 1+ acre lots. I think the owners are getting a little greedy and the houses aren't updated enough which is causing them to sit.

vmiaptetr said:

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It can depend on certain things. How much natural night comes into the house? What color are your walls painted?

From their perspective, it mostly helps with getting more light into the photo lens for the listing. With the market as hot as it is, I don't think it's necessary for you to spend the extra capital on a house that will sell regardless.

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I completely disagree with this. You are marketing an expensive asset for sale. Spending a couple of grand to generate the best possible offer is worth it even in a hot market.

I prefer bright white usually. Daylight never looks appealing in a home interior IMO. Soft white things can get a little yellow for my taste, especially if no natural light coming in and with certain wall paint colors.

Furlock Bones said:

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vmiaptetr said:

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It can depend on certain things. How much natural night comes into the house? What color are your walls painted?

From their perspective, it mostly helps with getting more light into the photo lens for the listing. With the market as hot as it is, I don't think it's necessary for you to spend the extra capital on a house that will sell regardless.

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I completely disagree with this. You are marketing an expensive asset for sale. Spending a couple of grand to generate the best possible offer is worth it even in a hot market.

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Unless your home is lit like an interrogation room, the actual temperature color of your bulbs is going to play a way smaller role compared to say - everything else decorating the interior.

We sold Dec 2019.

Our realtor and her "stage prep" person both recommended the daylight as well.

We changed lighting in bathrooms and kitchen. Left everything else. Sold on the first weekend.

I would have a hard time shelling out too much on things like lights / painting / carpet unless things are just in really bad shape. If in good shape but maybe mildly dated, I just don't see getting much return. Whoever buys will likely put on fresh paint and things like that which might impact the color of light someone would want in the house.

Our house we bought the owner put in new carpet throughout the house and we hated it and ripped it all out....he could have saved thousands...

A big thing is moving 50% of your junk to storage. Clean closets and take all off-season clothes to storage as well. Clean pantries. Take a couch or two out of the house. Same with dressers, etc. It will make the house feel better / more open.

planoaggie123 said:

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We sold Dec 2019.

Our realtor and her "stage prep" person both recommended the daylight as well.

We changed lighting in bathrooms and kitchen. Left everything else. Sold on the first weekend.

I would have a hard time shelling out too much on things like lights / painting / carpet unless things are just in really bad shape. If in good shape but maybe mildly dated, I just don't see getting much return. Whoever buys will likely put on fresh paint and things like that which might impact the color of light someone would want in the house.

Our house we bought the owner put in new carpet throughout the house and we hated it and ripped it all out....he could have saved thousands...

A big thing is moving 50% of your junk to storage. Clean closets and take all off-season clothes to storage as well. Clean pantries. Take a couch or two out of the house. Same with dressers, etc. It will make the house feel better / more open.

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Thanks all! We ended up going with daylight in the kitchen and master bath (only because we had already purchased those flood style light bulbs for those rooms). The rest of the house is warm 2700k. The house gets a fair amount of natural light so 2700k seems to be enough.

I agree with moving as much clutter out as possible. We filled a 26-ft and a 20-ft uHaul truck with our junk and kids toys and moved them to our new house. Made a huge difference.

House went on the market earlier today. We're in Richardson so fingers crossed the market (especially here) continues to be crazy.

Good luck!