10 ways to make your home more attractive to buyers...2012/06/10  · 10 ways to make your home more...

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10 ways to make your home more attractive to buyers: Part I: I was asked to write this blog to give tips and advise on buying and selling a home from the perspective of an interior designer. I decided that the best way to start would be to tackle them one at a time. Part I of my blog will be for the sellers out there. How can you make your home more attractive to buyers? Part II will be next week when I talk about what to look for in a home from a buyer’s perspective. I have been called upon by realtors and clients selling their homes to come in and advise them on what they might consider doing in order to move their property fast-and for the best selling price possible. That’s what every seller wants right? Sell it fast and at a great price! It can be very hard for people to think of investing anymore of their money and time into a home that they are selling and have already in their minds, moved on from. However, as we have seen many times on many TV real estate and home staging shows and as interiors designers we know all too well, it does make a difference. “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression” and this true for your home as well. You want your home to stick out from all the rest. If your home does not appear “well kept” and maintained, it will affect the price you will get for it. Here are 10 areas that I feel are a MUST when getting your home ready to meet potential buyers. 1) Paint: Dollar for dollar, there is nothing that will give you more value for your money than a fresh coat of paint! Scuffs and wear and tear of your walls and trim will give off an unkept look to a buyer. Also, even if you feel that your paint choices are fabulous and the latest trend, it is a proven fact that it may limit your home’s appeal if they are colors that are dark and or bold or strong. People should be able to look past the paint colors, but the truth is they often cannot and it can be distracting to a buyer and prevent them from seeing the actual size, brightness and potential of the home. Dark or strong colors can cause walls to recede and rooms can appear smaller and that’s the last thing you want to do. The goal is always to make your home appear brighter and more spacious. Therefore, stick to fresh white or cream trims and neutrals. It is easier for buyers to picture adding their colors and décor to a fresh, neutral space then it is in a home with a very specific style. 2) Lighting: Replace any outdated light fixtures. If it’s over 15 years old, change it! You don’t need to spend a lot of money. There is some great options right here at your local big box stores at great price points. A new light fixture will do wonders to rejuvenate a space. Remember, you want your home to feel bright and spacious. If your lighting is ok, then simply make sure to clean them so they sparkle and shine. 3) De-clutter: This is the time to clean out all those old clothes, furniture and other clutter that you have been waiting to get rid of. You don’t need to take away all of your personal photos, but you should pear it down to a minimum. Take away any collections you have displayed and you may need to move or edit furniture that is taking up too much space in a room in order to improve the flow and circulation of your home. Too much in a room is “visual clutter” for buyers. Photos Courtesy of house and home.com Clean out your closets and cupboards. Only keep the clothing that you are actually wearing in your closets. You want the buyer to see how big your closets are. The better job you do at de-cluttering, the less you have to pack up and move! Clear off your kitchen counters except for the basics. Take away anything that you have displayed above your cupboards. Yes, that means all the dusty old faux flowers, plants, and other decorative items. These are distracting and major dust collectors. The buyer wants to see your kitchen. Also, make sure all your appliances are cleaned. Windows should be cleaned and make sure and tidy up the garage and or attic space, as they will be shown to buyers.

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Page 1: 10 ways to make your home more attractive to buyers...2012/06/10  · 10 ways to make your home more attractive to buyers: Part I: I was asked to write this blog to give tips and advise

10 ways to make your home more attractive to buyers: Part I : I was asked to write this blog to give tips and advise on buying and selling a home from the perspective of an interior designer. I decided that the best way to start would be to tackle them one at a time. Part I of my blog will be for the sellers out there. How can you make your home more attractive to buyers? Part II will be next week when I talk about what to look for in a home from a buyer’s perspective. I have been called upon by realtors and clients selling their homes to come in and advise them on what they might consider doing in order to move their property fast-and for the best selling price possible. That’s what every seller wants right? Sell it fast and at a great

price! It can be very hard for people to think of investing anymore of their money and time into a home that they are selling and have already in their minds, moved on from. However, as we have seen many times on many TV real estate and home staging shows and as interiors designers we know all too well, it does make a difference. “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression” and this true for your home as well. You want your home to stick out from all the rest. If your home does not appear “well kept” and maintained, it will affect the price you will get for it. Here are 10 areas that I feel are a MUST when getting your home ready to meet potential buyers. 1) Paint:

Dollar for dollar, there is nothing that will give you more value for your money than a fresh coat of paint! Scuffs and wear and tear of your walls and trim will give off an unkept look to a buyer. Also, even if you feel that your paint choices are fabulous and the latest trend, it is a proven fact that it may limit your home’s appeal if they are colors that are dark and or bold or strong. People should be able to look past the paint colors, but the truth is they often cannot and it can be distracting to a buyer and prevent them from seeing the actual size, brightness and potential of the home. Dark or strong colors can cause walls to recede and rooms can appear smaller and that’s the last thing you want to do. The goal is always to make your home appear brighter and more spacious. Therefore, stick to fresh white or cream trims and neutrals. It is easier for buyers to picture adding their colors and décor to a fresh, neutral space then it is in a home with a very specific style. 2) L ighting:

Replace any outdated light fixtures. If it’s over 15 years old, change it! You don’t need to spend a lot of money. There is some great options right here at your local big box stores at great price points. A new light fixture will do wonders to rejuvenate a space. Remember, you want your home to feel bright and spacious. If your lighting is ok, then simply make sure to clean them so they sparkle and shine. 3) De-clutter:

This is the time to clean out all those old clothes, furniture and other clutter that you have been waiting to get rid of. You don’t need to take away all of your personal photos, but you should pear it down to a minimum. Take away any collections you have displayed and you may need to move or edit furniture that is taking up too much space in a room in order to improve the flow and circulation of your home. Too much in a room is “visual clutter” for buyers. Photos Courtesy of house and home.com

Clean out your closets and cupboards. Only keep the clothing that you are actually wearing in your closets. You want the buyer to see how big your closets are. The better job you do at de-cluttering, the less you have to pack up and move! Clear off your kitchen counters except for the basics. Take away anything that you have displayed above your cupboards. Yes, that means all the dusty old faux flowers, plants, and other decorative items. These are distracting and major dust collectors. The buyer wants to see your kitchen. Also, make sure all your appliances are cleaned. Windows should be cleaned and make sure and tidy up the garage and or attic space, as they will be shown to buyers.

Page 2: 10 ways to make your home more attractive to buyers...2012/06/10  · 10 ways to make your home more attractive to buyers: Part I: I was asked to write this blog to give tips and advise

4) Bathroom Facelif ts :

A nice, fresh, clean bathrooms help sell homes. You don’t need to do a renovation, just a fresh coat of a spa like neutral color, a new mirror over the vanity, even perhaps if your vanity is very old and outdated there are such great deals on beautiful vanities now, you may want to invest in replacing yours. Fresh white towels hanging on the towel bar and a new white/neutral shower curtain. Update the vanity light if needed as well. Make sure all your floor tiles and shower are cleaned and a fresh cocking job around the shower/tub area can really make a difference. 5) Window treatments:

Dated old window treatments must come down! If it is over 10 years old, get rid of it. If privacy is not an issue, you may want to just leave the windows open to let in all the natural light and views. If not, pick up a ready-made pair of neutral curtains in a basic cotton or linen that you can get at many stores around town. Make sure they are pulled back and open to maximize the natural light Photo courtesy of house and home.com and space in the house. If you have blinds in your home, make sure they are clean and not broken. It’s better to have no blinds up then broken ones, again you don’t want to make a bad impression. 6) Put up mirrors:

If you have a small dinning room or a long narrow hallway, a long floor mirror can really add a lot of impact and visual light, opening up these areas so they appear larger and brighter. Mirrors are always a great look for an entryway especially if your entry is small. It will make it feel larger and more impact full. The entryway is the first thing people see when they come in your home...make it count! 7) Curb Appeal:

Update any old warn out hardware on or around your front entrance. Doorbells, knocker, mailboxes, kick plates and doorknobs all should be cleaned or replaced if needed. If the hardware is just suffering from a little weather damage, perhaps a fresh coat of black stray paint will clean up that old mailbox and make it look new again. Make sure you fix any broken doorbells or lights around your front door. If you need to replace your hardware, stick to nickel or oil-rubbed bronze finishes. These are timeless and always look great no matter what style of home. Photo courtesy of house and home.com 8) Front Yard :

Refresh your front yard according to the season. In spring, summer, and fall make sure you trim the plants back, clean out the flowerbeds and walkway, put down some fresh mulch and always keep your lawn mowed. A great pair of planters on each side of your front door filled with beautiful flowers instantly sends a message of pride and curb appeal to potential buyers. Remember, people often drive by looking at homes and the impressions they have of the outside often determine if they want to even bother seeing the inside of the house. Make your home one they must see! 9) Outdoor l ights :

Just as inside your home, it is important to replace and update any old, dirty outdoor lighting. If they are still working well, just make sure they are clean and in good working order. Photo courtesy of house and home.com

10) Back yard: Replace any damaged boards on your deck or fence if possible. A fresh coat of stain or paint and sealant

will instantly make your deck look great! Again, keep your back lawn mowed, flowerbeds cleaned out and kids toys put away so that they do not overtake the yard. If you have a pool or any outside water feature, make sure it is clean. These are my top 10 areas to look at when I am walking through a home to get it ready for sale. A final touch, pop into your local supermarket and pick up a bouquet of your favorite flowers and place them on your kitchen island or table and in your bathroom before an open house. It’s all in the details.