Prepare to sell

C - Interior Home Improvements: What do agents recommend?

If the buyers are shown a home with distractions of unmade beds, a sink full of dishes, in need of a general cleanup, etc., they wonder what the sellers are thinking. And in today's market, the agent is wondering what the sellers are smoking. 

Entrance: It sets the tone for the entire showing.

• Get a nice new doormat (one without a cutesy message).
• Generate a feeling of warmth, cleanliness, freshness–whatever image you want to project.

With a sluggish real estate market, more agents than ever are recommending that owners tackle the interior for home improvements, especially in the areas of staging.

 Kitchen: Improvements here offer some of the best paybacks.

• Perk up your cabinets with new knobs and handles.
• For a clean, fresh look, paint the cabinets or consider having them refaced.
• If kitchen contains a home office, make sure it isn’t viewed as a distraction.
• Don't leave a kitchen garbage receptacle out in the open. Not a pretty sight.

Bathrooms: Remodeling doesn’t have to be an option.

• Remove that old, over-the-toilet shelf unit and replace with a picture.
• Consider new faucets and a showerhead.
• Be sure the bathroom curtain, liner and bath mat are fresh.
• New matching towels and an area rug add a cheery touch.
• Do not leave any personal items out (toothbrushes, medications, creams, etc.).
• Consider replacing your faucets and shower head.
• Keep the toilet lids down. Closed lids will offend no one.

Basement: An unfinished basement represents growth potential.

• More builders are offering sharp, finished basements. If yours is unfinished, can it be viewed as offering potential for finishing?
• Staining the basement floor light beige will give it an incredibly clean look. It’s an inexpensive way to greatly improve this huge area.
• Using 100-watt light bulbs down there is a must.

Odors: Smell creates an immediate and permanent impression on buyers.

• Pets and mildew are heavy contributors to odor buildup.
• Dry cleaning of curtains and drapes, carpet shampooing and repainted walls may be necessary–a must if a smoker occupied the premises. Follow with doses of fresh air.
• Eliminate the source of a smell rather than mask it with air fresheners and strong scented candles. These give the impression you’re hiding something. If an artificial fragrance is absolutely necessary, use mild scents sparingly or neutral odor-elimination sprays.
• Leave a pleasing aroma in the kitchen, like vanilla or cinnamon-apple. Grind orange or lemon rinds in the disposal.
• Open windows and doors frequently for fresh air. This also holds true when marketing a vacant home.

   
Lighting: Lighter is better than darker.

• Lighting can create a desirable mood or draw attention to key focal points.
• Eliminate dark areas by adding or repositioning your lighting. Darkness supports negative feelings about a room or a house.
• Replace outdated light fixtures with new inexpensive models.
• Open or remove curtains unless you have a problem view or have a busy street issue. Trim tree limbs that seriously block light from entering windows.
• Clean light fixtures, chandeliers, even light bulbs. Replace dead bulbs. Use higher watt bulbs in dark areas.
• Direct overhead lighting creates starkness. Lamps can add interest and drama.

 
Allowance: A decorating allowance can solve time constraint problems.

• If pressed for time, consider offering the buyers an allowance at closing. However, an allowance for carpeting is never as dynamic as the effect of actually showing your home with new carpeting.
• If replacing carpeting, check with several carpet dealers for their recommendations of current trends. Don’t just get what you like.

Painting: This is an inexpensive way to transform an old and tired look.

• Repaint interiors with soft neutral colors since they go with any furnishings. A neutral setting helps prospective buyers easily visualize their furnishings in your home. There’s a reason you don’t see model homes in bold colors.
• An exception to this is if your house is just plain dull and could use some livening up. Bold colors used sparingly are fine, just as long as they’re not off the wall, so to speak.
• Don't paint over wallpaper as this enhances the seams and results in a cheap look.
• An inexpensive solution to old dark paneling that adorns a rec room walls is a couple coats of cream-colored paint. You’ll be pleasantly surprised with the transformation.
• Be forewarned that a sloppy paint job is worse than not repainting at all.

Garage: This once low priority area has become an important amenity.

• More and more buyers are making garages a priority due to the growing need for extra storage space and the growth of pricy workroom areas.
• Show off your existing space by getting stuff off the garage floor and into cabinets.
• Take an inventory of your belongings there and you’ll probably be able to avoid moving a lot of stuff by hosting a garage sale.

Pets: They’re not for everybody.

• Avoid including pets in photos of your property. This includes both ads and pictures displayed in your home. It’s smarter not to call attention to the fact that you have pets.
• Do not plan on keeping dogs in a cage during showings. Barking can be highly annoying.
• Empty kitty litter boxes frequently–daily if necessary.

Miscellaneous Tips: Temporary changes during home marketing can prove beneficial.

• If the family parks their shoes in one area (mud room, hallway, stairs, etc.), suspend this habit. 
• Avoid cooking meals that contain garlic, onions, fish, liver, curry and fried meats.
• Once some rooms are ready, consider putting them off limits. Could the family get by using one less bathroom, the rec room, a spare bedroom, or even the formal dining room? It would be nice not to have to continually clean a  room prior to putting your home on the market, let alone re-clean it for each showing.
• If small children make your home look like a Toys-R-Us annex, pack up the majority of these items so you can clutter up your next house. OK, then consider if this the the time to cut back on kid materialism. 
• Put away things like ironing boards, laundry baskets and vacuum sweepers–all clues to the buyer that your home lacks adequate closet space.
• Remove stuffed animals that are displayed as trophies.
• Replace or rid your home of dead or dying houseplants.
• Repair an interior side of a bedroom or bathroom door. Cover with an inexpensive, full length mirror.
• Make sure key features such as French doors and built-ins are not hidden by plants or furniture.
• Add festive excitement during the Christmas season. Decorate, but cut down on the tree size and don’t go nuts with seasonal decorating. You don’t want to appear to have less space than what really exists. 

                        The alternative:

If you’re thinking of selling by-owner but that it’s just too much and that you might as well list your home with a Realtor, guess what? You’re still the one responsible for preparing your home to sell.

If you're resigned to accepting way less than market value by skimping on cleaning and preparation, don't double your loss by also listing your home  and paying a commission. Get your house in order. The profit from a home sale offers a lot of tax-free income potential.

Confucious say, "The longest journey begins with the first clean closet. Get hopping grasshopper."