By J. A. Young
Before putting your home up for sale, there are many decorating measures you can take to make your place look as great to a potential buyer as possible. Most measures are inexpensive, and some you can take with you when you move. This article offers a wide array of decorative ideas to help homeowners get their asking price when their house goes on the market.
When it comes to paint, most home sellers opt for white, but there are many neutral color choices to consider that may make your dwelling seem more welcoming and less sterile. While red walls are probably a no-go, off white or even shades of beige might be safe bets to take. Plain old white may appear stark, so a softer shade of ivory could do very well and will probably not detract from your home’s appeal. Freshly painted walls are almost a must when it comes to selling time. If the woodwork in your home is in poor condition and you don’t want to complete the labor-intensive task of refinishing it, then consider painting over it as well, either in the same wall color or a slightly darker shade for a pleasant contrast.
Paint may be for more than the walls. Painted doors can always benefit from a fresh coat of paint. Porch railings, garages and basement floors will look fresher with new paint. You may also have furniture in the house that might look better painted. For example, that dresser you painted with a floral motif in college might give a more sophisticated message to a buyer if painted a solid color. Of course, you will be taking it with you, so you might even put any unsightly or unnecessary furniture into storage until the home sells.
Once your walls are painted, you don’t want to fill them up with holes for a cluttered array of pictures. Keep wall art and family photos to a minimum. You’ll want something on the walls - and not any beer signs or smiling models dressed in skimpy skirts, either. Try to hang work that is conventional and pleasant. You don’t want anything too startling that will stop visitors in their tracks. Save your personal off-the-wall favorites for your new place and hang up a few floral prints in the meantime.
A smart decorating tactic is designing each room to act as it was “traditionally” meant to be. For example, if you have turned your dining room into an office, you would do better to convert it back to a dining area. Although this will inconvenience you, it will not throw off any prospective buyers who might get confused by your unconventional design schemes. Similarly, if your kitchen doubles as your craft area, you may want to pack up supplies while showing the house.
While walking through your house, keep your eye on the floor. You also want to be sure your flooring is clean and in good condition. Home improvement centers offer many inexpensive flooring choices. Again, choose something neutral. That orange remnant might fit your foyer exactly, but it is probably not the color to try. If your floors are wood, than consider sanding them and refinishing before you show your house. This is very labor-intensive, but beautiful wood floors are a strong selling point that should not be overlooked. If you cannot refinish the floor, than you may want to offset some of the rough spots with pretty area rugs - you shouldn’t hide flaws, but you don’t have to advertise them, either.
Another good investment if you are not thrilled about your furniture is slipcovers for your sofa and chairs. Fabric stores often carry them or you can have them made for your specific pieces. Choose something that you like, but keep it sophisticated. Again, do not buy stark white and try to avoid single color fabrics or it will appear as if you simply tossed sheets over your furniture. Well-done slipcovers may be so appealing that you’ll want to keep them for your new place. Slipcovers - even when made from designer fabric - are still far less expensive than new furniture.
Finally, give some consideration to the ornaments in your home. Too many can make the house seem cluttered. Pack up what does not need to be showcased, such as some books, candles and figurines. A few here and there will be attractive, but try to keep your personal collections to a minimum in order to avoid any appearance of clutter.
Finally, keep your house clean and odor free. This might require ripping up soiled carpeting, but it is an important measure. You may scarcely notice dust build-up, but your buyers will, and dirt is cheap to clean - it just takes some scrubbing. If you live with pets, take measures to keep your air filtered and be sure pet hair is picked up before you show your house. By taking these measures, you will be on your way to a house showing your can feel proud of.
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