As most of the country is now in a buyer's market, its more important than it was a year ago to make your home stand out. Most of these tips may seem "common sense" but they're worth sharing anyway.
1. CLEAN! It may be money well spent to hire a professional to give your house a top to bottom cleaning. There should be no dust on the ceiling fans, streaks on the windows, or dirt on the baseboards.
2. MINIMIZE! Buyers are paying for square footage, so show off as much of it as you can. Rent a storage unit or use a friend's garage while the house in on the market. Move as much furniture as you can into it without making the house look empty. If you have a sofa, love seat, two chairs and tables in your living room--make it look bigger by stowing the love seat someplace. If your bedroom will look more spacious by pulling the chest of drawers out for the time the house is on the market, do it! Take up rugs...a clean expanse of floor will make the rooms look bigger.
3. MAINTAIN! Catch up on all your deferred maintenance. Clean out the gutters, put that shutter up that fell off in last winters storm. Touch up paint, repaint where necessary.
4. NEUTRALIZE! While realtors have historically said that you should paint the whole house white, I think today's consumers are stylish enough to accept other colors. A dramatic powder room, a red dining room...but the house shouldn't look like a box of crayons. Chances are, the next owner will not like the Princess Murals in your daughters room or the racing stripes on your son's walls. Take down family portraits, trophies, etc.
5. UPDATE! Tired kitchens and baths, worn carpets, and broken down appliances will send buyers back out the door. It probably doesn't make sense to put in a new kitchen...but painting dated cabinets, adding new hardware, swapping out worn laminate counters, are all relatively low cost things that can bring a big return.
6. APPEAL TO THE SENSES. At open houses, open all drapes and blinds. If you have a view to highlight, consider totally removing window treatments to point buyers toward it. If you are a smoker, do it outside til the house sells. If you have pets, be fastidious in cleaning up after them.
7. CURB APPEAL. Trim your budhes and trees. Add fresh mulch and bright annuals to give the yard a well kept look. If your front door is less than welcoming, paint it, add a shiny kickplate or knocker.
(Oooh...thanks, Gryphon! These will certainly come in handy over the next few weeks). We need to paint 2 bedrooms and husband is going to lay ceramic tile in the kitchen.
If you need some suggestions, send me some pictures and Id be happyto make some.
I appreciate that...the main thing is de-cluttering & making the house "neutral". It's going to get pretty crazy showing the house while preparing to make an interstate move! :biggrin:
Hey, have you ever heard of laying tile right over vinyl flooring? If so, what's the best preparation?
ITs a bad idea. The vinyl is hard to make any sort of substrate stick. Ideall, you should tear up the vinyl and lay down a backer such as Durock.
Okay...I believe that's what he did when he tiled the foyer & the bathrooms..but then he heard that he could do it directly over the vinyl. The kitchen/breakfast nook rooms aren't very big -- he can probably just tear it up.
Im sure it CAN be done...but I dont think it SHOULD be done that way...
*smacks her own hand* The cynic in me is saying, "but Gryphon, we won't be living here?!?"
But, I'm sure he'll do what's best. :smile:
thats a good point...and there may well be some sort of setting bed that is designed for that...
Quote from: Gryphon on October 02, 2006, 09:33:02 AM
ITs a bad idea. The vinyl is hard to make any sort of substrate stick. Ideall, you should tear up the vinyl and lay down a backer such as Durock.
I agree with Gryphon. I've always heard it is a bad idea to do that.
The floor is done & I think it looks great! Husband was able to research the flooring issue & discovered that a lot of tilers down here use an Acryilc thinset directly over the vinyl & concrete floor.
He picked out the ceramic tile & went with a very neutral one since we're selling. Also, kept with the overall modest design of the home.
I had a hard time getting a good picture, but here's looking into the breakfast nook:
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/sunnyinfl/100_0817.jpg)
Here is looking at the transition into the living room & the new carpeting:
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/sunnyinfl/100_0819.jpg)
And the Great room:
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/sunnyinfl/100_0815.jpg)
As you'll see, the children have their influence on the rooms, as well! :biggrin:
wow that looks great! Am I seeing a wet bar area through the french doors?
I dont think you'll have any trouble selling.
Thanks, Gryphon...please feel free to offer any suggestions!
The pictures of the carpeting don't do it justice...the color is a beautiful collor called, CANE -- it's a honey beige (looks kinda pink in the photos).
Yes, the bar was my husband's Spring project -- right before he built the lanai screen enclosure on the other side of the bar/bonus room. We dont' always keep the french doors open, but it opens the room up when we're entertaining.
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/sunnyinfl/StevesProject.jpg)
Our realtor is pretty optimistic, also...we priced it to sell!
Quote from: SunnyInFL on October 08, 2006, 10:33:49 AM
Thanks, Gryphon...please feel free to offer any suggestions!
The pictures of the carpeting don't do it justice...the color is a beautiful collor called, CANE -- it's a honey beige (looks kinda pink in the photos).
Yes, the bar was my husband's Spring project -- right before he built the lanai screen enclosure on the other side of the bar/bonus room. We dont' always keep the french doors open, but it opens the room up when we're entertaining.
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/sunnyinfl/StevesProject.jpg)
Our realtor is pretty optimistic, also...we priced it to sell!
and who is the little cutie in the hot tub??
;D
ha ha! I hadn't noticed that! It's my 4 year-old. :smile: