5 Great Interior Design Tips to Sell Your Home Fast
Selling a home can be a daunting experience, to say the least. Putting
your house on the market and trying to get what you believe it's worth
can be difficult for the most skilled sellers. The good news is that
there are simple ways to make it easier.
The following easy design tips will increase your home's selling power
without making a big impact on your pocketbook. Whether you're having
trouble getting the price you want, or you're having trouble getting any
offers at all, these tips should speed things up and reduce the stress
factor.
Tip 1: Get out the paintbrush
A paint job is one of the quickest (and cheapest) ways to increase the
appeal of your home. If possible, do the painting yourself and have
friends help; spending the money on a professional is not recommended
unless you absolutely can't do the work. A fresh coat of paint can
brighten any room and give the entire house a cleaner look that will
entice buyers in an instant.
Tip 2: Focus on color
Some people believe that all interior walls should be painted white in
order to sell the home, since your paint colors might not be to someone
else's taste. This is true to some extent, but the truth is that
choosing universally appealing colors is an even better way to lure
buyers. Some simple color rules:
-
Tie the interior to the exterior. If your home has a foyer, paint it
the same color as the outside of the house. This creates a flowing
feeling and makes people feel welcome.
-
Choose "food colors" in the kitchen. Shades of beige and coffee imply
a homey area where people are inclined to eat. Reds and oranges increase
hunger and are great in dining rooms.
-
Save dark colors for private, intimate rooms like master bedrooms and
bathrooms.
-
Keep your main areas light- but not white. Colored walls make people
feel happier, but stick to the light end of the spectrum to make the
area feel roomy. Try a butter-yellow or a pale sage green.
Tip 3: Increase curb appeal
You'll never sell your home if nobody ever goes inside it. Make the
outside of your home as appealing as the inside. If necessary, paint the
exterior (this can be a big investment, but it's worth it).
Color psychology also applies to the outside of the home. In general,
buyers with more cash to spend are attracted to complex colors and a
combination of shades. Try painting your trim with an attractive
contrasting color, but keep the main shade muted and sophisticated.
If possible, do some minor landscaping. Window boxes painted in a
contrasting color are a great way to brighten up your home's exterior
without spending a lot of cash.
Tip 4: Invest where necessary
Some home improvement projects, while slightly expensive, are worth the
return you'll get when it comes time to sell.
If you're not sure where to start, check out your bathroom and kitchen.
Updating those rooms is a great way to increase your sales price. Other
things to consider are new light fixtures, new carpet, and refinished
hardwood floors.
On the other hand, don't waste your time worrying about things like home
additions, new porches or decks, or expanding closet spaces. These
projects are simply too large to be worth the investment, and potential
buyers are just going to have to live without them.
Tip 5: Practice home staging
Home staging
is a huge trend in interior design at the moment. You might
have seen the television shows where experts move furniture and adjust
rooms to maximize appeal to buyers. You don't need an expert to stage
your home for sale- just use a little common sense.
De-clutter your rooms to make them seem larger, and remove personal
items like photographs and artwork. You might think the house seems bare
without them, but actually it makes it easier for buyers to imagine
themselves living there. If you have rooms in your home that have no
real purpose, like an extra bedroom that you use for storage, consider
cleaning it out and staging it as a bedroom or office. This will show
buyers what the room can be used for, and keep them from being confused
about the space.
How you present your home to potential purchasers is extremely
important. You might be frustrated by the idea of putting time and
energy into the home you're trying to sell. But a few essential
improvements can go a long way- and it'll be more than worth the effort
when the offers start coming in.
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