Kitchens Can Sell Homes!

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home. It certainly is a key feature if you are trying to sell your home. 

But, what exactly are buyers looking for? Most would like to find a home with a new or remodeled kitchen. Countertops made of the newest materials, quality cabinets, modern lighting, and top of the line appliances, are sure to capture their attention. Kitchen trends change, so if you are planning a remodel, a trip to some model homes might be a good idea.

What if remodeling is not in the budget? There are some simple rules to follow to make your existing kitchen look the best it can.

Buyers are looking for space: on the counters, in the drawers and cabinets, in the pantry, everywhere. Clear your counters of everything, with the possible exception of a coffee maker (if it’s a newer style, in good condition) or an attractive set of canisters. Don’t make the mistake of taking everything from the counters and storing them in the cabinets. Cabinets should not be more than two thirds full. The same goes for drawers. Items stored on top of the refrigerator tell buyers you don’t have enough space in the cabinets.

Kitchens seem to be the catch-all for busy families. Make sure the refrigerator is stripped of all pictures, children’s art, magnets, menus, etc. Don’t share your schedule with buyers by leaving your calendar in full view. Mail should be out of sight of prying eyes, also.

Small rugs should be removed, to make the kitchen area look larger. Put the minimum amount of chairs around your table, and if you have a leaf in your table, it might be a good idea to remove it.

If possible, pick up pet dishes before a showing. Buyers want to see a clean kitchen, so make sure surface areas including floors are spotless. Try to keep cooking odors to a minimum. Buyers will look in your oven, so make sure it is clean.

The kitchen can make or break a deal in selling your home. Make sure you’ve taken the proper steps to insure that your kitchen is a plus!

Less is More!!!

Decorating your home to fit your lifestyle, and decorating your home to sell are VERY different! You may have displays of treasured collections, items you have picked up on your travels, or family memorabilia.

There are two reasons to pack it all away when you put your home on the market. The first is that your display may be so interesting, that buyers pay more attention to it than your home. I did a consultation at a home that had a border of plates depicting different animals displayed along the top of the living room and dining room walls. I could just imagine the buyer’s focus directed at this collection instead of the features of the home. The second reason is for the safety of your possessions. The only way to guarantee that your belongings don’t get broken or stolen, is to pack them away out of sight.

What is a good rule to follow? Less is more! Do you have photos or artwork hung on every wall? This is a good place to start editing. Blank wall space allows the eye to rest, and makes it easier to take in the surroundings. It will also make a space appear larger. Remove anything hung on a wall, when that wall is less than two feet wide. Place artwork on the larger walls only. For tables, shelves, or other surfaces, stick with the “Rule of 3.” Remove all but three items from each table. For example—a coffee table might have a plant, a decorative bowl, and a large book. This rule works for the kitchen counters, or a fireplace mantle, too.

Remember, buyers will open closets and cabinets, and if everything is filled or overflowing, it will appear that your home does not have enough storage. Remove one third of everything in each closet, kitchen and bathroom cabinet or drawer, and pack them up. Is your garage or basement bulging at the seams? Buyers pay attention to these two areas, also. This would be a good time to clean out what you don’t want to move with you. You’ll be surprised at how much room you will have, and buyers will be impressed with the amount of space.

Getting your home ready to sell takes time and hard work, but when your home sells, you will be glad to have some of the packing already done.

Selling? Throw a Party!

Are you confused by all the advice you read about how to prepare your home for the market? I have come up with a very simple concept that most everyone can follow. Prepare your home as if you were throwing a party.

Think about the steps you take when you entertain, and consider the buyers coming through your home as your party guests. Not into entertaining? Then, think back to a party where you were the guest and your host or hostess made you feel special.

So, how do you want to present your home to your “guests?” It should be clean, of course. Fresh towels should be put out in the bathrooms, and personal items placed out of sight. The everyday clutter like the stack of mail on the entry table, the collection of remote controls on the sofa, the pile of shoes that grows bigger every day, needs to be cleared away.

Have you ever arrived at a party and the hostess hung your coat in a closet, and you wondered how she had room for them? She anticipated you arriving with a coat and cleared out a space. That same kind of planning will make your buyers feel comfortable in your home.


What about music? You can’t possibly know what everyone likes, so try to play music that is soft and soothing, and will appeal to the greatest number of tastes.

Soft lighting created by table and floor lamps, or indirect lighting are good choices for enhancing the look of your home, and is preferable to the more harsh overhead lighting. There are flameless candles on the market now, which are perfect for creating a welcoming ambience.

The enticing smell of something baking always keeps your guests interested, and buyers are no different. Fresh cut flowers are a nice addition, adding a wonderful scent and a touch of elegance.

A successful party is one in which your guests enjoyed your home and hospitality so much they didn’t want to leave. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if buyers felt the same way?

Let the Light In!

As a home stager, sellers often ask me about windows. This is the answer I always give: in fifteen years in real estate, I have never heard someone say “the home was too bright.”

Here are some pretty good rules when it comes to the windows in your home:

• Heavy drapes are dated, depressing and dust-collectors
• Ruffled valances are too distracting and don’t appeal to everyone
• Sheers are the best bet for letting in light
• Panels are acceptable, as long as they are used to frame the window and not block the light
• Blinds, shutters and shades should always be open for showings
• Windows should be kept clean, inside and out
• Broken seals and glass should be repaired (it will come up in the inspection!)
• Furniture should be pulled away from windows
• Make sure windows open and lock

Buyers will look out windows, so make sure that what they see is a nice view. Take a quick run through your home and check out the view from each window. That dead tree that can’t be seen from the road, but can from the window, needs to be taken out. You might need to relocate the trash cans, or any debris you have stored on the side of your home. If the weather is nice enough, go ahead and open some of the windows. It will help remove stale odors in the home. 


Natural light will make your home even more appealing, so remember to use your windows to the best advantage!

First Impression is Key!

Preparing your home to sell can certainly be a daunting task, and most sellers don’t know where to start. I suggest you start where your buyers will start, with a first impression. It’s difficult to be objective about your own home, but there are some tricks you can try.

Jump in your car, and drive to an entrance to your neighborhood. Try to imagine that you are buyers considering purchasing a home there. Drive through the neighborhood, and take note of the conditions of all the homes, not just the ones that are for sale. What are the features of the homes you find most attractive? What makes some of the homes less appealing?


After you have figured out the components of good curb appeal, drive by your own home, and continue down the street. Then, drive by it from the other direction. How does your home compare? Are there changes that could be made to improve that “first impression?” Perhaps there is too much overgrown landscaping, or the yard is too bare? Is the exterior color attractive, and does the home look well-maintained?


I had a staging client who was instructed to change the mint green exterior of their home. They weren’t sure what color to paint it, and it’s so difficult to choose from a small color swatch. I suggested they tour areas of similarly priced homes, and decide what colors they found to be the most popular and the most attractive. The result, when they painted their home, was dramatic!


To be as objective as possible, try to see your home and neighborhood through the eyes of the buyers. You don’t have to have the most attractive home in your neighborhood to get it sold. But, wouldn’t it be nice if buyers pulled up in front of your home, and were excited to see inside?

Terms That Can SELL YOUR HOME!

I am asked quite often “What is the difference between decorating and staging?” I thought I would provide you with a quick explanation, and some definitions of other terms we use in staging.

Decorating is furnishing and accessorizing a space, with the taste and lifestyle of the homeowners in mind.

Staging is decorating, also, but in a manner which showcases the best features of the home, detracts from any negative features, and appeals to the greatest number of buyers.

Neutralizing is removing a particular style or theme. For example, if a home is decorated with a Southwest motif or a kitchen has a “cow” or “rooster” theme.

Depersonalizing is the removal of any items which speak loudly of who lives in the home. Family photos, memorabilia, travel souvenirs, trophies and awards, to name a few.

Scale is the term used to describe the relationship between the size of the room and the size of the furnishings. If the furniture is too big, or there is too much of it, it will make the room appear small and crowded. When the furniture is too small or there is not enough of it, the room can look bare and uninviting.

Balance refers to the placement of furniture in regard to other furniture or an architectural feature like a fireplace or built-in bookcases. Large pieces of furniture should be placed in a way in which the weight and height is even throughout the room.

Vignette is a word that stagers use to describe a smaller area furnished and/or accessorized which conveys a welcoming feeling on its own. A window seat accessorized with pillows, and a decorative tray containing a coffee cup and a book, would be considered a vignette.

Understanding these terms and recognizing the value of staging your home is vital in today’s market.

The Big Black Box!

Let’s face it, we love our television sets. In my staging career, this has been proven to me numerous times. I come into a home to make recommendations to make it show better, and clients seem so willing to add or remove whatever I suggest. Except the TV, that is. And, whatever they sit on to watch TV.

In recent years, televisions have certainly become more streamlined. Flat panel styles are much less intrusive than the large screen projection ones, or “the big black boxes”, as we stagers like to call them. But, not everyone has made the switch. That leaves a whole lot of family rooms whose main feature is the overly-large TV. In homes where all the furniture is aimed at the TV, it may cause buyers to overlook the features which are a part of the home. Buyers should be directed to that fabulous fireplace, or the incredible floor to ceiling windows.

Another distraction for buyers is the number of TVs in some homes. I had clients who had a TV in every room, including the dining room. Fortunately, we worked out a compromise, and they removed all but two. And, the big black box that swallowed up most of their small living room? It was one they agreed to remove, and it opened up the space to reveal a very nice sized room, which buyers appreciated, and the home sold quickly.

It’s never easy to have your home on the market. But, taking the steps necessary to get it sold quickly, means the inconvenience won’t last long, and the sooner you and your TV can be together again!

Interior Paint: The New Neutrals!

If you are planning on selling your home, you might want to consider repainting the interior. Painting is one of the best ways to change a space dramatically, at a relatively low cost.

But, the days of painting every room white are gone. An all-white house can easily be forgotten, since there is nothing to stand out in the mind of buyers. A perfect example of the power of paint would be in the condo or townhouse market. Since most units are identical, often the only thing that can make one unit more memorable than the rest is the color of the walls.

The question is what color paint do we use? The reason white was thought to be the best color is that white will go with everything, allowing the buyers to move right in. However, white is not very warm or inviting. Today’s savvy buyers are looking for more, and the answer is to go with other neutrals. Technically, the only true neutrals are black, white, and gray, which do not appear on the color wheel. The “new” neutrals are attained by mixing opposite colors on the color wheel. They range from beige, or tan, all the way to chocolate brown or slate gray, with a large array of shades in between.

It is recommended that for small spaces, you stick with the light to medium value of these colors to create a more spacious-feeling area. And for those large, cold rooms, choose the darkest value of these colors to create a warmer and cozier space.

Creating contrast between wall color and trim color is a wonderful way to highlight architectural detail. Just be sure to keep the trim color the same throughout the home, to retain a sense of conformity. Painting different rooms’ different colors is acceptable, as long as you don’t stray too far in your color choices. That is where the neutrals are such good choices, because they do well together. All paint manufacturers offer a line of neutrals to take away that guesswork. As a home stager, one of my services is to assist sellers with their paint choices. There have been many homes, which after months of sitting on the market, sold quickly with just a simple change of wall color.

So, visit your neighborhood paint store and acquaint yourself with the “new” neutrals.

Don't Confuse Buyers!

How we choose to live in our homes is our business…right? WRONG! If you are selling your home, you may have to make some lifestyle adjustments.

For instance, that pool table you have in your living room might make sense to you, but, to a buyer, it can just be confusing. If you have a room with a chandelier hanging down, you should probably have it furnished as a dining room, even if you have not been using it that way.

Quite often, we have rooms in our homes that have to do double duty, or even triple duty. The room that functions as an office, guest, and exercise room, is sending a message to buyers that there are not enough rooms in your home. It is best to choose one function, and move the other items out.

I went on a staging consultation one time, and the homeowners had a bookcase in front of the fireplace. I asked them why, and they said they never used the fireplace and it was the only place the bookcase would fit. You can imagine how confounded buyers would be. A large TV placed in front of a window because that is the only spot where glare is not a problem, is fine for you and your family. But, when your home is for sale, there should be nothing in front of the windows. When buyers open your coat closet, it is best for them to see coats, not boxes of cereal or rolls of paper towel. The fax machine you keep on your kitchen counter will only raise questions as to why it is there.

Take the time to put your home in order, an order that will make sense to buyers. A little inconvenience is a small price to pay for getting your home sold quickly.

Selling a Lifestyle!

When you put your home on the market, you are selling more than the physical structure.  Think of it as selling a lifestyle.  This is why preparing your home is so important.  As buyers walk through your home, they are trying to imagine themselves living there.  A savvy seller will help them along the way!

Here are some suggestions to get you started:

One of the ways is to set the dining room table.  The china doesn’t come with the house, so why would you do it?  Because buyers want to believe that if they buy your home they will finally be able to have those fabulous dinner parties they’ve been dreaming about.  You are not trying to deceive buyers; you are just providing a visual to stimulate their imagination.

What do cluttered bathrooms bring to mind? A family rushing in the morning to get ready for work and school?  Countertops empty of everything but a shine, reflect a relaxed atmosphere, in addition to an overabundance of storage.  A strategically placed wine glass and book by the tub conjures up a vision of long bubble baths, something most buyers would find very appealing.

Don’t overlook the kitchen, which is one of the most important rooms to buyers.  Make sure all clutter is put away.  Place a cookbook on the counter, with it opened to a photo of a delectable dish.  Buyers imagine a lifestyle of gourmet meals, instead of hot dogs and macaroni and cheese.

It’s very important to keep toys picked up, fingerprints cleaned off walls, and any other sign that says if you buy this home, your kids will go wild.  A children’s book on the table next to the best reading chair will convey a positive image.

Soft music playing will give your home a soothing ambiance, in stark contrast to the blaring TV and kids screaming that the buyers may be experiencing now.  This will also cause buyers to slow down, which will allow them to experience your home in a more leisurely manner.  The longer they stay in your home, the better the chances they’ll write an offer.

If your home is more geared toward a single person or a couple without children, keep that in mind as you set the stage.  A small intimate seating area, complete with tray and coffee cups, might be an appealing addition.

Use your imagination, and think about what you would like to find in a home.  If you get stuck for ideas, visit a model home.  Hiring a professional stager is a great solution, too.  Stagers can look at your home objectively to make the necessary changes.

Just remember, selling a home can be made easier if you also offer buyers a new lifestyle.

Painting a Brass Fireplace!

I was hired to stage a vacant home. I knew I would have to bring some color in, because most of the house had white walls, and the carpet was very close to being white. But, sometimes you just have to do a little more. When I saw this brass fireplace, I decided to give it a facelift. I was a little nervous because I had never done this before, and it didn't seem smart to experiment on a fireplace belonging to someone else. But, I threw caution to the wind and jumped in!

I bought satin black grill paint, safe up to 1000 degrees, #0000 steel wool, and two cheapo throw-away paint brushes (sorry, I know it's not very green of me, but I was not about to clean them in the owner's sink, and they were made of wood).

I put newspaper down and started roughing up the brass with the steel wool. I taped the areas where metal touched tile, and started painting. It did require a second coat, which I applied at the end of the day, right before photos. When it was wet, you could see brush strokes and drips. When it dried, it was ALL smooth! What do you think?

 

This is what the room looked like the first time I saw it. It was adjacent to the kitchen which had been remodeled with cherry cabinetry, granite counters and stainless steel appliances. This kind of looked like the room the world forgot.

I didn't place a lot of furniture or accessories, but just enough to give everyone an idea how beautiful this room could really be. Now, if this house was mine, I would only allow showings later in the day. Look how beautiful it is with a little late day glow! 

This project took about 40 minutes initially, and then another 20 for the second coat. In one hour this whole room was given a new updated look. The owner was thrilled! And, my worst nightmare (dropping the open can of black paint on the carpet) never materialized! Thanks for letting me share this project with you!

Selling? What to do with Fido!!!

The majority of homeowners today have dogs, and as a professional home stager, I get asked all the time if this is a problem when selling a home. The answer is yes.

Most sellers crate their dogs for showings, but this may not be the ideal solution. If the dog is barking the entire time the buyers are in the house, it will not be a pleasant experience, and may be too distracting for the buyers to give your home the attention they should. In order to test whether your dog will bark, ask your agent to come over when you are not home. Quite often, your dog does not behave the same as when you are present. Leaving the dog loose in the home, even if it is as non-threatening as can be, will still turn off buyers who have a fear of dogs. Or, if you have a particularly cute and friendly dog, they could very well upstage your home, when it comes to the attention it is given by buyers.

Another option some sellers choose is to put the dog in a laundry room or garage. This is limiting the buyers access to areas they have a right to see, and will want to see. Many times the size of the garage is a determining factor on whether a home will work or not. It is crucial that buyers have free access to all areas of your home, including the backyard. If you have a pen or kennel outside where your dog will be safe and secure, and buyers will not be fearful, this is an acceptable solution. It is not recommended that you chain or tie your dog up, as this could create a negative response from buyers.

The most desirable solution is to remove the dog from the home during the time of showings. There are different ways of doing this. If you are home during the day, you could take the dog for a walk or put him/her in the car and leave for the duration of the showing. If you are away at work, you might look into daycare for your dog, either at a reputable professional daycare facility, or perhaps a friend or family member could watch Fido. Another option is to find someone in your neighborhood, who would be willing to take your dog during showings.

Even if you wind up paying for someone to care for your dog, it will be well worth it, to allow buyers to have a pleasant experience viewing your home.

Selling Tips for Little or No Money!

When selling, it would be great to update your home, and make it more desirable to buyers. But, in reality, most sellers have no budget or a very small one to work with, so a remodel is out of the question. The good news is that there is still hope.

There are many things homeowners can do to prepare their home for the market and improve the chances for a successful sale. Here are just a few:

Cleaning your home is probably the most important task you can take on for no money. Dirt, dust and bad odors are the biggest turnoffs for buyers. So, roll up your sleeves and make your home sparkle!

Move or remove! Two very important words, which will help make your home look more spacious. Move furniture away from walls. Placing furniture around the perimeters of a room make it appear smaller. The ability to see more walls will actually create more visual space. Remove all furniture which does not add function or beauty. It is not necessary for every space to be filled.

De-personalize and de-clutter! It’s very important for buyers to see your home, not your stuff.

Painting is a very low-cost way of brightening up your home, making it appear more clean and modern. Even if you only do an accent wall, it will create drama, and perhaps draw the eyes of buyers away from dated flooring. A freshly painted front door will really add to the curb appeal.

Get creative! Appliances can be painted, tubs and showers re-glazed, at a much lower cost than replacement. New lampshades can modernize old lamps for a fraction of the cost of a new lamp. Bring old wood back to life with a treatment of wood oil. Brass fireplace doors can easily be painted with heat-resistant paint. Bathroom mirrors can be updated by framing them with molding you have painted or stained. Heavy drapes can be replaced with inexpensive sheer panels. The options are endless. Home improvement magazines or TV shows are a great source for other low-cost ideas.

So, don’t get discouraged when you realize there is little or no money for fixing up your home. Your home may not be the best on the market, but with a little hard work and imagination, you can make your home the best it can be!

Themes and Collections--Neutralize Them!

One of the terms we stagers use often is “neutralize.” It means to stage the home in a way which will appeal to the greatest number of buyers. One of the easiest ways to do this is to eliminate themed rooms and collections.

Themed rooms are easy to recognize. A few of the more popular themes are sports, beach, Tuscany, southwest, and wildlife. Done in moderation, there is nothing wrong with these themes or styles. This is directed towards those who get a little carried away. Every piece of furniture, all the artwork, and all the accessories, have been chosen around the theme. The drawback to this excess is that buyers find it very difficult to imagine their own belongings in the room.

I have a friend whose family room has a “cowboy” theme. I think it is safe to assume that most buyers do not have spurs, pistols, and saddles in their homes, and would have a hard time getting past this theme and imagining their own furnishings there. This doesn’t mean you have to get a whole new room. The trick is to edit. For example, my friend could remove the aforementioned items, but a leather sofa and paintings with cowboys as the subject is perfectly acceptable.

I usually link themed rooms with collections, because quite often I will find collections spread throughout a themed room. But, sometimes they are off by themselves, or a collection becomes the theme. Almost all homeowners have some kind of collection. Whether it is a common one like books or framed photos, or something more unusual like Victorian birdcages or bobble-head dolls, these collections can be very distracting to buyers. The best bet is to pack these collections up, making them safe and sound, and more importantly, out of sight!

The bottom line is your home will sell faster, and you can create whatever theme, or collect whatever you want, in your new home that much sooner.

Selling in the New Year!

When you sell your home is not as important as how you sell your home.

Whether the market is sluggish or red hot, your home will sell faster and for more money if you put some effort into improving the condition. This does not mean pouring thousands of dollars into remodeling. Sometimes, it’s as simple as cleaning, de-cluttering, and taking care of minor maintenance.

Buyers want to know that the homeowners have taken care of their home. Burned out light bulbs, doors that stick, drawers that won’t slide easily, are all signs of a home that hasn’t been properly maintained. These little inconveniences that you have learned to live with can be downright unacceptable to buyers. No one wants to buy a home that comes with a fix-it list a mile long. As that list grows in the minds of buyers, the price they want to offer goes down! And, first impressions start at the curb, so don’t forget that exterior maintenance, as well.

So, get out those tools, grab that can of WD-40, and get your home in shape!

Is Your Home "Picture Perfect"?

A large majority of today’s buyers start their home search on the internet.  What does that mean to you? It means the first impression buyers get of your home could be photos posted online. And, they need to be pretty darn good to make your home stand out.

Would it be safe to say that if the home looks good in person, it will also look good in photos? There are a few things to remember to make the photos of your home the best they can be.

So, if you have a small room, edit the amount of furniture, and make sure what is in there is the proper scale. A large sectional sofa in a small family room is going to eat up even more space in a photo. And, an overly large room will appear even bigger if there is too much empty space.

A pop of color is crucial in photos. They have a tendency to wash out color, so the room you thought was colorful enough, may not photograph that way. The solution can be as simple as adding some colorful throw pillows on a couch, or a vibrant piece of art on the wall.

Light says cheery and dark says dreary! Natural light can cast an appealing glow on your home, so take advantage of it. Open those curtains and blinds, but the best time of day to have your home photographed is early morning or in the evening. The sun is lower, and your photos will be softer with less contrast.

Clutter is even more apparent in photos. It’s hard for buyers to concentrate on the home, when there are hairdryers on the bathroom counters, a collection of remote controls on the coffee table, or a dining room table stacked high with the family’s belongings.

People and pets in photos are a no-no. It may be that Grandpa hasn’t left his recliner in ten years, but his presence in the photo will be too distracting. And kitty needs to be moved off the bed, just long enough for photos to be taken. Be sure to watch out for reflections, too.  Many an unsuspecting agent or homeowner has been caught in a mirror!

Whether your agent takes the photos or a professional photographer is brought in, it is your responsibility to have the home in camera-ready condition. And, since these photos will either entice buyers to see your home or cause them to put your home in the “definitely not” pile, be sure you get to see the photos before they are posted. There are websites dedicated to bad MLS photos, and you wouldn’t want your home to wind up there. It’s the responsibility of you and your agent to make sure your home looks perfect in pictures.

It's All About Space!

When getting our homes ready to sell, we sometimes get hung up on paint colors, furniture placement, and décor. But, buyers can repaint if they want to, and the furniture and décor generally leave with the seller. So, what are we really selling, and what is it that buyers really want? The answer is space.

 

Have you ever picked up a book and decided not to read it because the text was very condensed, and each chapter was a hundred pages long? Negative space is more important than we think. Our eyes need empty space to rest. The same thing goes for our homes, especially when selling. Many a buyer has walked away from a home because they didn’t believe there was enough space for their dining room set or king-sized bed. So, if space is our home’s best commodity, how can we play it up?

 

A good place to start is your floor space. Small rugs and mats scattered everywhere just clutter the floor, making rooms look smaller than they really are. You might like the convenience of having a table next to your chair to hold your drink, but having too many occasional tables takes up valuable floor space. Think about removing all but the tables which anchor your big pieces of furniture or hold lamps. Potted plants, ottomans, magazine racks, free standing lamps, and bulky coffee tables can also create a cluttered looking floor. There is a reason professional stagers use glass-topped tables. It allows buyers to see more floor.

 

Wall space also commands a premium with buyers. The more visible wall space there is, the higher the ceilings appear. Don’t be afraid to keep a couple walls in each room artwork-free. When choosing between a large piece of art and a grouping of several smaller pieces, go with one large one. Bathrooms, especially if they are small, don’t need anything more than a mirror over the vanity, and some neatly hung towels. Exposing wall space includes the windows. Heavy drapes which cover up wall and window will definitely close a room in. 

 

Walk through your own home, and evaluate the amount of space visible. If space is lacking in your home, it’s time to make some changes. The good news is it doesn’t cost anything to remove items, and you can only benefit when your home appears bigger to buyers.

How You Can Go With The Flow!

If you ask buyers what they are looking for in a home, it’s almost guaranteed they will mention “good flow.” But, what exactly does that mean? If you have visited a model home lately, you probably noticed how floor plans have changed in the last decade or so. You’ll find large entries, living rooms and dining rooms separated with nothing more than an open arch, kitchens sharing a space with family rooms, and very few hallways.

If the home you are selling already has these features, you are way ahead of the game. But, what if your home was built earlier, when doors and hallways were everywhere, and every room had its own four walls? If ripping out walls is not in your budget, there are still some things you can do to help with the “flow.”

Resist the urge to put furniture in your entry way. That catch-all table is just making the space seem smaller. You want the buyer’s eye to look ahead. If the entry is narrow, a mirror can open the space more. Place the mirror, so as buyers come in the front door, the reflection is of something you want them to see. A reflection of a closet door defeats the purpose of the mirror.

Think about removing doors completely, especially in older homes. Paint the door trim the same color as the walls, so the doorway appears larger. In fact, paint can go a long way in helping your home seem more open. Continuing the same color throughout the home is a great way to counteract a choppy floor plan.

If your home has narrow hallways, hanging photos or art only makes them seem narrower. And, remember to leave all doors open for showings.

Buyers don’t come into your home and sit on the sofa. They are on their feet and walking from room to room. Make sure there is a clear path in each room, so buyers don’t have to walk around your furniture.

The last trick is to place all the largest pieces of furniture, such as entertainment centers or bookcases, on outside walls. This helps create the illusion of more space. And, never block windows. The more windows you have, the larger rooms will appear.

Creating a good flow through your home will give buyers what they are looking for, and can be accomplished with little or no cost!