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July 23, 2007

Decorating Ideas that Sell Homes

Decorating Ideas that Sell Homes
by Deborah Smith
HomeOwnerNet Columnist

Selling a home can be an emotional and nerve-wracking roller coaster ride, but there are things homeowners can do to simplify the process. Some basic decorating principles can be applied that improve the attractiveness (often called "curb appeal" by real estate agents) of the property and speed up the selling of a home.

 
From a decorating perspective, your goal for your home is not at all what it would be if you were just moving in. Rather, your task is to put yourself in the buyers shoes and ask: "What needs to be done to make this home truly livable for me and my family?" What you want to do is make the home appealing, but with a neutral background so that any serious buyer can visualize his or her own belongings in place.

 
Your Agent has already told you to tidy up closets, cabinets and store rooms, clean the carpet and tile and generally remove the excess clutter that accumulates with daily living. There is more that you can do if a speedy sale is your goal. Look hard at your carpet or tiled flooring: Has it seen better days? Is it a bright color? Remember, a floor's fresh, new appearance is an easy-to-live-with color is the fastest spruce-up available. The same is true of a fresh coat of paint, which should be a neutral hue and consistent throughout the house. This is not the time to experiment with trendy treatments or colors. Salmon colored walls may look great with your white upholstery but will clash with a prospective buyers mauve sofa!

 
Window treatments can also affect your home's sale-ability. Once again, neutral colors are essential, and the variety of products available offer choices to a seller in a hurry. It is a real plus to a potential buyer to find a home with attractive quality window coverings which are compatible with the buyer's taste. Treatments already installed for privacy represent a substantial savings to a buyer who can put more decorating money into other projects. Mini-blinds have been the most popular solution in this regard, although pleated shades are now gaining favor as a moderately priced window covering. In many parts of the country, where weather can be extreme, energy saving features such as metallic and honeycombed shades can add even more to the appeal of any home for sale.

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