Cody O\’Neal\’s Blog

Faucet Fixtures in kitchens and bathrooms should be replaced if they look outdated or are not in proper working order. Current trends indicate that gold fixtures are no longer desirable to buyers and should be considered outdated. Make sure fixtures are consistent throughout the house, noth in style and color. If there is a mix in the house, don’t be too concerned about replacing every fixture. It could be very costly and the return is minimal. However, there is one room where you should make sure the fixtures are in working order and in good taste: the master bathroom. This is a very important room to a buyer because it is used every day and is considered a personal and private area used by those that sleep in the master bedroom: the buyer. So if you want to update fixtures but don’t want to replace everything in the house, start in the master bathroom and buyers will be able to imagine the rest of the home with the same upgrades.

Source: EnergizedSeller  

Inside the home, you can update/improve fixtures that are already in place by adding covers to hide exposed bulbs. Sometimes the covers come in the form of little lampshades and adding them will make existing fixtures look more expensive. High-hat fixtures can be used in the kitchen and bathrooms. Hollywood track lighting and big globe lights in the bathroom are no longer in demand and look cheap and uninteresting. They are inexpensive to replace, and doing so will bring good return on the investment. If changing the fixture becomes complicated, it may be necessary to hire an electrician, but it will be worth it to make the change.
If you decide not to make any drastic changes, at the very least, make sure all light fixtures have the highest wattage bulbs available (be sure not to exceed the wattage recommended for the fixture due to the danger of fire) and that they are clean. Get rid of dust and bugs on the inside of all the light fixtures and dont forget those attached to fan lamps. (And while you’re up there, dust off the fan blades.) Remember, light sells because it makes the house seem bigger and buyers want a light open home. If the house is being shown on a cloudy day or at night, the high-watt bulbs will bring in enough light to showcase the home. Light also creates a warm and ambient atmosphere and its absense can create a very cold and sterile felling.

Source:EnergizedSeller

Fireplaces are often the focal point in a room, so they should be featured attractively. If it looks dated, a fireplace screen can be used to easily camouflage the problem. Make sure the fireplace and fireplace tools are clean and compliment each other. Tone down anything that looks loud or bright around the fireplace as it should add a feeling of warmth to the room even if there isn’t a fire burning. When showing the property in cooler weather, leave a fire going. It creates a very welcoming feeling in the home.
A fireplace should have a simple, tasteful mantel that is consistent with the style of the other fixtures in the house. Resist the urge to clutter a mantel with personal items.
One more note: If your home has a fireplace, make sure that you have the chimney cleaned before you put the house on the market.It is almost always requested by the buyer because it gets noted during a home inspection. You might as well save yourself the chore of having to deal with it if faced with a list of other requests from the buyer. Do it first and get ahead of the game.

Source: EnergizedSeller

The front door will make a lasting impression on a potential buyer beacuse it is one of the first things they notice. It is like a smile on the face of the house, and it should be welcoming. If it needs to be painted, use a modern color that matches the color palette of the neighborhood. If it is stained but weatherworn, it should be re-stained. As with the entire house, doors should be clean and in good shape. Look at the other houses in the neighborhood to determine which type of door you should have. If most of the neighborhood has original wood doors, stick with that. If most of them have painted white doors, paint the front door to match. Make sure you take a look at the wooden door frames around your exterior doors. They are notorious for absorbing moisture and rotting. If you have issues with door frames, repair or replace them now because a home inspector will definitly discover the problem.

New door knobs can update the look of a door inexpensively, as well as fresh paint and kick plates. Make sure that all of the locks lock easily and that the hardware is in good condition. Tighten locks and hardware if loose. If you can find that some of the doors in the house seem to be difficult to close, it might be because the hinges need to be tightened. Clean all of the glass on the doors whether it be stained glass, leaded glass, large sliding panels or small window panes…they should sparkle. Another place where a Mr.Clean Magic Eraser comes in handy is wiping down the doors and doorknobs throughout the house. You’ll be amazed at how clean they look and might even save yourself a coat of paint.

Finally, if the insulation around your door is cracked and peeling, just replace it. It’s an inexpensive repair and one that will definitly be noticed by buyers looking at homes during very warm or very cold months.

Source:EnergizedSeller

Think back to memories of family and friends gathered together to share special moments. Holiday meals, Sunday dinners, birthday celebrations, card/game nights and other special occasions all come together in the dining room. It is the focal point for all of our get-togethers with our families and friends, especially if there’s going to be food!

Many people may not use their dining room on a regular basis and some people may even choose to use it for other purposes altogether, such as a craft room, sewing room, office, or kid’s study area. If you have an eat-in kitchen or an active family, chances are you all eat where you can, when you can. The daily meal at the formal dinner table is a rarity.

However, there are always special occasions when families and friends gather around the dining room table. Buyers are looking at your dining room and imagining their own get togethers, making this room one of the key features on a home buyer’s radar.

If your home has a formal dining room, you need to present the space as it was originally intended: for meals. Buyers need to be able to see what they are paying for, and if you’re selling a dining room, show them where it is, don’t make them guess. Buyers will be previewing many properties and often can’t remember the specific rooms in each house, especially if they didn’t actually “see” it. They may remember seeing an “office in a strange location,” if that’s what your is being used for, but they won’t remember seeing a dining room.

Showcase your dining room as a place for those wonderful meals they’ll be hosting and memories they’ll be making. If you lack furniture for the space,beg, borrow, rent or simply buy a dining set. It does not need to be elaborate or expensive. Also, leave the extensions out of the table. These limit your ability to showcase the room’s space, espcially if the room is small. You only need to place four chairs around the table unless the room allows for a larger arrangement. If you have a large china cabinet consider storing it or at least removing the hutch portion to open up the room. Light fixtures, if dated, can be purchased inexpensively and can instantly update the room. Remove dated wallpaper and repaint personal paint choices with a warm neutral tone. Clean the light fixtures and all nooks and crannies. A beautiful tasteful centerpiece, place setting, or candlesticks set the stage for a lovely, inviting table and dining room. For safety reasons, it is not recommened to place flatware on the table, espceially knives.

Again, buyers will surely notice the dining room if you set the stage for them. The goal is to make it look like a place that buyers will want to have their own family gatherings.

Source: Energizedseller

Replacing the countertops is probably one of the most cost-effective and quick things that can be done to update the look of the kitchen or the bathroom. Choose countertops that look modern and clean, but resist the urge to get too outlandish with your choices. It is important for the home to have amenities equivalent to other homes in the same market. If other homes in the neighborhood are likely to have granite or high-end countertops, your home should have them as well. There are a great variety of choices, so compare prices in order to avoid overpaying. If you can’t afford replacing them, make sure you repair any visible damage and remove all stains. The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser works wonders on countertops and will even remove wine and other deep down stains. Make your countertop look like new by making them look clean.

Source: Energizedseller

Details can make a big impact too. Consider matching wooden hangers for clothes closets, which are great for show. Make sure all hangers face the same direction. Color coordinate your items for a more uniform look. Hang shirts with shirts, pants with pants, skirts with skirts, etc. Purchase matching baskets or containers for smaller items and accessories you need. They give a custom look to pre-existing shelving and you can simply take them with you to your next home. Keep as many items as you can off the floor as possible. Being able to see the floor will always make the closet look more spacious.

In linen closets and food pantries, make sure everything is neatly arranged. In the linen closet, towels should be uniformly folded and color coordinated. Toiletries should be placed in baskets, covered containers or arranged nicely on the shelves. In food pantries, face labeled canned goods in the same direction and keep like foods together. Think like a grocer when placing items in your pantry and make it look like a display at the grocery store. Small details make a big impact on buyers. By showcasing the closet space, you are adding value to your home. A little bit of effort cleaning up and cleaning out goes a long way.

Source: energizedseller

People love storage space and lots of it. Prospective home buyers appreciate houses with well equipped storage, linen and closet space. Your closets should reveal added value even if your home is short on stoage areas. We tend to cram a lot into our closets and often forget how much stuff we really have. Out of sight is truly out of mind in the case of closets. We easily let our stuff pile up behine closed closet doors. We throw stuff in quickly when unexpected guests call and promise ourselves that we’ll deal with it later. The promises keep getting postponed until our closets turn into proverbial nightmares of disorganization. When selling a home, think of buyers as invited guests who will be opening all of your closets daily until the house sells. Intimidating, isn’t it? It doesn’t have to be if you’ve prepared ahead of time. There are a few simple but time sensitive tasks that can make your closets and storage areas look more spacious.

Since you are selling and getting ready to move anyway, now the the perfect time to start sorting, donating, throwing away and packing up the excess items in your closets. A good rule of thumb to use is to remove at least 50% of what is currently there. If you are selling in spring, heavy coats and boots wont be needed until next year and likewise, if you are selling in fall, shorts and sandals can be stored. Be brutal with things you don’t use, need or want any longer. Does that white Saturday Night Fever suit still fit? Can it be donated to a local high school theatre group? Better yet, gather all of your unwanted items and make a charitable donation where you can get a nice tax deduction. Many groups will bring a truck right to your door for pickup of you have a substancial donation.

Once you have sorted, donated and packed up items not necessary for every day use, start organizing what will be staying. If your closets are lacking space, consider installing organizers and you’ll make a great impression with buyers. If the walls or shelves are in need of a coat of crisp color and you have the time, simply freshen the look inexpensively with white paint. Good lighting is important because it will make the space look larger and cleaner. Make sure light fixtures are working and have the highest wattage bulbs in place.

Source: energizedseller

The first thing a buyer notices when walking into the kitchen is the cabinets. If yours are worn, damaged or simply tired looking, you will need to re-stain, re-paint and/or repair them. Choose tasteful and subtle hardware that compliments the color and style of your cabinets. Good quality hardware can be found online or at any home improvement store. Remember, it doesn’t have to be the top of the line to make a good impression.

The most desirable cabinets are made of hardwood, so if your home is furnished with these, try to repair them if damaged. You should also wash them with something that will make them shine. Murphy’s Oil Soap is great for cleaning cabinets and leaves your kitchen smelling exceptionally clean.

Laminate cabinets can be a little more of a challenge to replace or repair if damaged as it may be difficult to exactly match their pattern. If only one of two doors need to be replaced, and there are matching cabinets in the house, substitue a door from a less visible room, such as the laundry room. In the event that you need to update all of the cabinets, your best bet is to have them refaced. It’s about half the cost of replacing them and the effect will be close to the same.

Source: energizedseller

1. Deep clean, depersonalize and declutter the room. Remove any personalized items like signs with your child’s name, awards, trophies, photos and calendars with schedules. Not only is this good for showcasing a space where buyers can envision their own children but it also protects your privacy and provides added security for your family. There will be many people walking through your home; so keep your family’s identity safe from exposure.

2. Make all the beds daily and purchase neutral, buyer-friendly bed sets. Also, window treatments should blend into the space not over power it. You need to help the buyer see past your decor so that they can see theirs in your home.

3. Remove excess furniture, exercise/sports equipment, hampers, toys, dirty laundry, etc. Show the space the room has to offer, not the stuff. Pare down the contents of closets so that there is at least 50% free space. This will help make closets look larger as buyers are always looking for storage space. If the closets are packed, the buyer will think that if there isn’t enough room for your stuff then there won’t be enough for theirs.

4. Repaint any bold personal choices, including wall murals to a warm neutral tone. Repair any damage to walls or furniture that daily use may cause. Make sure to look carefully for these small flaws; after years of living in a home it is easy for a seller to look past some of them.

5. Carpets should be replaced unless they are in extremely good condition. At the very least, they should be professionally cleaned so as to give that new carpet feeling to the home.

Source: energizedseller