One of the most significant decisions new homeowners make is whether to sell their homes. As a first-time homebuyer, you may want to know some common selling strategies for homes like yours. If you decide that now is the right time for you to part with your home, negotiate on what price you think it will sell for versus the appraised value. Real estate investors are willing to pay more than the appraised value if they can see potential in your property, like an open floor plan or major renovations that would boost resale value.
It would help if you also considered decorating ideas for selling your home that might help attract buyers and result in a higher offer from potential buyers. Here are some decorating ideas that could help increase your home’s value:
Clean Up the Clutter
Before choosing any decorating ideas for selling your home, the first step in selling a house is to present it in its best light, which means making sure there is not a cluttered mess from floor to ceiling. If you do not have the time to deep clean your home, rent a storage unit for things that can be removed from your living areas or get someone else to do it for you.
The more open space buyers see when they walk into a room, the bigger their eyes will get because they will know where all of their stuff can go when they move in! Selling your home should be a straightforward process if you keep essential simple decorating ideas for selling your home in mind so you can move on with style and convenience instead of having to deal with the hassle of showings and offers.
The ‘less is more’ saying applies to home decor as well. A common mistake many homeowners make when putting their house on the market is filling it with too much furniture and décor. The space will feel cramped, especially if you have large pieces that cover most of the floor. Potential buyers do not want to imagine how they would arrange things in the room; they want to envision themselves enjoying it.
Prime the Walls
When looking for decorating ideas for selling your home, priming the walls means applying a coat of flat paint to all surfaces, including woodwork and cabinets, even if they are already painted in an existing color. This will ensure that no previous color seeps through when you apply your new color (which should be white or very light gray).
One common mistake first-time homebuyers make is covering every wall with one color or print. When seeking decorating ideas for selling your home, try to create a theme throughout your rooms by painting walls a neutral color: white, tan, grey, and hanging art with one style and set of colors instead of a myriad of prints that clash with each other. Using one color to unify the house’s look will make it appear larger and well put together.
Update Your Windows
Your window coverings are one of the best decorating ideas for selling your home that give cues about the age of your home. If your windows look like they have not been changed over the last decade, then your home will likely be seen that way too. Newer window coverings make a house seem more modern and well-maintained; you can update them without spending too much by adding curtains in neutral colors.
Consider Flooring
Many buyers are surprised to find out how much installing new floors can help increase your home’s value. Wood or cork flooring is preferred over carpet because it makes rooms look larger and warmer to buyers’ eyes. At the same time, tiles are easier to clean than carpets, which have a high likelihood of carrying allergens that affect future inhabitants’ breathing abilities.
Consider Lighting Aspects
Lighting also has great importance in setting the mood of each space, so use dimmers where you can, especially if your home is very sunny because natural light is best for showcasing your style. Proper lighting can save you money by using fewer lamps or other artificial illumination sources, making it easier to create the overall ambiance you want.
For instance, recessed ceiling fixtures are very good at directing light downward since they are meant to be mounted flush with the ceiling, but this tends to create harsh shadows throughout rooms unless combined with other types of lighting that will bounce off the ceiling and walls.
Use a lot of table lamps with lower wattage bulbs because their light is directed precisely where you want it to go, making it possible to create dramatic effects without too much effort.
Lighting is one area that many homeowners overlook. If you have a room with a chandelier or ceiling lights, consider swapping them out for newer fixtures because some old ones tend to look dingy and dated.
When choosing to light for your rooms, consult your electrical services provider about whether the bulbs will have to be replaced often, so buyers don’t become annoyed by needing expensive replacement lightbulbs or having to climb up on chairs and ladders every time they need to change a burned-out bulb which could frequently happen if they are not installed correctly.
Look into allowing natural light in a room to bring warmth, and artificial light in a room takes away from its authenticity. If you have dark, small spaces that feel claustrophobic to buyers, try opening them by removing curtains and adding windows with natural light streaming through them. You can also bring lighter into your living areas by painting walls white or cream instead of darker colors that cast shadows on the floors, furniture, and even people’s faces depending on how bright it is outside.
Clean It Up
When selling a home, exterior and interior cleanliness are of utmost importance. Many buyers will judge a house solely on the way it looks from the outside, so make sure your windows are clean and free of any smudges or fingerprints. If there is ever an opportunity to get rid of clutter around the house, take it! Clear window sills and empty countertops are more appealing than clutter. If you have large pieces of furniture that you will not be taking with you when you move into your new place, get rid of them! In addition to making your home look bigger and brighter in general, removing bulky furniture will open up much-needed space in your home. You should also consider professional cleaning service company to aid in asbestos removal services and pest control service providers to help with this crucial process.
If you can remove all clutter from around your house, try adding color! Painting walls with neutral colors will make small rooms look bigger and brighter. If you have larger rooms or a room with high ceilings, painting the walls a ‘pop’ color will give the client an overall impression of modernity. Please do not spend money on new furniture or any decorating ideas for selling your home unless necessary.
But if you do feel that some items need upgrading simply because they are looking worn out, think twice before purchasing them! New furniture will not typically go for higher prices than used ones at resale shops because people usually believe that refurbished pieces are more valuable/a better deal than new ones.
If you are looking for decorating ideas for selling your home, make sure that all appliances are clean and in good working order. This is especially important for ovens and refrigerators because they can be potential health hazards. Above all, keep your house as clutter-free as possible so the buyer’s impression of it will not be ruined by everyday wear or tear on household objects. Do not forget to ook into leaving a tidy outdoor living space by hiring an arborist to ensure your backyard pond is in an appealing condition.
Cover up Anything That Should Not Be Painted
Before undertaking any decorating ideas for selling your home, cover electrical switches and outlets with painter’s tape, and do not forget night lights! Sand any rough edges around baseboards or wooden doors. Then cover those surfaces with a coat of primer followed by a coat of paint: this is a crucial first step before painting a room a new color because it ensures no existing paint color will be bleeding through onto your fresh finish.
Be sure to protect flooring with plastic sheeting and make sure lampshades are removed or sealed tightly in plastic wrap. Tape off areas that do not need painting. If you are going to be painting just one wall, use painter’s tape to mask off the adjoining walls and baseboards: this will help you avoid accidentally slopping paint onto something that does not need it.
Use Accessories in Your Home
Decorating a room takes more than just furniture and lighting; you also need exciting accessories that will make buyers picture themselves living there even if they are not particularly into art or other decorative pieces. A couple of well-chosen, colorful vases can do a great job filling empty spaces without going overboard on price as long as they do not clash with any pictures or paintings hanging on your walls. In addition, small objects and art are relatively inexpensive, so you can have fun choosing things from all sorts of different sources instead of being limited by the things you already own.
It is also essential to make sure that everyone can enjoy your home even if they have different tastes from yours or are just more conservative. Buyers with children will appreciate a relaxed but refined atmosphere free of clutter and smelly candles, while empty-nesters may want something cozier that reflects their quieter lifestyle. You should also consider pets if you have any who may be allowed to go with the new owners because they’re part of the family too!
Show Off Your Kitchen and Bathroom
Kitchen remodeling and bathroom decorating ideas for selling your home are popular among new homeowners who want their homes to be more modern and appear more important than what was there before. First-time homebuyers love a functional kitchen with plenty of cabinet space and room to cook, so try updating your kitchen cabinets with new hardware and paint if necessary. Spruce up your appliances too by showing off the dishwasher, oven, and fridge, which are key features that might deter buyers from looking at other homes unless they offer these appliances as well.
A dated bathroom can kill a sale fast because it is one of the first rooms buyers look into before offering a home. Newer bathrooms give people a sense of cleanliness and invigoration that brings them into the rest of the house and encourages them to buy them; make sure yours has both those qualities! Try adding fresh paint colors or deep cleaning already shiny surfaces to make them look new and clean.
Make Minor Repairs
Repairing small items around the house can also go a long way in making prospective buyers see how much care has gone into keeping up with regular maintenance and upkeep of your home. For example, replacing cracked windowpanes and weather-stripping exterior doors will help prevent unnecessary energy costs over time and make your home more comfortable during warmer months. You should also be keen to get a new roof in the scenario that the current roof needs replacement. Consult various roofing contractors to get the average roof replacement cost in your local area for budgeting prior to undertaking any home improvement projects. Replacing faulty door hardware or worn hinges on cupboard doors will also increase the perceived value of your property amongst potential buyers, as older features may indicate that the owner has not taken the time to fix the property. In the scenario that your garage door is in poor condition, seek the average garage door installation cost as there is a need to repair this section of your property before selling the home.
Get Rid Of Personal Belongings
Personal items can be a distraction that takes away from the focus on potential buyers’ experience of your home. All pictures should be removed, and any knickknacks or other accessories should also be cleared out of sight for an open house to make visitors more comfortable envisioning themselves living there. Instead, having neutral arrangements throughout, such as vases with fresh cut flowers or decorative bowls containing fruit, will help present your home in its best light without it being too cluttered.
You should opt for showing your property before placing it under contract. You will have plenty of time to choose decorating ideas for your home depending on what you would like, without the pressure of a potential sale pending on your ability to showcase its best features.
For buyers, the first impression of a home typically begins with the walk-through. This means that it is essential for your yard, exterior paint job, porch, and landscaping to be presentable at all times. If you are planning on having an open house or listing appointment scheduled soon, make sure that all bushes and hedges are trimmed as well as dusted away cobwebs from windowsills and doorframes.
Sprucing up your front entrance will also help create an excellent first impression for those visiting the property, whether potential buyers or just other people taking a casual walk by.