The Interior

 

Entry

The entry is where the first impression of the interior is created. Here you have the opportunity to make a big statement in a small area.

  • Repaint the entry using light, neutral colors.
  • Move a prized antique or attractive furnishing to the entry, where it will have maximum impact.
  • Install a simple chair rail molding on the wall.
  • Apply a fresh coat of polyurethane to a wood floor.
  • Tile or linoleum flooring should shine.
  • Replace plastic switch plate covers with brass or porcelain.
  • A new hall light fixture can make a great impression.
  • Make sure the room is well lit.


Kitchen

The kitchen is perhaps the most important room in the house. It can have a major impact on the value of your property. If your kitchen needs some real help, you may want to make extensive improvements. The following is a list of ideas to increase the appeal of your kitchen without spending a great deal of money.

  • Make sure the room is virtually spotless and smells fresh. Try putting a quarter section of a lemon in the disposal and grinding it up.
  • Consider replacing outdated light fixtures.
  • If your appliances are dated by colors like harvest gold or avocado, consider having them professionally refinished in a new color like almond or plain white. This will make appliances look new at a fraction of the cost of actually replacing them.
  • Spruce up kitchen cabinets by installing new knobs or hardware.
  • If your cabinets look especially old, you can have a professional replace the doors or door fronts.
  • Organize your kitchen cabinets to demonstrate how much room you have. Cabinet organizers are a good investment for this.
  • Remove small kitchen appliances and gadgets from countertops to create an uncluttered look.
  • Chipped or damaged countertops should be repaired or replaced.
  • If your linoleum floor is badly worn, replace it with neutral no-wax flooring or tile.
  • A freshly painted kitchen may be well worth the investment.


Bathroom

The bathroom has become an important selling feature in today’s home. It is a room that has moved from the utilitarian to the exciting. There are many ways you can improve deficiencies and create interest through various levels of enhancement.

  • Place a vase of fresh flowers on the vanity.
  • Replace old toilet seats.
  • Consider replacing an old light fixture.
  • Refinish an old porcelain tub using a porcelain finishing service.
  • Place all personal care articles out of sight.
  • Freshen the air with lemon scented products.
  • Consider replacing an old towel rack.
  • Add color and richness with new towels and shower curtain.


Living Room

The living room is an area where we do very little living yet it is a major selling point of a house. Buyers look for elegant and impressive living rooms to make the right statements to their friends and relatives.

  • Use mirrors whenever possible to enhance the perception of size. The strategic placement of a mirror over a mantle or across from a window can make a room look brighter and larger.
  • A fireplace is one feature that everyone can appreciate - show it off to its best advantage. Sweep it clean and make sure the screen is in good condition. If your house is being shown during the winter, make a cozy, crackling fire. During warmer months, you can dress up the hearth with fresh indoor plants or dried flowers.
  • Use inexpensive free-standing "can" lights to create dramatic visual effects behind large plants or pieces of furniture.
  • Use chair rail or cornice molding to create a feeling of elegance.
  • Professionally clean wall-to-wall carpet or large area rugs. Sand and refinish stained hardwood floors.
  • Clean windows and light fixtures.
  • Make sure all cosmetic plaster cracks are repaired. (This applies to every room in the house.)
  • Use lemon oil on hardwood furniture to create the right look and aroma.
  • Liberal use of fresh flowers and plants will enhance the environment.


Bedrooms

The bedrooms can do as much to sell your house as they can to turn off a buyer.

  • Make sure the bedrooms are absolutely spotless. Rugs should be cleaned, windows washed and fresh smells from flowers or lemon oil should be in the air.
  • Organize closets to increase their perceived size. Rubberized wire closet organizers do a great job of helping fully utilize space.
  • Mirrored closet doors can add dramatically to the feeling of size in any bedroom.
  • Bedrooms should be well lit.
  • A ceiling fan can be an attractive and practical accent to any bedroom.


Basement/Attic

The look of the basement and/or attic can say more about the condition of your house than you may think. A buyer who sees a meticulously clean and organized basement and/or attic will have much more confidence in your property than if it were in a state of disarray.

  • Paint a bare cement floor oil-based gray.
  • Paint the stairway down to the basement and the stairway up to the attic.
  • Clean the boiler of the furnace room as well as the heating plant.
  • Make sure there are no signs of pest infestation. If needed, call in a pest control company to remedy the problem before the property is shown.
  • Hang as many objects as possible on the walls to minimize floor clutter.
  • Clean and organize your laundry area.
  • Make sure all lights are working.
  • Eliminate dampness with a dehumidifier.

 

Garage

A well-organized garage says a lot for your house.

  • Keep the garage neat and organized.
  • Clean up any oil stains from your car.
  • Paint the garage floor oil-based gray.
  • Install a garage door opener
  • Hang gardening tools and loose articles on the wall.
  • Hold a garage sale to dispose of unused items that create clutter and may distract a potential buyer.

Swimming Pool/Spa

The swimming pool or spa should be sparkling clean and in good operating condition.

  • Repair or replace broken tiles.
  • Patio and concrete decking around pool should be clean and cracks repaired.
  • Pool filter and heating equipment area should be cleaned.
  • Replace worn or broken pool equipment (brushes, hoses, sweeps, pool covers, etc.)

If your pool is stained, you may want to have a professional service drain and acid wash or refinish the surface.

 

The First Impression

 

The Model Home Effect

 

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