Tag: Home Selling Tips

Nothing smells better than clean!

The source of the most common problem odors: pets, smoking, cooking, and mold or mildew.

A zippered pillowcase filled with cedar chips, placed under a pet’s pillow bed, will absorb most of the unpleasant odors.

Boiling an apple, a teaspoon of cinnamon, and a few drops of vanilla on the stove will remove burnt smells in the kitchen. Add orange peels to make a simmering potpourri.

Sprinkle baking soda directly onto carpets, rugs, and sofas to eliminate odors-then let it sit for at least 30 minutes before vacuuming.

A bowl of vinegar placed in a room for a day or two will help neutralize smoke odors.

Small cotton balls with a few drops of your favorite perfume or cologne, tucked discreetly around the home, can freshen a room.

Candles, plug-ins, and home fragrance sprays can work wonders when the scent is well chosen, and not overdone.

Potted Plants, small or large, are one of the easiest and least expensive ways to create visual appeal.

Home Fragrance such as scented candles, sprays, and plug-in type fragrance gadgets in delicate scents can work wonders.

Steam Cleaning-Rather than investing in a professional service, rent the machine for one day, and rejuvenate carpets and drapes.

Baskets and Decorative Containers can help organize scattered items and eliminate clutter.

Light Bulbs and Dimmer Switches-Brighten dark areas and rooms or soften harsh light with dimmers and the newer soft light bulbs.

Paint over unusual colors or update stark white walls with a contemporary neutral tone.

Fresh Flowers-Inexpensive arrangements in vases you already own look beautiful and will smell naturally fresh.

Throw Pillows will instantly update an old sofa or chair or make a plain bed look luxurious.

Maid Service can be costly, but hiring one for a day or a few hours is affordable-and it’s worth it to make a kitchen or bathroom sparkle!

Snacks! A bowl of polished apples, a bunch of grapes or a plate of fresh cookies makes your home look warm and inviting.

An Unkempt Lawn

Chipping or Peeling Paint

Worn or Dirty Carpets and Flooring

Poor Housekeeping-Dust, Stains, and Dirt

Junk, Clutter, and Disorganization

Unpleasant Odors-Pets, Tobacco, and Garbage

Unusual or Odd Paint Colors

Create the illusion of space by rearranging the furniture. Try different combinations or remove and store pieces that make it feel crowded.

Arrange the furniture in living areas into intimate groupings that suggest entertaining and ideal conversational settings.

Consider rental furniture, especially when the pieces you have don’t match, are badly worn, or are in any state of disrepair.

Add decorative pillows and slipcovers in warm neutral tones to hide flaws and make pieces blend.

Eliminate clutter. Store or get rid of appliances, gadgets, newspapers, mail or anything that takes up space or distracts attention.

De-personalize your home so buyers can imagine living in it. Store pictures, awards, trophies, collectibles, and other personal keepsakes.

Paint walls in inviting neutral colors to cover flaws and freshen rooms.

Add small luxurious touches to bathrooms and bedrooms. Think plush towels, fresh flowers, high-end bed linens, and pretty bath soaps.

Eliminate unpleasant odors and smells that can kill a sale. Fragrant candles, plug-ins, and home sprays can help, but nothing smells better than clean.

Plants add an aura of softness and warmth to any room. Large or small, real or silk-they’re a favorite of professional stagers.

Avoid bright colors, fluorescent and neon shades, or colors that are very dark. The hottest trends in paint colors are soft creams, taupes, and pale buttery yellow tones.

Neutral colors have a universal appeal-both men and women give them favorable ratings.

Don’t be tempted to keep the wallpaper. Generally, buyers are put off by it. They view the removal process as another chore if they buy your home.

A room will appear larger when you paint it the same color as the room adjacent to it. It can give the illusion of one big open space.

Another favorite designer tip, to give the illusion of more space, is to paint the walls the same color as the drapes. It creates a seamless, contemporary look.