What’s trending for 2016 that will help your home appeal to the masses and sell quickly? Thats the question I ask myself every time I start a new renovation or take on a listing. Appealing to the masses should be the main goal when preparing your home to sell. Look at it like a business and try not to make it personal even though you may have strong ties to the home you are preparing to sell. It is going to be someone else’s home now and you want them to see themselves living there. Styles are new for 2016, the tips are tried and true!

Beautify the Entrance! Give this area as much attention as the interior. I tend to lean towards neutrals but a bold door color can be ok on the right home. Avoid pinks, purples and multiple colors mixed together. One pop of color is enough…yellow, green, orange is too much! Planters and nice lighting will help to make the entrance fell welcoming and more upscale.

 

Hang Some Photos! Bare walls can be easily decorated with artwork and photos. Just make sure they aren’t of you or your family. Home Goods, Michaels, and many more shops have affordable artwork to use in staging your home. Want to forgo buying new stuff? Replace your current photos with generic ones printed front he internet. Landscapes, maps and flowers are all good options!

Showcase the Eating Area! Whether you have a formal dining room or an eat in kitchen, it is a good idea to make this area a focal point. Potential buyers need to be able to visualize spending time in this area as most people spend a lot of time eating!

Tidy Up! Make the beds, clean out the closets, and declutter! Make it look like a “show home”. It is ok for the home to feel lived in with furnishings and decor but the old coffee pot and shampoo bottles should be put away.

Paint the Walls! If the walls are in good shape and are a neutral color you may be able to avoid repainting. But if they are not then don’t scrimp on this portion of the house, fresh paint does a world of difference! Grays are still trending but are moving towards warmer tones with brown and taupes undertones to the grey rather than the blue-gray of the recent past.

Accessorize! The house should be clean but decorated. Pillows on the beds and couches. Books, vases, candles and art pieces placed on the tables and shelves. Floral arrangements add style to any room. Just don’t overwhelm a table with too many of the same things, multiple colors and textures will create an interesting look!

If your realtor doesn’t do staging, which most don’t and that is totally fine as most realtors are trained to sell real estate not trained in design, ask for recommendations! The money you will spend on staging will be made up for in a quick sale and a good purchase price. Looking to buy or sell? Contact me for an all-inclusive sales experience!