If you’re considering putting your house on the market and moving to another one, chances are good there are things about your current home that you are not happy with. But before you get overly concerned that your house is less than perfect, keep in mind that very few homes truly live up to all of their owner’s expectations, and your homes flaws are likely more apparent to you now that you are considering selling. Luckily there are a few things you can do to minimize your homes flaws and maximize it’s advantages. Read on for a few of our top suggestions.
Emphasize Your Homes Best Features
Maybe you’re correct in your honest evaluation of your home, and it is in fact lacking in some area. If this is the case, one of the best ways to downplay what your home is missing is to emphasize its better features. Even if you feel like the home could use the complete overhaul that you aren’t willing or able to give it, every home has advantages that can work in its favor when its time to sell. Make a list of everything about your home that you really do love, and play up those features in your listing. For example, if your home is set far back from the street with a giant front yard, make sure this is emphasized in the listing description and pictures. Draw additional attention to your yard with some increased curb appeal in the form of flowers or shrubs, and place a picture of your home in another season prominently so buyers can see this feature under a blanket of snow or surrounded by autumn colors. If a potential buyer is blown away by your home’s nicest feature, they may be willing to overlook an outdated powder room or unfinished basement.
Maximize Your Storage
One of the most common complaints homeowners have is a lack of storage space, especially in today’s more open floor plans. Make the most of the storage space you have by decluttering and organizing your space. This should be the first step you take when thinking about selling your home. If you are short on space, make upgrades to your closets by installing double rods and adding shelves. The more belongings you can stow out of sight the better, and your home’s new owners will appreciate these organizational upgrades.
Upgrade the Views
Your home doesn’t have to be on the beach or a picturesque mountain lake to have a gorgeous view. Even if your house is located in an urban setting with a view of a parking lot or building, there are ways you can improve the view. Plant tall, almost mature trees or shrubs outside any windows with a less than stellar view to create a living fence. Specifically look for evergreen varieties, as these will provide privacy and a pleasant view all year long no matter the weather. If planting a row of cedars isn’t the ideal option for your location, invest in beautiful curtains instead, that will draw the eye away from the outside view and inward toward room decor.
Focus on the Good in Each Room
If you want to take attention away from a room’s flaws, draw a potential buyer’s gaze away from them by creating a more pleasant focal point, preferably one that matches the purpose of the room in question. If you want to de-emphasize the size of a small secondary bedroom, make an expertly decorated bed with lush bedding the focal point. If you want to distract from the outdated flooring in a living room, but you have a fireplace, make the fireplace your focus. Display a beautiful work of art over it, and make sure all the seating faces it. No fireplace? You can still draw eyes up and away from the floor by creating an accent wall with eye-catching wallpaper or paint and well-placed artwork.
Let There Be Light
If the flaw in one of your rooms is a lack of natural light, there are a few tricks you can utilize to bring in as much light as possible. First, paint the walls a light color – this is especially important in smaller internal rooms without windows, such as a powder room or basement bedroom. If the room does include a window, hang a mirror directly across from it. If there are no windows, hang a mirror across from a lamp. This will allow the mirror to reflect the available light. Decorate using reflective surfaces, such as gold or high-gloss finishes. Lastly, if a room includes a window where a tree or bush outside is blocking natural light, trim it back, or remove it completely if it will not detract from the view.