Interiors By Design, Inc.


Designers Eye

Host of the Living Large show on 980 KMBZ and Classical 1660 KXTR provides insider tips on presenting your house in the most attractive light to the vast majority of prospective buyers

For most Americans, your home is your biggest investment. That’s why when you put your home up for sale, it’s so important that it looks great to the majority of potential buyers. Let’s face it. You only get one chance to make a great first impression!

According to home industry experts, within a few seconds after entering a house, potential homebuyers make an emotional decision whether or not to buy.

So how do you give potential buyers a great first impression? Stage your home. When I worked in television, we marketed our shows the same way. We staged or decorated the set to look attractive and inviting so the audience would be drawn into the show. That’s exactly what you need to do when you sell your home.

One of the top ranked realtors in Austin told me that his average staged home takes less than half the normal marketing time to sell. He also told me that “It is a proven fact the faster you sell the home the more likely you are to get full price”.

As a designer, that makes sense to me. Besides doing a thorough cleaning, removing at least 50% clutter and making basic repairs to the home, I recommend focusing on five target areas to make your home more appealing to buyers:

1. Curb appeal – The majority of buyers won’t leave their car if the house lacks curb appeal. Stand outside and take an objective look at the home. Is the yard well maintained and the entrance attractive?

2. Inviting entrance – Place a pot of colorful flowers by the front door, a warm, welcoming doormat and a visually compelling front door decoration such as a wall basket, wreath and so forth. Be sure that there is no clutter. Trim bushes, a meticulously manicured yard and the complete absence of dead leaves or weeds will draw the shopper into the interior.

3. Entry/Foyer - Create a welcoming ambiance that engages the buyer’s senses with good lighting, soft music, inviting decor and a clean scent. Consider open, airy, halogen bulbs, sophisticated area rugs and strategically placed greenery in focal points you want to draw attention to.

3. Living Area - Ensure the décor is updated and neutral, no personal accessories or toys that are likely to appeal only to a narrow segment of the market. Give the buyer an opportunity to visualize living there with their treasured possessions and personal sense of style. Add pops of color in accessories to add interest. You may also consider:

. Arranging furniture around a focal point
. Keep walls lighter neutral color, except dining room
. Set the table, lay magazines on coffee table
. Replace worn carpet

4. Kitchen – With the exception of a few decorative accessories, clear the countertops to create maximum workspace, clean your appliances, especially on the inside and give the kitchen a bright light appearance. Sparkling clean ovens, refrigerators, drawers are mandatory. Vanilla extract on the light bulbs provides the aroma of homecooking and arouses an emotional response that goes all the way back to our childhoods.

5. Master Suite – Go with a light, neutral bedspread but avoid dark rugs. We want to set the stage for an inviting retreat complete with a seating area in the corner and clutter free closets and floors. Go the extra mile on the towels in the bath. Elegance wins hearts and minds.

Remember, even if you’re not selling your house and you just want to make your home more appealing to guests, staging is a great look. It’s lights, camera, action, Hollywood style.

Thank your for reading this Designer’s Eye Column by Karen Mills. Tune in to Classical 1660 KXTR every Saturday at 10:30am in Kansas City. Click on the audio links on kxtr.com to hear the shows on your computer anywhere in the world.

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