While it might be a seller’s market, an interior designer’s views on how you can make your home more appealing to buyers can be invaluable. Extra touches can make a world of difference to attract the eye of an interested buyer, according to Associate Designer Anne Liu from GEORGE Interior Design. Here are her tips on how you can give your house a fresh look without breaking the bank.
Space Plan
Liu says one of the most inexpensive ways to make your house look more appealing is to simply play around with your existing furniture and décor in order to figure out the optimal space plan; this will show off your house in the best light.
“Sometimes it is just a matter of moving a sofa to an adjacent wall or re-arranging your wall art,” said Liu. “When in doubt, just remember that continuous lines and a simplified color scheme tend to make a space flow harmoniously and feel bigger. Getting rid of any clutter and unnecessary elements and allowing a buyer to really see the space is always a good idea in our book. Less is more!”
Paint
To capitalize on one of the most cost-effective ways to make your house look more refined, Liu suggests adding a fresh coat of paint.
The designer added, “Overall, stick with a lighter, neutral color to appeal to more buyers and then designate ‘feature’ walls that you can accent with a bit more color. Whenever possible, try to get rid of popcorn ceilings and repaint because the space will look cleaner and more modern.”
Add Trim/Crown Molding and Update Baseboards
Liu commented, “Updating the baseboards could give your space a much more tailored and current look without blowing the bank. If it is suitable to the architecture, adding crown molding could further enhance your space. Opt for clean, simple, and elegant trims for a timeless look.”
Flooring
Another way to instantly update a home is to replace old carpeting. Liu shared the following tip: “Gravitate towards carpeting material in a medium-neutral tone, woven with more than one color (or a fleck of color). This guarantees a good look that will also last. Also, updating a carpeted floor with hardwood flooring could be a big draw to buyers. It consistently adds warmth and character and may help your home have wider appeal.” Kitchen
Liu noted that kitchens are undoubtedly a big focal point in a home. So what are your best options for making your kitchen the most appealing to a buyer? Liu posited, “The most critical things to most home buyers are stainless steel appliances and ‘granite’ or other non-porous solid surfaced countertop material. I use the term granite in quotations because most buyers want the properties of granite, but this actual stone material has fallen out of favor in recent years. Quartzite is the stone surface material being requested the most by clients and we're using a lot of Caesarstone, Silestone, and other brands of quartz as they install very nicely and the colors are very consistent.
Liu added, “Painting cabinetry could really clean up your kitchen but it comes at some expense. A complete kitchen remodel might fetch you a higher price for your home but undeniably a lot of time, energy, and money will have to be spent planning and executing the overhaul. If appliances, countertops, or a complete remodel are out of the question, then simply updating the cabinet hardware and sink fixtures could give the kitchen a fresher look.”
Bathroom
The designer says a beautiful bathroom can be a big draw. She added, “Like the kitchen, a fresh coat of paint on the cabinetry and/or a new countertop and new fixtures could freshen up the feel significantly. In powder rooms or smaller bathrooms, use ‘feature’ wallpaper or a more exciting paint color since the scale is not overwhelming.”
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