Twelve (12) Do’s and Don’ts When Preparing Your House for the Market

1. Do add interest to your front porch (large pots with lots of colorful flowers, new mulch in the flower beds, freshly painted front door in welcoming color, etc.). You gotta get them to the front door before you can get them in the house!

 

2. Do add interest to your foyer or entryway. It’s the first thing potential buyers see when they enter the home and you have about 7 to 15 seconds to capture their attention.

 

3. Do use color! White walls don’t cut it anymore. There are some great warm, interesting neutrals. Ask for help at your local paint store, or have your home stager give you a Color Analysis. Paint is a very inexpensive, but powerful tool to upgrade and enhance the feel of your house.

 

4. Do get a professional home stager to help with your furniture layout and room flow. Too much furniture, furniture that is too big or just plain too many knicks and knacks can affect your showings. You can lose potential buyers if your rooms feel cramped, cluttered, crowded or lopsided and if you don’t have a good flow throughout your house.

 

5. Do de-clutter!! Cluttered and disorganized spaces leave people feeling uncomfortable and out of sorts. Not what you want your potential buyers to be feeling. That includes downsizing the items in your closets, your pantry, and your cupboards. If you are overwhelmed, hire a professional organizer.

 

6. Do put away the family photos. We want potential buyers to see themselves in the home, not the current homeowners.

 

7. Don’t use rugs around the toilet. Many of your buyers are totally turned off by rugs in front of a toilet and feel they may be unsanitary. If you really want to use a rug, put it in front of the sink.

 

8. Don’t overdo the theme. If you want to do a mountain lodge retreat for example, don’t have the spread, pillows, blankets, wall décor, throws and drapes all done in bears, moose and pine cones. Use accent pieces, such as pillows and artwork, to pull in your theme. Use neutrals (chocolates, dark greens, off-whites or beiges, light blues or creams) for your large items like the spread, rugs and throws.

 

9. Don’t forget the artwork. Artwork helps to add interest to a space and can act as a needed focal point. If you have a room that is boring or uninteresting, a nice piece of artwork can turn it around. And do make sure you hang it at the right height.

• You should be able to look directly at the artwork without having to crane your neck. Note: if you are 6’5”, find someone who is of average height to help you position your artwork.
• When hanging art over a couch, the bottom of the artwork should be about 6” from the top of the couch.
• If you have a very large bare wall but only small pictures, do a grouping of complimentary pieces that will better fit the space and make a statement.

 

10. Don’t float your area rug in the middle of the room. Do use rugs as anchors for furniture groupings. Area rugs should help to define the space. Have the two front feet of your couch on the rug. If you are using the area rug in a dining room, make sure all chairs can easily fit on the rug.

 

11. Do check your lighting. Make sure all your light bulbs are in working order and are the highest wattage allowed for the fixture. If you don’t have overhead lighting in a room, ensure you have plenty of lamps.

 

12. Do use fresh flowers when showing your house. Fresh flowers smell good, look good, and add interest and warmth to any room.