Spending money on your home right before a move can be hard to stomach—why shell out for updates you won’t even be around to enjoy? Even small investments made to a home before it is listed can have a significant return on investment, however, if it sells quickly and buyers pay asking price or more. “Our goal is to increase the perceived value of the home, so people can squeeze every bit of equity out of it when they sell,” says Melinda Christman and Anna Neal, the duo behind Olive + Opal Interiors and founders of the The Staging Collective, who shared pointers about sprucing up a home and getting it ready to list.
Refresh paint and/or neutralize paint colors. Painting is Christman’s top recommendation for homeowners looking to sell. “It’s better to have wall colors that are widely appealing and not the star of the show. Remove accent walls, and paint existing walls a neutral color.” The pair like Benjamin Moore’s White Dove or Sherwin-Williams Alabaster.
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Cultivate curb appeal. Create visual interest before buyers even walk in the door. Neal suggests adding new mulch, a nice wreath, fresh plants in pots, and power-washing siding. Cleaning your windows can also make a big difference, both inside and out; clean windows add to curb appeal and allow more natural light to filter in.
Minimize personal artifacts in the home. “We don’t ever recommend a buyer take down every photo or personal effect, but we want people to come in and envision themselves in the home—not the people who currently live there,” says Christman. Tone down family photos, and remove religious or political artifacts so as not to alienate or distract potential buyers.
Remove clutter. People tend to accumulate a lot of stuff, so Christman and Neal recommend removing clutter in every room. For example, in the kitchen, clear off countertops, with the exception of a few decorative items, like a cutting board and cookbook. To maximize the appearance of space in closets, they also recommend removing items from closet floors and pre-packing clothes so that closets are only filled a third of the way.
Fix small problems. “If a buyer sees small maintenance items unattended to, it makes them think there are bigger maintenance issues out of sight,” says Neal. She recommends fixing dripping sinks, wobbly toilet seats, and other minor issues. Studies show that buyers assume the cost to repair these problems will be five times more expensive than they actually are, says Christman.
Hire a professional cleaner. “We all have the best intentions to scrub our house from top to bottom before we sell it, but finding time in the midst of a move can be challenging,” says Neal. “Hire someone to do a deep clean right before photos and the open house.”
Update old light fixtures and window coverings. “Oftentimes, a light fixture is the only point of reference in a room, and if that light fixture is old and outdated, it gives the impression that the whole house is,” says Christman. Inexpensive fixtures change the entire tone of a room. In particular, focus on dining room chandeliers and pendants over a kitchen island. Christman and Neal also meet many homeowners who invested in drapes more than 30 years ago, when they moved into a house; these window coverings are often dated and better off removed entirely, not replaced.
Be aware of smells. Scan a room from top to bottom, and ask what fabric or upholstered items could be removed, replaced, or cleaned. Replace the carpet if there are stains, and clean carpets if they are dirty. It may sound expensive, but it can be done affordably and is worth the investment.
