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Selling? Less is more in
home decor
I'm selling my house, and I've received opposite
advice on the question of how much of my stuff I should leave inside
when it's being shown. It's nicely furnished and neat. But one real
estate agent tells me to put most of my stuff in storage and paint
the walls white. She says having it there hinders the ability [of
prospective buyers] to see how their [things] might look. Another
agent says forget it, leave it alone, and that a "homey"
feeling in the existing decor puts people at ease and in the buying
mood. What do you think?
Hasek
Dear Hasek:
This is a very timely question because thousands of homeowners across
the country are busy prepping their places for sale with the prime
spring selling and buying season upon us.
I have to concur with agent No. 1. The less extraneous
"stuff" you keep in your house, the roomier it appears
to be. While I'm certain your home is tastefully decorated, realize
you're not in the business of home décor consultation. You're
angling to sell. And your bait should be neutrality and spaciousness.
Remember how it was when you first looked at your
house, sans accents and furnishings? You probably had some pretty
well-defined dreams of what you could do with all that space. Allow
the potential buyer the same luxury.
And yes, it's wise to put some of your larger furnishings
and belongings in storage during this process. That big armoire,
that extra sofa or comfy chair in the living room, that second wall
full of bookcases, those dozens of family mementos, pictures and
trophies, and that huge piano -- all can take a rest. De-clutter
those closets, too. Have a garage sale even. In this case, less
really is more. (But don't just move all the extras to the basement
or garage, because the buyer will be touring those areas, too.)
Of course, you still can keep the place looking like
a home. Barstools can stay at the bar or counter, the desk can remain
in the study, the cooker on the deck, etc.
Paint the walls white? Not a bad idea. The psychologically
neutral effects of white, ivory or other off-whites, maybe even
beige, seem to lighten a home and will invite buyers to envision
how their furniture color schemes will mesh, say the majority of
real estate pros. The same goes for drapes, carpeting and other flooring.
Err on the side of brightness. Too many dark colors can dampen the
buying mood and initiate a negative train of thought.
For more great tips on selling your home, read Bankrate's
20
tricks to selling your home and Giving
your home curb appeal.
The second agent meant well, I'm sure. Homes with
that lived-in look, we know, are sold every day. But I'd play the
odds here and not count on buyers being visionaries who can look
past existing accents and furniture and strong colors that may not
be their style. Happy selling!
-- Posted: March 27, 2004
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