Do's and don'ts for getting your home ready to sell

Obviously, buyers are looking for what they always want – just the right house at a great price. But how do you make yours stand out during a buyer’s market? 

According to Mark Nash, a Chicago-area realtor, it’s drama. Nash does a survey every year of some 900 real estate agents and brokers to learn what home design elements are of most interest to their clients. He has put together a list of do’s and don’ts for sellers in 2007.

"I would say drama is making a big headway in home design," says Nash. Brighter colors, glossier finishes, grand statements equal drama. "Big, tumbled stone fireplaces are in, oversized mantles too, and long, glass pendant chandeliers," says Nash in a recent article on CNN/Money.

According to Nash, new homeowners mix natural and textured materials like slate, terra cotta, and recycled wood, to give a new home a patina to counteract that mint-fresh look it would otherwise have.

He also has some don’ts, things to avoid if you’re updating your home getting it ready to sell:

• Don’t install above counter bathroom sinks. They look cool, but the water often splashes out of them and they’ve developed a bad reputation.
• Don’t install too many glass-door kitchen cabinets. These look great, but few people have the time or inclination to keep their cupboard contents that neat.
• Don’t skimp on the breakfast bar overhang. Nobody wants knock their knees against the cabinet when they pull up a stool for a cup of coffee.

If you’re thinking about improvements before you list your house – even small cosmetic changes – talk to your "Special" Ed Haraway Realtor® first. We can help you choose the changes that will be most popular in this market, so your house will show well and sell at the best possible price.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.