It’s all in the details Part 3 Window Treatments

Back in the 50′s and 60′s many people hid their windows behind heavy, ornate draperies.  It must have been a remnant from our cave-dwelling ancestors.  I can still remember my mother’s burnt orange pleated drapes in our living room.  We never knew if it was day or night in there.  The curtains went well with the plastic slipcovers on the furniture (but that’s a subject for another blog).  My mother decided to that it was more important to protect the furniture and rugs from fading than it was to have a happy, light-filled house.

I have yet to meet a buyer who says they WANT to buy a dark house.  In fact, a house with light is usually tops on the “must have” list.  Yet, time and time again, I see homes that have all of their windows covered up with outdated, fussy draperies in all sorts of hideous florals or ghastly colors.  Then there are vertical blinds…yes, I get it.  They don’t collect dust.  I sure do wish someone would invent something new, though.  Vertical blinds are just not attractive.  They can be necessary sometimes, especially if a homeowner has large sliding glass doors.  But, they make no sense whatsoever for smaller windows.  When the verticals are open you feel like you’re looking through prison bars.

I am not anti-curtain.  Modern window treatments can add polish and draw attention to beautiful windows and views.  But if the window treatments detract from the home, for pete’s sake, take them down!  Sheers, roman shades and simple panels in neutral colors are so inexpensive.  You can buy sheers at Big Lots for $5.00 a pair…no kidding!  When showing your home, have your real estate agent open all of the curtains.  Dark houses are difficult to sell.  You can bet that the lower the light, the lower the offering price.

Below are examples are what not to wear for windows.  The sad part is that one of these homes has a beautiful golf course view with a glorious screened porch.  The other has a fantastic deck and gazebo with lots of colorful flowers and an outdoor seating area.  Only one of the photos below is a winner.  Can you guess which one?

It’s all in the details part 2…the key to a sale might be the front door

Who cares about doors? How about buyers?

While the realtor is fumbling with the lock to show your home, buyers have plenty of time to stare at the front door.  That means a good look at amateur paint jobs, rust, decayed weatherstripping,and tacky door decor.     The front door may not be a true predictor of what lies beyond, but it sure does set the tone.  The first front door has chewed up weather stripping from possibly an unruly puppy.  There is lots of rust,  and lumps and bumps from a quickie (and ugly) paint job.  The leftover hooks from door decor will not come off.  Right from the get-go, potential buyers know they will need to replace the front door.   That’s just within the first 5 seconds of seeing the home.  Now what does the buyer think?  Hmmm…let’s see, how about $20,000 off the asking price?

The next front door isn’t so bad, but the faded floral wreath indicates that the home has been vacant for a long time.  The door is dirty, scarred and just plain unwelcoming.

Moving on to the bedrooms we see more closet doors off the track.  Another door is practically in splinters from kitties, doggies or other unknown animals (or maybe even kids). There’s a bedroom door that has a leftover  DO NOT ENTER UNDER PENALTY OF DEATH poster…very inviting.  The mirrored closet door in the master is tarnished with gold brass trim…Am I painting a picture?

Then there are the sliding doors…they either won’t open or they stick. You have to be Hercules to open them.  How in the world are you supposed to get outside to enjoy that beautiful patio or pool?  And the dirt and grime on those doors?  Do you have eyesight problems or is it just filth?
Make no mistake..doors say a lot about your house.  Fixing doors is easy and relatively inexpensive. Your neighborhood Home Depot and Lowe’s carry a mind boggling assortment of doors and they will even install them!  Yes, I know, I know…but why should you fix doors when you’re not going to be living there anymore?  You might be living there a lot longer than you’d like if  buyers aren’t interested.  Or you might be shocked at the low offers you receive because you didn’t attend to the details.  A small investment in the details pays off with less time on the market and more attractive offers. Let’s get those doors in shape when selling your house

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It’s all in the details…new light fixtures are an inexpensive fix

Nothing dates a house like outdated light fixtures.  Tarnished “brass” dining chandeliers with smoked glass scream 1980′s.  Brady Bunch era swag lamps tell buyers that you haven’t done any updates since you bought the house 30 years ago.  That foyer chandelier is the first thing buyers see.  Outdated lighting causes buyers to wonder what else is “original.”   Maybe the roof?  Maybe the air conditioning system?

Home improvement stores sell great low cost fixtures that are easy to install.  Even I can do it.  And when I say low cost…I mean low cost.  I just staged a house and I replaced one of the above mentioned chandeliers for $49.00.  What a difference!  It created a whole different feel in the dining room.  So live it up and spend a few bucks on updated brushed nickel or bronze fixtures when selling your home.  The devil is in the details.

High quality photos sell homes…

Preparing your home for the camera is no different than getting ready for a family portrait.  You wouldn’t put on your dirtiest tank top..the one you wash the car in, would you?  The kids aren’t going to be wearing their flood level pants they wear to play in the mud, right?  You’d all be wearing a nice, clean outfit.  Your hair would be combed.  Ladies, you’d probably wear a little make-up.  You’d smile for the camera and you’d  proudly display the finished portrait .

The same applies to homes on the market.  On camera, every flaw shows.  Why would you want potential buyers, to see your toilet seats up, your piles of dirty laundry, overflowing garbage cans, or cluttered kitchen counters?  A house with clashing wall colors  is exaggerated by the camera, too.  You name it, the camera sees it and so does the buyer house-hunting on the internet.

Staging your home for internet photos should be #1 on your  list of things to do.  Setting the scene for a portrait of your home will attract potential buyers and enthusiastic real estate agents who can’t wait to show your home.  A professional stager can draw the eye to the most attractive parts of your house for photographs.  The more buyers you attract, the more quickly your home will sell.

A staged bedroom ready to be photographed for internet photos

Would you buy this home for full asking price?

Can you believe that someone would actually put their home on the market looking like this?  It’s like going out on a first date without shaving, showering or putting on nice clothes.  Some sellers actually think that potential buyers can see past this and will make an attractive offer.  WRONG!

I see these kinds of homes all the time on the internet and live and up close.  Let me just say that not one of them has received an offer that was anywhere close to the asking price.  And worse still…we’re talking months on the market and several price reductions.

As a professional stager I try to help sellers get real about what it’s going to take to get their home sold.  It’s always better to get the home looking its best before putting it on the market.  Otherwise you’re asking for lowball offers.