The ‘Ole Switcherooo: 5 Ways to Make Your Manhasset or Port Washington House Look Current for Buyers
Have you ever walked into a Manhasset or Port Washington home and felt it is a snapshot in time? I hear buyers say it all the time when showing homes. Really great homes with great space that buyers will walk in and walk out because the home does not have an iota of today’s style or trends that would make them start to visualize themselves living in the home.
Most buyers tend to see themselves as style and taste experts. They typically are up-to-the-mintue on kitchen and bathroom trends and usually aspire to have more than they can afford. They are eager to make a connection between a house and themselves…something that reflects their taste or aspirations.
Ask your listing agent to take you to either new construction/model home or to an updated/renovated listing and look closely at the details. Take a trip to the local design center store. See what today’s style and trends are. While you may not be able to renovate a kitchen or bath, you can make switches that a buyer will appreciate and respond to. In addition to offering a home that looks current, a buyer will interpret these changes as a sign that the home has been maintained and cared for. And, ultimately will offer more for the home that meets their taste and needs. So let’s get started!
1. Switch out dated lighting Nothing says last century like brass fixures throughout and hollywood dressing room lights in baths. Take a walk through your home and look at your sconces, dining room fixtures and any in the kitchen and throughout the living spaces. Take a hard look at your bathroom lighting. Does it look at what you saw on your research trip?
2. Switch out Hardware on Doors The same trends are true in door hardware. Brass door hardware dates a home. Find hardware for your interior doors that is also in keeping with today’s trends. Be consistent…if you go with brushed nickel for your lighting, use it on the door hardware.
3. Switch out cabinet hardware Again, brass is out. You want to find something that is current, but still works with your cabinet style and period of your home. Review your kitchen and bath cabinetry. I cannot tell how many times I have watched a buyer walk over and open a kitchen cabinet just because the handles or pulls were so appealing.
4. Switch out dated wallpaper and paint Some wallpaper and paint color choices scream their age. I know what you are going to say, “but Annie that wallpaper/paint is in pristine condition!”. Some choices are so era specific that despite being pristine, they date the house. Switching those well-kept walls of yesteryear for something in today’s color pallette is a winner with buyers every time.
5. Wash the Windows and Open the Drapes Good light is one of the top things buyers look for in a home. Make the investment to have your windows professionally cleaned. Professionals will clean the windows and the screens. I recommend taking the screens out of the windows and storing them(use a permanent marker to mark the location for each screen). Screens block a significant amount of light. Once the windows are washed, open the blinds, sheers and drapes. Let the light shine in for buyers to bask in.
Please note…If you have a period specific or historical home, a buyer expects period specific details and you probably do not need this list. For the rest of us homeowners, older details look old and tired or dated in our homes.
In today’s market preparing a house for sale is more important than ever. I see the current market as a beauty contest being held on a pricing battlefield. To stand out and attract buyers, you need to look fantastic and price your home right. I offer my sellers a team of professionals who can make a home market ready and my expertise to help you competitively price your home for the market.
If you are a seller looking to sell your home for the most money and in the least amount of time, I am here to help you get it ready for sale, and market it. If you are a buyer who needs help finding the right home for your budget, and need help seeing the potential in home, I want to help you too!
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