Buy & Sell Fixer Upper Homes

How to Avoid Ho-Hum Interior Design Changes

Next to the outdoor appearance of a home – what it looks up front and when you’re standing outside the gate – the next most important thing that will weigh heavily on a prospective buyer’s mind is the interior design. You need to make the most out of the first encounter between the upper-fixer you’re selling and the client. You need to make them exclaim WOW and not make a ho-hum-boring sigh!

Repainting the Walls and Ceilings
Walls usually dominate and set the tone for any room. That’s why it’s important to choose the right paint or wallpaper when renovating any room or home. Painting is less costly than having new wallpaper upholstered and since upper-fixer renovations are frequently subject to budget constraints, painting is ultimately your best option when it comes to changing how the walls appear.

Always use a primer or base coat when painting walls. Make sure that the primer’s color matches the surface paint color of the wall to achieve a beautiful blending and layered effect. Using a primer will also help save money because it often makes a second coat of paint unnecessary.

If it’s your first time repainting walls and ceilings, don’t hesitate to ask for tips from the people working in hardware stores. You should know that certain types of paint brushes work better for certain types of paints. Foam brushes, for instance, are great when used to apply simple touch-ups. Never paint on a wall or ceiling that needs fixing. Have them repaired first before applying a fresh coat of paint.

Choosing one color for the entire home will again help you stick to your budget because all you need to purchase is the primer and the surface paint color. If, however, you wish to make use of varying colors, keep in mind that different colors and textures produce different results. Matte or flat finishes for walls are better able to hide any of the walls’ imperfections. Glossy finishes, on the other hand, are able to reflect more sunlight. Cool shades like blue and green – water hues, in other words – are said to give rooms a cooler atmosphere while hot shades like red, yellow and orange can make rooms warmer than it is.

How to Maximize Space
Most clients – if not all – love spacious homes and this is why it’s important for you to maximize space in the upper-fixer you’re planning to sell, especially if it’s of limited size only. If your budget permits it, consider adding windows to your house because they create the illusion of added space. Mirrors have a similar effect as well but you should be careful with where you plan to place them. Look for any part of the house that’s “under-used”. If the kitchen has more than enough storage space, you could turn the pantry into a bathroom. The area under the staircase is often overlooked; consider turning it into a storage closet or a small bathroom.

Tackling the Dirtiest Parts of the House
The kitchen and the bathroom are considered by many as the dirtiest parts of the house because a lot of activities often take place in these areas. And since use of water is mostly involved, these rooms often have muddied and moldy appearances. Consider making changes to the walls and floors that would give them better protection against the damaging and other unappealing effects of exposure to water. Using dark colored tiles in bathrooms, for instance, will easily make dirt and mud less visible. In the kitchen, consider using laminated countertops because they are more durable and absolutely easier to clean.

Cleaning and Polishing as the Finishing Touches
When all is said and done, the last thing you should do in preparation of having prospective clients come over for an open-house is to give it the benefits of a general cleaning session. No speck of dust must be left in any part of the house. Polish the floors, the banister, the window rails and every door knob in the house. A clean house will always give a better impression than one that’s beautifully designed but neglected.

Hiring a Contractor
Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Hiring a contractor may mean paying extra fees but this decision can help you avoid more costly mistakes!




 

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