Decorating mistakes to avoid when selling

Achieving a great price when selling your home doesn’t happen by accident: you need to work hard to ensure that it’s pristine when buyers arrive at your doorstep.

Many homeowners will repaint their home, fix up the garden or just make sure that it looks super tidy every time a buyer makes an appointment.

There’s nothing more off-putting than an untidy or even a dirty home.

Toys on the floor, magazines scattered around the living room and even dirty dishes in the sink will send buyers scurrying for the exit.

If you’re considering selling your home shortly, you should work with your agent to focus on improvements that will make a favorable impression on buyers and help you maximize the value of your home.

A good agent will also steer you away from potential mistakes, which may waste your time and money.

Here’s a quick list of mistakes you can make when preparing your home for sale.

Bedroom blues

Don’t push a bed into a corner in an effort to make the room feel bigger. Most buyers will focus on the fact you can only get into the bed from one side. And, ironically, that will give them the impression the room is smaller than it is.

Let there be light

You should let as much natural light into a room as possible. But don’t compensate by installing brilliant lighting throughout the house. It’ll feel like a hospital. Avoid harsh lighting in the dining area, living room and bedrooms.

Color 

Don’t try to match colors in particular areas around the house. It doesn’t work. An all-blue room can feel a little weird. And don’t even think about pink rooms! Color-coordinated rooms send most buyers into retreat.

Rugged reality

It is possible to agonize over buying a new rug. The seemingly endless debate about colors, patterns and personal preferences is common. But here’s one golden rule: Never buy an under-sized rug. It makes a room or area feel bitty. 

Furniture tip

Choose furniture before selecting a color for the room. Furniture fabrics should be your first consideration and the paint or wallpaper a distant second. If you paint yourself into a corner with color, finding the right furniture can be difficult, time-consuming and expensive.