Decorating on a Dime when selling

Everyone has different tastes when it comes to decorating. Not everybody is going to appreciate that faux polar bear skin rug or your extensive collection of porcelain clown figurines like you do. You don’t want to pour too much of your budget into decorating a home only to turn around and sell it. So how do you get the most bang for your decorating buck and make buyers think, “This is one classy house. Let’s write a contract today”? Here are some tips for decorating on a budget and keeping things buyer-friendly.

• Invest in organization – Nobody likes to see clutter everywhere when they’re touring a home. Put money into organizational systems like closet organizers, a set of shelves, storage cubes and more. These are typically inexpensive ways to get the clutter out of sight and out of your buyers’ minds so that you can get to the closing table quickly.
• Add a headboard to your bed – You can easily DIY a headboard for your bed, or find one at a flea market or consignment store, giving the master bedroom a focal point. Make sure the headboard fits the space and keep colors and design pretty neutral so that it appeals to a wide audience of potential buyers.
• Light up the space – A good way to liven up your space is with some warm, inviting lights. Avoid harsh fluorescents and overhead lighting and opt for warm toned lightbulbs in lamps.
• Add fun design elements to the ceiling – Spruce up your room by painting the ceiling, adding beams or an interesting light fixture to take advantage of the vertical space in your home. These are all pretty inexpensive ways to give a room in your home a distinctive look.
• Know where to save and where to splurge – You can pinch pennies when it comes to wooden furniture (you can refinish it yourself) or throw pillows (you can sew them yourself), but invest in larger pieces that are going to be around for a long time. A quality sofa can last you many years, and besides, you don’t necessarily want to buy upholstered furniture second-hand anyway.
• Invest more in things you will take with you – While you are trying to attract buyers to your home with your snazzy décor, you want to be able to enjoy some of these items after your move. Invest more in pieces you can take with you, like furniture, lamps, throw pillows and rugs.
• Make a budget and stick with it – There are so many things you could buy to make your home look like it sprang from the pages of a glossy magazine, but that doesn’t mean you necessarily should. Don’t break the bank to decorate your house to sell. Set a realistic budget for you and stick with it.

When you’re trying to sell your house, it’s important for everything to look nice and neutral so that potential buyers see that your home is tidy and well-cared for. They need to be able to picture themselves at home there. Follow the guidelines above and you will be well on your way to making a great presentation!

Want more selling tips? Contact me, Paula Thieneman Bates. I’m your selling, buying, renting and investing real estate expert. Let’s work together to meet your real estate goals!