In today’s super competitive real estate market its more important than ever to impress potential buyers within the first 5 minutes and do whatever you can to make that first impression unforgettable.

1. Create A Welcoming Entrance/Foyer

• Impress buyers by leading them in from the street through a fabulous grand entrance and beautiful new front door. Introduce glass either in the door itself or transoms above. Natural light will flood in and brighten up the foyer.
• Line the pathway with garden lights and install wall sconces flanking your new front door. This will create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for buyers and lead them right into your home.
• Inside, dress this foyer for success and glam it up to entice the buyer.
• A console table or chest and chair with a beautiful piece of art positioned above will evoke a welcoming and positive feeling every time a prospective buyer walks through the door.
• Hang a large beautifully framed mirror on the sidewall of the entry to reflect another view of what lies beyond (expanding the space) and don’t forget to add some beautiful fresh flowers.

2. Maximize the Lighting Inside And Out

• Lighting of all kinds is incredibly important in both the interior and exterior of the home.
• Everyone loves a bright cheerful space, so address each room individually.
• If your home is dark, dingy and compartmentalized (small rooms that block natural light coming in) then you really might need to consider removing some walls to open up the floor plan in order to flood more natural daylight into the house.
• Sometimes that means integrating the kitchen/dining and family rooms together for an open floor plan
• Add skylights to maximize natural lighting as well.
• If you need to upgrade your lighting throughout:  Add general lighting in the form of recessed pot lights on dimmers. Task lighting in the form of tri-lite lamps, and accent lighting in shelving, plants and highlighting art

• Tip: Before you show your home, replace EVERY bulb throughout your house for a brighter, cleaner and crisp light so they all burn at the same intensity.

3.  Make It A Turnkey Home

• Buyers love a home that’s in Move-In –Condition!  A home that doesn’t require a litany of projects to get it up to speed.  Wouldn’t that be music to your ears?
• In booming markets people are more willing to invest in customizing.
• In leaner markets if a house isn’t well maintained it will likely take more time to sell or be passed by entirely.
• Instant gratification doesn’t happen fast enough these days, so do what you can to make it EASY to move in.
• Buyers want to instantly know that this home FEELS right.
• Do everything in your power to show the potential buyers that your home has been well maintained, nurtured and very much loved.  They’ll be able to envision themselves there.

I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2010 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

1.  ANALYZE THE SPACE

• Walk through your home and look at each room in the context of the overall property.
• Is your kitchen very dark and compartmentalized with an inefficient floor plan and layout?
• Are the cabinets just worn out and refused to stay closed?
• Do your appliances only work when they want to?

OR – on the flip side:

• If you’ve maintained your home beautifully over the years and renovated your kitchen recently – added a new patio and landscaping – and updated the overall décor – but you’re still living with that green and pink guest bathroom down the hall, now would be the time to remodel it!  It will look extremely dated and tired compared to the upgrades you’ve already made.  So by refreshing it now will present a more cohesive piece of property to show later.

2.  IDENTIFY THE NEGATIVES – AND FIX THEM!

• Before you invest any time and money into any home renovation projects it’s so important to first evaluate the structural elements of your home.
• Do a walk through, and be really honest with what you find.  What weaknesses did you discover?  If YOU can see the problems  – so will the potential buyers!
• Be on the lookout for anything and everything from cracks in the foundation / rotting, bulging or splitting around doors and windows,
• Is the electrical wiring antiquated?
• Do you have a termite problem? These issues can’t be hidden or camouflaged.
• So be proactive and hire a home inspector before you sell.  They will help you uncover problems and looming issues that you may have over looked.
• A typical home inspection analyzes the home’s structural integrity, all major mechanical systems and provides you with a thorough assessment of your home’s structure and property.
• Use this information to repair the necessary areas of the home and give it the TLC it deserves.
• Set goals and decide what you NEED to do and the compromises you’ll willing to make to turn your home into someone else’s dream home.

3.  ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVES – AND ENHANCE THEM

• Highlight your home’s Best features:  Every home should have some.  If they don’t then create some!
• Is it a canyon view from the hillside?
• The ocean view from the kitchen?
• The spectacular double-sided fireplace or the fabulous gourmet kitchen you’ve loved for years.  Or the deck and outdoor kitchen off the family room?
• Whatever the asset –  dress it, enhance it, show it – AND CREATE THAT WOW FACTOR!

I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2010 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.