Expert Tips to Prepare Your Home for Sale

Getting your home ready for the market can feel like a daunting task, we're here with tips to help get you started. Despite that we are still in a seller's market, improper preparation and pricing may cost sellers in the long run, leaving money on the table. Our design consultants share some of their tips to prepare your home to stand out above the rest, resulting in a faster sale and higher sales price.   Want to know your home's worth? Find out!   First Impressions Your home’s curb appeal is its first impression, and it’s hard to win over a buyer with a bad first impression. Spruce up the front entry with a fresh coat of paint on the front door, add colorful potted plants, wash your windows, and clean up the yard. The home’s curb appeal lends itself to the kind of care the rest of the home is getting, so this one is a non-negotiable item for sellers looking to maximize their sale.    Neutralize While selling a home, it is important to remember that you want as many people as possible to envision themselves living in the house. One way to do this is to neutralize the home by removing personal items like photos, collectibles, awards, religious regalia, political items, and children/pet items. Another way is to paint interior spaces a neutral color, like soft gray or beige. This presents a blank canvas for potential buyers to focus on the space itself, and visualize their furnishings in it   Set the Stage In a recent survey, the National Association of Realtors found that staging has a significant impact on the home buying and selling process. Home improvement networks like HGTV have affected the way buyers look at homes, and their expectations. TV shows like Fixer Upper educate consumers on what to look for and the many possibilities of home renovations, but also set unrealistic expectations on a timeframe and how homes should look upon completion. The survey noted that staged homes were found to produce 1-5% higher offers than comparable homes that weren’t staged. Rooms that are lived in the most should be staged, including living rooms and master bedrooms. Build vignettes of how the home lives by placing key staging elements in a space, for example, a tray with a bottle of wine and glasses on a table next to a couple of patio chairs creates an inviting look into an evening wind down at home.   Smells Ring Bells One of the strongest human senses is smell. Scientific studies have shown that smell induces strong reactions and triggers memory. Take note of your home’s smell, and invite friends to give feedback as well. A home with overly strong odors like cigarettes, scented plug-ins, or pets will turn some buyers away. It is best to keep added scents minimal as well. Fresh-cut flowers add just enough fragrance to enhance a showing experience, without taking over. Avoid potent flowers like lilies as they may be overpowering.   Clean, clean, clean. Much like if you were to host a party, you wouldn’t want to invite guests to a dirty home when showing to potential buyers. Take time to properly clean the home. This ‘deep clean’ should include: removing dust from ceiling fans and vents, wiping baseboards, polishing metal surfaces, a thorough dusting of light fixtures, scrubbing bathroom tile and grout, and the interior of kitchen appliances.   Lysi Bishop Real Estate offers complimentary design consultation to seller clients Our design experts walk through your home and provide a list of recommendations, including some or all of the above, to help you prepare your home for top dollar. They assist in making selections for paint, fixtures, staging, and more if needed. Our Listing Managers facilitate the entire process of obtaining bids, scheduling appointments, meeting contractors, and managing projects on your behalf. This personalized service gives our sellers peace of mind knowing that their home is being prepared at the highest standard.  Thinking about selling your home? Reach out to us to learn more about the current market, your home’s value, and how we can help you prepare your home to net a higher dollar and faster sale. Contact Us

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Design Trends in 2023

Interior design in 2023 is less about trends, and more about creating spaces that feel and look good, not just today… but for years and years to come. With that in mind, here are a few “trends” that are timeless enough to invest in, that we think you’ll start to see more of this year.  IN: Wood/Warm Tones OUT: Monochromatic/minimalist  For the past several years, we have seen white everywhere. And for good reason… white is classic, clean, timeless, and inoffensive to pretty much everyone. However, too much white can often feel devoid of any personality or warmth, which is why the “all white” look is losing momentum going into 2023.  A seamless alternative that adds warmth leans into colors and textures found in nature. An organic material palette is arguably more everlasting than “all white” if done well. Think brown, beige, green, black, wood, stone, brick, etc. This year is all about resisting the urge to paint all natural materials white, and taking advantage of textures that add depth to your home. Think of it like this… there is nothing more beautiful than going on a hike and being surrounded by trees, rocks, grass, dirt, flowers, etc… now imagine looking around and seeing everything covered in a thick layer of white paint… IN: Curated Interiors OUT: Themed Interiors   When selecting finishes and furnishings, elevate your home by mixing styles, eras, and textures. Focus on filling your home with details that you truly love vs following a specific trend. Going all in on the farmhouse, ultra-Modern, boho, or vintage aesthetic will not only date everything in your home as soon as that trend cycle is over but can make your home feel mass-produced and cold.  An effective way to create a timeless space is to focus on opposites and contrast. Mix light and dark, old and new, feminine and masculine, patterned and neutral, and most importantly… displaying things that mean something to you. This curated approach will look fresh for much longer.  IN: Molding OUT: Accent Walls  Accent walls have been everywhere for the past few years, creating an easy, cost-effective way to add personality to your home in just a short weekend. However, the splash of color can sometimes make a room feel unfinished and arbitrary.  Wall molding is a tried and true way to bring your walls to life, adding texture, depth, and a subtle piece of historical charm. There are countless styles of wall molding but think of it as anything that adds visual interest to your wall... This can be done with heavy trim work, wainscoting, wall paneling, box beam ceilings, chair rail, etc.  IN: Space to spread out OUT: Open Floorplans The open floor plan concept was introduced in the 70’s, an idea that allowed homes with smaller footprints to have an open space to host and entertain guests without owning the largest house in the neighborhood.  Since the 70’s this open concept has become standard for building today. You would be hard pressed to find a home built within the past 15+  years that doesn’t contribute to some kind of open floorplan, however covid changed the way we live in our homes and highlighted some discrepancies in this ever so popular layout.  Humans have always needed the sense of comfort and privacy that defined rooms provide, but with the increase in remote work and school, it has become even more necessary. The combination of living quarters makes working, studying, reading, talking on the phone, or entertaining much more difficult with the backdrop of pots and pans banging…. The need for privacy may explain the rise of man caves and she-sheds that have been built in the past few years. Additionally, large continuous spaces are much harder to keep clean. Messes and smells are no longer isolated, but can be easily tracked throughout the entire living quarters… keeping a tidy home is more difficult, or I guess harder to hide!  Lastly, open living spaces hinder the ability to cultivate different feelings throughout your home. Say you want a white open kitchen, but would prefer a dark and moody living space, and found the perfect wallpaper for your dining room… The idea of giving off a different feel in each space can be challenging. 

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7 Ways to Make Your Home Healthier in 2023

The beginning of a new year sparks inspiration for healthier living… eating better, moving more, and initiating better self-care. These thoughts are even more evident in the pandemic age, where individual health has become a priority for many. But what about the health of our homes? They are, after all, a space we spend a considerable amount of time in. Continue reading for a few tips to make your home healthier this year.   1) Clear the Air: Dust particles linger in the nooks and crannies of our homes, especially in soft fabrics like couches and carpet. They agitate allergies when kicked into the air, and can lead to respiratory issues (in severe cases). Keep dust at bay by frequently vacuuming your home using a good quality vacuum with a HEPA filter and dusting surfaces (especially bookcases and blinds). Replace the air filters in your furnace regularly since they catch particles while air is recirculated throughout the house. Consider adding an air purifier (either attached to your home’s HVAC system or standalone) to rid the air of contaminants. Other ways you can clear the air include opening windows for fresh air and adding a repertoire of air-purifying houseplants.   2) Leave the Shoes at the Door: Wearing shoes inside can spread dirt, grass, pollen, and other pathogens throughout your home. Make a new habit to take off shoes at the door. Create an organized storage area with a shoe rack or storage bench underneath the coat rack near the entrances of the home. Not only will doing this help prevent the spread of germs in your home, it will help keep your floors cleaner.    3) Clean Drinking Water: If you drink tap water, add a filter directly to your faucet or use a purifying water pitcher to clean the water before consumption. Although considered safe, trace amounts of contaminants are found in all sources of water (whether connected to a city system or well). Remember to replace filters frequently in refrigerator water dispensers too. Using bottled water? You may want to reconsider. Tap water is regulated by the EPA, who requires annual testing and yearly public reports identifying contaminants found in local water sources. Bottled drinking water is regulated by the FDA, which has no requirement.    4) Go Non-Toxic: Harsh chemicals found in everyday cleaning solutions and pesticides have been linked to ailments such as asthma and impaired brain development, especially in children. Reduce your family’s exposure to these toxins by using non-toxic cleaning solutions and steering clear of scented air fresheners or candles. Try natural ingredients such as vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, essential oils, and baking soda to make homemade cleaners. Click here for a few recipes.   5) Sanitizing Stations: Keeping your hands clean is an important step to reducing the spread of germs throughout your home, and preventing illness.  Studies show that hand washing with soap and water can reduce the risk of illness by as much as 50%. Keep all sinks in your home stocked with soap and clean towels. Also place bottles of hand sanitizer in other highly touched areas, like your entry, kitchen, dining room, and nightstands. If you have small children, consider setting up a hand washing station at their level. Convert a play kitchen to a working sink. Watch a video tutorial here.   6) Mold Prevention: Run exhaust fans while taking showers, cooking, or running the dishwasher to help draw out moisture from the air and reduce the potential for mold growth. Use hydrogen peroxide or vinegar in cleaning solutions to eliminate bacteria from surfaces where mold and mildew tend to build up (i.e. showers and wood countertops). Here are some areas that you wouldn’t usually think that mold tends to grow that should be regularly inspected, cleaned, and/or thrown out: toothbrush holders, under the sink, children’s bath toys, dish sponges, towels, shower loofahs, washing machines, and under floor mats.    7) Create a Space for Relaxation: Our homes tend to be our sanctuaries, but in the current pandemic times, have become an extension of our work and school lives. Create a space for tranquility in your home by making a calming corner in a room that is not integrated with high-traffic areas of the house. Bedrooms naturally lend themselves to be the perfect place for relaxation. In a corner: add floor pillows, a soft-light lamp, soothing artwork or plant, and a yoga mat for meditation and gentle movement. You can further designate this space by using a room divider screen.  

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