Planning to sell your home? What you can do now.

Are you thinking of moving in the next 5 years? Does your home need a long awaited upgrade to appeal to today's buyers? Why wait! Start the process now so you can enjoy it before you sell.

Start by assessing where your home needs the most help. Curb appeal should be your primary focus along with decluttering no matter how much money you have to invest into transitioning your home to be sold. Assuming you are not planning to move for a few years, here are some ideas to set you in motion on the interior depending on your budget:

Minimal funds

• Declutter (preferably at least twice a year - once in the early spring and again in early fall)
• Do something each year - paint, refresh window treatments, save for big ticket items such as new flooring if your existing floors are worn, damaged, or outdated.

Enough funds for a simple refresh

• Declutter (this one will be a constant for all budgets!) Again - at least twice a year.
• Paint, refresh window treatments, (and, yes again) save for those big ticket items.
• Take a look at bathrooms - are countertops outdated, is the tile in bad shape, is the plumbing in need of repairs? Pick one (or all if you can afford it) and start there. A full bathroom remodel is not a simple refresh, but having plumbing in the best shape possible is an investment you need to make. 
• If your cabinetry in your bathrooms and kitchen are in good shape, but the color or stain is outdated, consider getting the doors replaced, the cabinetry repainted, and/or changing out the door and drawer pulls.

A stash of funds for a serious upgrade can be available if you dip into your home's equity or you've been saving for an upgrade for some time

• As above, declutter and plan for a project each year.
• Bring in a realtor now to provide you with information on what is selling in your neighborhood. Ask about the types of flooring and countertops people want and what bells and whistles are expected whether it be a pot filler over the stove, smart wiring, or a home theater, this will give you ideas on what to invest in within your current home.
• Is Luxury Vinyl Plank or hardwood flooring in your budget? These are great investments to consider. Continuity of flooring throughout a home will help esthetically as well as provide for safety eliminating the need for threshold transitions. 
• Bathroom and kitchen upgrades will return the most for your remodel investment when you sell providing the materials and labor are the best quality you can afford. To save money, keep your plumbing in the same place and don't have walls torn down unless there are serious problems with the current functionality of the space.

​Here is where an interior designer can help

• There are many different kinds of flooring for every budget, but this can end up being costly without the right planning. With minimal funds, enlist the help of a designer early to learn what materials and price points are available and to help you develop a plan of attack given your timeline.
• Developing a color scheme that is cohesive, interesting, and timeless takes a skill of which designers have been trained. Color theory, lighting and textural impacts, how to ensure that your interior color tells the right story for your home while you continue living there and when you sell are a few skills designers exercise every day.
• Window treatments can quickly become outdated. The right treatment will help you protect your upholstery and flooring from sun damage and provide the right amount of privacy when needed. Your designer can help you with fabric choices, style choices (drapes, shades, blinds, etc), and how technology can help you enjoy the ease of light control with the touch of a button - also can be a great selling point.
• Tips on organizing what you have and reimagining your space with your existing furnishings is top on my list of favorite ways I can help. Solving problems is my specialty. I can provide a new layout, find uses for items in different rooms, provide a focal point when there is none (great for those sale pictures), and help you jump start preparations for getting your home in shape for future buyers enabling you to enjoy it more as you await the moment it goes on sale.
• A designer can help you determine whether an idea is trendy or timeless. It is important to stay neutral in some areas while adding character and excitement in others. You'll want to draw in buyers of all kinds and present a place that doesn't scream FIX ME!
• Designers help make choices easier by narrowing down materials and furnishings that meet your needs and set a style that you and future buyers will love.
• Whether hiring a designer by the hour or for an entire project, you will save time and money in the long run by seeking the opinion of a professional whose job it is to make your home beautiful, functional, and inviting.