Sunday, July 20, 2014

DIY Renovations When Selling Properties

I have entered hundreds of properties where I have been informed of upgrades installed or performed by home owners themselves.  In many situations, these upgrades are easy to distinguish between professional workmanship vs. DIY project.   

 Then there are homes with extraordinary upgrades where the home owner implements their expert skills and those of affiliated professional connections to create outstanding spaces.
Ultra Modern Features in Custom Home
Credit should be given to those that attempt these tasks themselves.  However,  in the real estate market, buyers are looking for ‘move-in ready’ homes with little or no work to be performed prior to the moving date or shortly thereafter, unless there are looking for a fixer-upper.  There are advantages to building a ‘new’ home or a custom built home for this exact reason where no work is required.

Let’s be honest.  Over a period of time, home owners become oblivious to everyday imperfections within their homes.   When selling, these imperfections become distractions and may prevent your home from selling quickly, limit the number of buyers looking at your home, or initiate a discussion with your listing realtor to reduce your original list price.  This is a very short list of reasons.

Hydro Panel obscured with DIY project to transform this space into Hall Closet
Photo Credit:  Cheryl Trudell, Lead Property Stylist of Home Staging 4 Success

Painting over a nail on an obvious wall surface is suggestive of a ‘lack of attention’. This is a small detail but may have implications and cause an immediate RED FLAG (psychology from a buyer’s standpoint)  - what other obvious or ‘behind the scene’  items has the owner paid little to no attention to. 

Staging Tip 101:  For painting projects, use Frog tape for sharp lines and demarcation between walls, ceilings and trim.  Lay plastic or painter’s drop clothes to avoid paint splatter or drips on floors and windows.  Remove nails used for artwork and patch walls prior to painting.   Choose warm neutral colours vs. bold colours to create spaciousness and distract from imperfections of wall surfaces.  Use caulking to eliminate gaps or spaces between walls and trim. 

Is there a professional service that can assist home buyers prep their homes for sale prior to listing or if a listing is about to be considered ‘stale’?  A certified professionally trained home stager is experienced to view homes as a potential home buyer.   We can point out distractions or areas that require attention.

Generic to-do-lists can be found almost anywhere today.  However, an on-site consultation ensures the recommendations are customized and tailored to your specific home or listed property.   Too, more experienced stagers have affiliates that offer many of the services home sellers may require, including renovators, handymen, painters, cleaners, organizers, movers, home inspectors, electricians, plumbers,  etc..

Unique to our staging company, we provide a complete project management service for local or out-of-town home owners with properties to be or are currently listed locally and where prep work needs to be accomplished.  

Consult with your real estate agent or check in the yellow pages (www.yp.ca) for the names of professional home stagers best suited for your specific needs.  Ensure the home stager will provide you with a full written report detailing areas discussed and recommendations to refer to as you prioritize the tasks, your budget and time-frame prior to the 1st public viewing.  


Have an awesome summer!