In last week’s Redmond Reporter, we shared tips from Redmond business owners on how to free your home of clutter.
For Part 2 of our spring cleaning series, we asked Candace Carlson, staging expert at Redmond’s Windermere Real Estate, how to freshen the look of your home, whether or not you’re preparing to sell.
It’s a no-brainer that a clean, attractive home will sell faster than one that is in disarray or disrepair. But often, said Carlson, “when people decide to sell, they make improvements and say, ‘I wish I had done this sooner so that I could have enjoyed it.’ Why put it off? Start now. Whether you plan to sell now or in the future, always treat your home as if you are getting ready to sell.”
Start at the front of your house and work your way back, she suggested. “Curb appeal” is critical when you’re marketing your home — or just making it an inviting place for your own family and friends.
“Trim the bushes, paint the front door, change out exterior light fixtures, update door handles and make sure windows are clean,” said Carlson. “There are all kinds of little things you can do to make everything look better.”
Now that spring has arrived, it’s a good time to clean your carpets and make your home fresh-smelling.
“And don’t be afraid to pack away winter and fall things. To make yourself happier, rotate it out. Put away dark pillows, put out light ones. Take down heavy drapes and leave sheers. Sometimes less is more,” Carlson noted. “Take out old rugs, clean the bare floors. Take out worn pillows and don’t feel that you have to replace them. Put out fresh flowers. It doesn’t have to be a huge expense.”
Another way to perk up your surroundings is to rotate your artwork each season, she said.
“Take an inexpensive frame and switch out posters. Or frame small kids’ artwork.”
However, if you are trying to sell your home, said Carlson, don’t get too personal with family photos or cutesy decor. Those can be distracting and “you want potential buyers to envision their things in the home,” she explained.
With regard to the real estate business, “the market is picking up again,” said Carlson. First-time home buyers are taking advantage of tax credits.
If you do plan to sell this spring, don’t put your home on the market “until you are really ready to show,” she emphasized.
The first two to three weeks of listing will bring the most traffic, in terms of potential buyers.
“The house must look right and be priced right from the start,” Carlson said. “I’ve been in houses that looked bad from the outside and were surprisingly nice inside. But you can’t even get people out of the car if you make a bad first impression.”
“Spring, when the light comes in, is the time to simplify our lives,” Carlson concluded. “Replace faucets or hoses or any of the things you would need to do to sell, and then sit back and enjoy.”
Windermere’s Redmond office is located at 16261 Redmond Way. For more information, call (425) 883-0088.
