Organize your home for “yourself”
Many people have a horizon of when they will sell their houses. It can be one year, two years or five years. The family is growing and they need bigger rooms…the kids have grown up and want to downsize…the house is too big as they get older…Florida is attractive…or whatever the reason. When it’s time to put the house on the market, they paint, update and replace.
Why put all that money, time and effort into a house for a new owner? Instead, invest that money, time, and effort into a home you’ll enjoy for as long as you’re there. When I’ve prepped homes for clients preparing to put their homes on the market, I’ve heard many say, “I wish I’d done it sooner so I could enjoy it.” Don’t be one of those people.
Take a good look at your kitchen
A kitchen overhaul can be very expensive, but there are a few small changes that will make a big difference.
• The least expensive thing you can do is give your kitchen a fresh coat of paint in a color that matches the color of your counters and cabinets.
• Replacing cabinets can be expensive. If your cabinets are outdated or need updating, think about painting them and changing the knobs, handles, and hinges. That alone can make a big difference.
• Countertops can be another expensive investment. If yours is worn or needs replacement, consider opting for a laminate instead of investing in granite or other high-end countertops. Laminates have come a long way in recent years; They offer a wide variety of colors and textures.
• Clear all the clutter from your refrigerator door. A refrigerator door looks messy when it’s covered with your kids’ school schedules, magnets, photos, calendars, or anything else. Instead, place these items on the inside of a door, closet, or cabinet.
• Organize cupboards and pantry. Get rid of excess stuff: You know the items you haven’t used in years and probably never will.
• Choose an attractive centerpiece for your kitchen table. Use a vase with flowers, a bowl full of fruit, a piece of ceramic or glass, or whatever else you like.
• Add a plant or two to liven up the room.
Now take a look at your bathroom
The allure of a beautiful bathroom can remind you of a luxury hotel or a relaxing spa. You can create a flavor of that in your bathroom.
• Any bathroom can be instantly transformed by adding beautiful, fluffy towels for decorative display. You can buy a wall-mounted wine rack, roll up the towels, and place them where the wine bottles would go. Or you can roll up a few towels in a basket with fragrant soaps, bath oils, natural loofahs, and candles to create a spa-like atmosphere.
• Clean the counters. That includes toothbrushes, the jar of cotton balls, the roll of paper towels, and everything else cluttering up the counter. (Instead of keeping everything on the counter, head to a store like the Container Store, where you’ll find all sorts of caddies, shelves, stands, and tidy items.) Get an attractive soap dish or use liquid soap with a Dispenser for the bathroom counter.
• If your bathtub is old and worn and the tiles in your shower are no longer attractive, you can call a company like Bath Fitter to install a new bathtub and a wall just above the old one. Bath Fitter claims to do the installation in just one day.
• Mirrors often lose their silver color after years in the bathroom. Replace them, perhaps with beautifully framed mirrors.
• Replace faucets, doorknobs or handles, and towel rails for a fresh look.
• Include a vase with flowers, willows or leaves. Collect them from your garden or get silk ones.
In and around the house
Take a look around your home to see what else you can update or redo:
• If your hardwood floors are worn or dirty from years of walking on them, it’s time to sand and recoat them with polyurethane.
• If your rugs are stained or no longer looking clean, it may be time to have them professionally cleaned or replaced.
• If your wallpaper is peeling (and that usually starts at the seams), is it time to strip the wallpaper and re-wallpaper or paint?
• If your walls are littered with children’s fingerprints or the paint doesn’t look fresh and clean, it’s time to repaint.
Look outside
• If the shingles on your roof are falling off, it’s time to have the roof checked and maybe redone.
• If your driveway has excessive cracks, it may be time to apply a top coat or more.
• If you have shutters, make sure the paint is fresh and the shutters are firmly attached to the house.
• If your shingles or anything on the outside creates an eyesore, take corrective action.
