Does Your House Need a Professional Designer’s Advice?

Published by julia | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Miscellaneous, Real Estate, Shout Outs

In today’s tough real estate market, maybe another eye could be a big help.

When you are ready to sell your house, you want to get the most profit available. Is it ready for this venture? Are you ready for this venture? Does your house look the same today as it did 10 years ago? If so, maybe a little help from an independent and impartial eye can be a big boost in profits.

Walk thru each room in your house. Make a list of what is new and what is dated. This isn’t a to-do list, just a checklist of what you see. If the kitchen still has linoleum and could use new ceramic tile or hardwood floors, put that on the list. If the bathroom has been completely remodeled, put that on the list as well. This list will help to compare your taste and perception to that of a professional designer.

Make sure to include the outside of your home as well. Look at any and all flower beds and shrubs. Look for plants that have gone beyond there usefulness as well as the plants that you like the most. Don’t forget the rocks or mulch in and around these beds or the walkways near the house. This list should really be focused on the front of the house, as that is the curb appeal area.

Next, take your list with you to your local home improvement big box warehouse. Go to the respective departments and make notes on the prices of the things that you think would look nice in the rooms of your house. Here again, it isn’t a list to see how much money you have to spend, just a list of items that would be nice in your house with pricing included.

Make sure to look at the high end and the low end to get a good idea of what it would cost if you chose to make any changes. Things like toilets and other fixtures can vary greatly in price while adding no more benefit other than esthetics. So if you include the really pricey ones, make sure your room can handle them.

The final step is to contact a professional designer. Your local real estate agents can lead you to a reputable person or company. Talk to your agent to see if they can help to strike a deal with the designer to bring down the cost some. In today’s economy, you shouldn’t have trouble at all.

Make sure that you have the designer look at each room and get their truthful opinion. Is the paint right and complimenting? How about the fixtures and furnishings? Have them make a list for you so you can compare it to your list. Ask them any and all questions while you have their undivided attention. Take all of their advice, good, bad or otherwise. It is to your benefit to listen to someone else’s perspective.

Finally, it is time for a comparison of lists. You may find that the two lists are similar or that they are completely different. Either way, this will give you another angle to look from when selling your house in today’s tough real estate market. And this small piece of info can really be an invaluable tool.