Written by Lee Nelson
Reading Time: 9 min
April Kalad grew up with DIY parents, and at a young age became passionate about interior design, DIY and real estate from both a beauty and investment perspective. And her degree in interior design allows her to help clients get top dollar for their listings.
“It’s the best of both worlds because I’m able to help buyers realize a home’s potential during their home search, guide my sellers on what buyers are looking for and prepare their home to maximize sale price,” says Kalad, leader of The Kalad Team, Compass in Naperville.
When time is of the essence, quick but stunning fixes can get a home ready for photos and in-person showings. Skilled REALTORS® can guide their clients on the best things to do to get their homes “listing ready” when they are short on time but want maximum impact.
“If they only have a day, hire help,” she says. “Have paid service providers work on the yard, cleaning, and making small repairs while the client, and REALTORS® work on the visual aspects such as making beds, changing lights bulbs and decluttering.”
April Kalad
The Kalad Team, Compass
Naperville
“Buyers do not need to know anything about the sellers, and they need to be able to picture themselves living in the house, not the current residents.” – Lyle Harlow
Lyle Hamrick Harlow
Kale Realty
Chicago
Photogenic home
Lyle Hamrick Harlow believes that before anything is done, the first and most important thing is working with a skilled photographer.
“I have one photographer that I’ve used for almost a decade, and I won’t use anyone else,” says Harlow, designated managing broker and real estate consultant at Kale Realty, Chicago.
He advises his sellers that it’s better to wait to list than to move ahead with substandard photos. Sellers should also ask about the agent’s preferred photographer and ask to see photos of past listings.
“If an agent says that he or she is going to take the pictures personally, that’s a giant red flag unless the agent is a professional photographer, and 99 percent of us are not,” he says.
He and his photographer work as a team, decluttering and adjusting furnishings to get the best possible shots and angles before putting them back where the homeowner keeps them. If it’s an empty home, companies like BoxBrownie.com have made virtual staging easy and affordable, often with a 24-hour turnaround, he adds.
“Staging a room can often be as inexpensive as $24 per shot, but the dividends the investment makes are priceless,” Harlow comments.
When time is of the essence, quick but stunning fixes can get a home ready for photos and in-person showings. Skilled REALTORS® can guide their clients on the best things to do to get their homes “listing ready” when they are short on time but want maximum impact.
Clutter-free and depersonalized
“Clutter eats equity. We want the buyers to look at your home, not your things,” says Raquel Vice of The Veliz-Vice Team Century 21 Advantage in Columbia. She also earned an ASP (Accredited Staging Professional) designation.
Clutter looks sloppy in photos.
“It begs buyers to wonder, ‘If the seller didn’t care enough to pick up, did they take any care in the maintenance of their home?’” she says.
If there is too much stuff, junk removal companies don’t just remove junk, Kalad expresses.
“They will pick up and donate almost everything, including large furniture and electronics, including those old televisions,” she adds.
Harlow suggests that every toy your child can live without for a few weeks, every pet toy, and every appliance on your counter should be put away. All artwork and magnets on the refrigerator should be taken down. Family and personal photos must be removed for privacy and fair housing issues.
“Buyers do not need to know anything about the sellers, and they need to be able to picture themselves living in the house, not the current residents,” he says.
Raquel Vice
The Veliz-Vice Team
Century 21 Advantage
Columbia
“When a buyer senses that a home has been well cared for, they get the impression that the home will not have any or many maintenance issues, and therefore, are more comfortable making an offer. They may even make an offer waiving inspection.” – Raquel Vice
Outside overhaul
The first step to make a home’s curb appeal sparkle is pulling weeds, laying fresh mulch and trimming bushes and limbs, says Vice.
If you only have a day or so to accomplish a lot of work, call in family and friends or find a reputable landscaper to help.
“Buyers form their first impression at the curb. Lay a fresh welcome mat and place planters on either side of the front door,” she says. “Plant fresh flowers or plants. If space allows, set up a small bistro set, a three-piece patio set or a porch swing.”
Clean the mailbox, the front door and storm door and paint if necessary. Pressure wash driveways, patios, decks, walkways and siding, especially if dirty or green from algae.
Cleaning gutters and replacing dated exterior lights can also help in the overall look, says Harlow.
Room-by-room renewal
For all rooms that need a quick makeover, Kalad says a gallon of paint can work wonders. Buyers are shying away from true gray and gravitating towards colors with beige undertones, called greige.
“I suggest keeping rooms bright and simple by using shades of whites. White sounds boring, but it is a slam-dunk for quick transformations,” she says. “And yes, you can have white walls with white trim.”
Harlow adds that features walls – where one wall is a different color – are not popular right now. “People want a homogeneous blank canvas to decorate to their taste,” he says.
The REALTORS® have suggestions, too, for each individual room and the fast changes that can make huge differences and raise the listing price:
Kitchen
“We consistently tell our clients that kitchens and baths sell houses, meaning these are the rooms that carry the most weight for buyers,” says Vice. To make the best of what sellers have, show off the counter space by having nearly everything gone except a small centerpiece on the island, a trio of canisters, and maybe a paper towel holder. Under cabinet lighting can add a huge wow factor, too. Replace light fixtures and update cabinet door handles and pulls, especially if there weren’t any.
To get everything spotless, Kalad encourages sellers to use Mr. Clean Magic Erasers for the walls, light switch covers, door handles and baseboards. “Sometimes people think they need to repaint scuffed walls when all it really needs is a quick Magic Eraser,” she adds.
Bathrooms
Adding a few inexpensive things such as matching soap and toothbrush holders and white towels folded perfectly can create a big impact along with repainting in a light, neutral color, Harlow states.
To get the tubs, showers, grout and sink shining bright again, Kalad uses her secret cleaning weapon: Barkeeper’s Friend Spray Foam.
Vice also believes adding some greenery and a hanging a fresh shower curtain along with an inexpensive piece of art can do wonders to update even a small bathroom.
Living and family spaces
“Clean the windows and open the curtains and blinds to let the light in,” Vice says. “The more floor space we can see, the bigger the room will feel. So, eliminate any furniture that may be causing it to feel too crowded.”
Harlow says no matter what the floor material is, the original floor needs to be as clean as possible. “An area rug that compliments the décor can draw attention away from deficiencies and tie a room together for an overall positive effect,” he adds.
Bedrooms
Vice believes replacing your comforter set with something fresh and neutral can make it look more inviting as can adding a few extra pillows. Replacing heavy curtains with sheers or a lighter, brighter pattern can also make it more inviting.
“If space allows, bring in a comfy chair and create a space for reading,” she adds. “Add a throw blanket and a floor lamp.”
Harlow feels a fresh, white comforter and pillows, potentially with an accent pillow with a pop of color or white but a different fabric can help a lot especially if you play with textures on those items.
A few more quick tips to get a listing in shape
Quick Purge
Sellers should purchase bins (no less than 25 of them) and do a quick sweep, Kalad suggests. Decide what gets tossed and what gets put in a bin. Stack the filled bins in the garage or basement and move on to other impactful projects like painting or repairs “Don’t become paralyzed and lose momentum in this stage,” she says.
Space brightener
Hang a mirror to create the illusion and feeling of more space, especially in smaller rooms, says Vice. Also, add more lamps in rooms with low or dim lighting.
Underfoot
When dealing with ugly carpeting, make a decision of cleaning vs. offering a credit, says Kalad. If you go the cleaning route, hire a company that offers a “dry” method. “The dry methods are highly effective at cleaning and stain removal, and they leave the home smelling fresh with minimal dampness, she adds.
Change description
Take out square footage number, says Harlow, if it’s listed and not required or valued in your market. “Buyers need to concentrate on whether room sizes fit their needs.”
“When a buyer senses that a home has been well cared for, they get the impression that the home will not have any or many maintenance issues, and therefore, are more comfortable making an offer,” Vice states. “They may even make an offer waiving inspection.”
About the writer: Lee Nelson is an Illinois-based writer whose work regularly appears in REALTOR® Magazine and other industry publications.
