HGTV often has us believing we need buckets of cash to liven things up around the house. But the secret is, all you need is a vision, some professional advice and a willingness to roll up your sleeves and get to work.
Change It Up: Indoors
If you’re looking to sell, there are a few things you should know about getting your home move-in ready. If you invest 1-3 % of the value of your home in staging, updates, and repairs, you could make or save 8-10 %, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Cleaning, Painting, Flooring, Oh My!
Staging is huge. When your house is on the market, think of the prep work as if it’s getting ready to go on a date with prospective homebuyers.
Barb Scozzie, a HomeSmart Real Estate Momentum Realtor in Mentor, is also a certified staging consultant. She tells clients that their home will either make them money or make them lose money.
“You could have a $200,000 home that may go for $185,000 because buyers may look at it and go, ‘Oh my gosh, I have so much to put into it.’ You can make that small 1-3 % investment and a lot of times, you go into multiple offers,” she says.
According to Scozzie, the easiest and most common areas to update are flooring and paint. Replace that old shag carpeting and scrap the ratty linoleum. Scozzie suggests luxury vinyl planks, in neutral grey tones, for a sleek, modern look.
Neutral greys are the golden rule for paint, too. Vibrant colors are usually a turnoff to buyers. Scozzie says neutral greys make your home a blank canvas for buyers who don’t relish tearing down old wallpaper or painting over lime green walls.
Scozzie suggests replacing old or unflattering light fixtures, too. These can be relatively inexpensive to replace, and the results tend to dazzle buyers.
Scrub-A-Dub-Dub
Having owned and operated a cleaning company, Scozzie tells her clients that the least expensive and the most important upgrade is a professional deep clean. “Give it a good deep clean and you can move into anything, even if it’s a little outdated,” Scozzie says.
“When they’re not looking at dirt, they’re looking at the property,” Scozzie says. It may feel overwhelming to keep your home show-ready while living in it, but Scozzie has some simple pointers.
“The easiest thing you can do is keep some towels nearby. Once you’re done in the sink, wipe it out. Have a plastic bin outside of the shower and when you leave in the morning, just throw everything in there and put it under the sink. Just have a spot for everything.”
Marie Kondo-ing
You had to see this one coming. Scozzie uses the 70/30 rule. “Pretty much 70% of your stuff is going to go into storage. So, when it’s summer and you’re not using your winter clothes, put them in clear bins and stack them in the garage or basement,” she says. This makes your closet spaces look bigger.
Not looking to sell? Easy ways to freshen up for spring
Even if you’re not looking to list your home, Scozzie suggests trying neutral colors but tossing in some new accents to brighten up your space. New bedding, throw pillows, throw rugs or even replacing or taking down curtains will get a new vibe going fast.
Change It Up: Outdoors
For second-generation landscaper Greg Nied, it’s all about “casual elegance at a glance.” Nied’s father started Nied Garden Center in 1952 in Northfield, and he plans on keeping his hands in the dirt well beyond retirement.
Nied isn’t a big proponent of landscaping solely for resale value, but for quick curb appeal, he says, “Plant some flowers, edge and mulch your beds, trim your shrubs and green grass is key.” More than anything, Nied says your choices should spark joy. “Whatever you do in your yard, you should do it because it makes you happy.”
But for increasing value, you’ll need a budget to play with and a vision to chase after.
No Vision? No Problem
If you’re coming up empty on ideas, Nied says start at local garden centers, “not at box stores because box stores have people who can tell you where to find something and how much it costs, but they really can’t give you good ideas, in my opinion.”
“Do some Googling. Talk to your neighbor. If you’re driving down the road and you see a sign that says ‘landscaped by,’ that sign is there for a reason. If you like what they’ve done, then reach out to them. If you see good landscaping, even knock on the door.” The best work speaks for itself.
If you’ve cruised around your neighborhood and still don’t have any ideas, Nied suggests picking up a few home and garden magazines for inspiration.
Here and Now
Nied wants folks to enjoy their home while they’re still living in it. He says spending money on a memorial garden after a loved one has passed is less satisfying than enjoying a creative space – like a patio or firepit – with them in the living years. “Create a little space where you can go and have a conversation. It’s all about enjoying the here and now.”
Nied recommends adding water to the landscape. He has a pond at home. “It just makes me so happy to sit there and listen to the water. It keeps me calm and focused. It costs, but quality always costs. If you get a patio that looks professionally done, you’re making it more exciting and appealing (for buyers).”
What about small spaces?
“Get some specific plants, some specimen focal point plants. Just a small table or high-top with some simple bricks or gravel where you can sit there and read, have a glass of wine. Obviously, you can’t entertain the masses in a small area, but you can make it so artsy. Get some clay or concrete pots, go spend $20 or $30 on some unique plants and just make it so inviting.”
Lights, Camera, Action
Consider low-voltage lighting. “It just adds rich character and charm because of the shadows you can cast on the points on your house that are key – arches, peaks, valleys, bay windows,” Nied says.”
You don’t have to go with the most expensive brands on this trend though. “If you’re on a budget, you can go to the box store. Once it’s in the ground, no one knows what it is. The point is to get light on the house, enhance what you’ve got. It gives curb appeal and value. To not take advantage of it would be a sin.”
Good Questions
“Google everything, don’t be afraid to ask questions, like maintenance requirements or special needs for a specific plant,” Nied says. “I highly recommend you don’t go with a ‘Cheap Charlie. If you’re asking questions and they can’t really answer anything, then I think you’re going in the wrong direction.”
Finally, don’t be afraid to have fun. “Whatever you do, be creative, be bold. If they don’t like it, at least they have something to talk about when they look at your house.”
Breanna Mona is a Northeast Ohio freelance writer.
