Tips for Showing a Small House
By Michele Dawson
With the median size of new homes on the rise, you might worry
about trying to sell your home
if it's on the small side.
Indeed, the size of the typical new single-family home continues
to grow, according to a National Association of Home Builders
report titled "The Next Decade for Housing." The
median size of a new home today is about 2,100 square feet;
in 1970 the median square footage was about 1,400.
Some of today's buyers are using the extra space for guest
rooms, but many are incorporating home offices, studies or
hobby rooms into their homes, according to NAHB.
Despite the trends, small homes have their own advantages
when you're selling. For starters, there's a strong demand
for entry-level homes. First-time homeowners comprised 40
percent of the total home purchases (17 million purchases)
in 1999, according to the November 2001 U.S. Housing Market
Conditions Report, published by the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development.
So, if your smallish home is on the market, you'll want to
do everything you can to get top dollar for it. Some things
to think about when you're preparing your home for showing
include:
- Eliminating the clutter. Clutter is a downfall for any
house, but in a small house, the more clutter the potential
buyer sees, the less house he'll see. Keep the kitchen counters
clear, eliminate all those knickknacks scattered about the
house, and keep your accessories and artwork simple.
- Curb appeal. Remember - first impressions are everything.
Let your home make a strong impact the moment anyone pulls
up alongside the house. Spruce up your landscaping, keep
your lawn manicured, plant a few annuals out front, make
sure your front door area is free from clutter, bikes, skates,
and the like.
- Letting the light in. This is a general rule for any home
that will be put under the microscope by potential buyers,
but is even more applicable for small homes. Open all blinds
and curtains, and turn on lights throughout the house if
you know real estate agents will be showing the home that
day. Blinds that are the same color as the wall give a flowing,
roomy feeling.
- Keeping the walls light. Dark-colored walls will make
a room appear even smaller than it is. You may want to consider
sprucing up your walls with a fresh coat of paint anyway,
so stick to a light color. To create the effect of more
light, paint the ceiling a color lighter than the walls.
- Paying attention to your furniture. If you have a lot
of furniture, put some of it in storage. Then, think about
the layout and focal point of the room and decide whether
you're trying to accentuate roominess or coziness. If you're
going for spaciousness, keep the large pieces against the
wall. Furniture color should be similar to the wall and
floor color. Too much will look cluttered and will subtract
from the spacious feeling you're trying to achieve. If you're
striving for a cozy feel, select dark pieces, whether it's
fabric or wood. Go for big patterns on one or two pieces,
placed away from the wall.
- Mirrors. Strategically placed mirrors can help make a
room appear larger.
- Tall lines. Try to choose accessories that are long and
narrow. Long, thin lamps and plants can help you achieve
a sense of height versus accessories that take up a lot
of horizontal space.
- Accentuating your back yard. If you have a decent patio
area, present this space as an extension of the limited
living space. Display a nice patio table with a patio covering
or umbrella, spruce up your landscape, and brighten up the
area with some containers filled with colorful annuals.
An inviting back yard will stand out as a plus for many
home shoppers, particularly in warm-weather states.
In summary, let common sense prevail. Look at the house with fresh
eyes and from the perspective of someone who has never seen the
house before. With so many first-time
homebuyers out there, your biggest job will be making
sure your home looks better than others in the same price range.
The Realty Times
Published: February 25, 2002
www.RealtyTimes.com
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