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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