Friday, April 27, 2007

Spring Spruce-Up Tips

9 Spring Spruce-ups
On a Shoestring

LowesRealtorBenefits.com
Source - Reprinted with permission for our customers: © 2007 by Lowe’s®.
1. Spring into cleaning – Use a little elbow grease to
make your floors, windows, appliances and light
fixtures sparkle. Potential buyers feel more comfortable
when viewing a clean house.
2. Minimize clutter – “Less is more” when it comes
to staging your home for sale. Put anything in storage
that takes away from a room’s overall impact.
3. Organize closets – A well-organized closet will appear
roomier, which is what buyers want. There are
a number of affordable closet shelving and storage
systems that you can install yourself.
4. Paint works wonders – Fresh paint can be the
least expensive way to transform a room. Neutral
colors work best because a buyer can move in
now and choose their custom colors later.
5. Make a great first impression – Pretend that
you’re entering your home for the first time. If there
are cobwebs or peeling paint on your front door,
that first impression will be negative. Make needed
repairs and replace an overly-worn welcome mat
with a new one.
6. Add color with containers – Add container plantings
to your front entrance for a welcoming focal
point. The following plants are perfect for spring:
ivy, sweet alyssum, geranium, snapdragon, salvia,
liriope, and dianthus.
7. Fresh cut flowers – Fresh flowers bring the outdoors
inside, adding color and aroma. If your home
is painted in neutral tones, choose brightly colored
flowers. If your home is already full of color, opt for
lighter hues, such as white or yellow.
8. Spring touches – Lighten up your decorating
with throws and toss pillows that say “Spring”.
Pack away those heavier quilts and winter accent
pieces.
9. Hot color trends – This Spring, soothing mint and
bright foliage are two striking variations of this
season’s signature color: green. Other tones also
incorporate a hint of green, including light, airy
blues and deeper gray teals. Honey-hued yellows
and subtle shaded purples, along with bright white
round out the season’s palette.