Help your home appear updated and move-in-ready to prospective buyers with these tips from Curbio.

While you’re living in your home, you may find its value is tied to the memories created with the ones you love.

As soon as you list your home for sale, the meaning of “home value” immediately changes. It’s time to pack up those memories – along with your dishes, lamps, and sofas – and focus on all the ways to make your home appeal to as many buyers as possible.

It can be overwhelming deciding where to start on improvements before a move. So, here are nine spots to focus on for value-adding updates that are sure to be big wins – helping make your home the move-in-ready listing today’s buyers are looking for.

1. Give your landscaping some love

It’s not just what’s on the inside that counts. First impressions make or break a home sale, and increasing your curb appeal goes a long way towards boosting that initial impression. Tend to your garden by mulching, cleaning up your edges, and pulling the weeds. Remember that low maintenance landscaping is often most appealing to buyers, whereas complicated topiary and finicky plants can scare them away. Even if your would-be garden space is small, planting some easy-to-maintain perennials can really spruce up the outside.

2. Update fixtures

Sconces, chandeliers, and pendant lights are opportunities to modernize and change the feel of your home without undertaking a huge project. Simple, classic designs in timeless metal finishes are great choices because of their mass appeal, and small pops of color or unique pieces can add lots of character if used sparingly throughout the home.

3. Invest in appliances

Updating your home doesn’t just apply to design – it applies to ease of use and lack of future maintenance, too. Equipping your home with modern appliances is a must-do if you’re thinking about a potential home sale. They help underscore a turnkey experience for buyers, and they can be well worth the cost of investment.

4. Make needed repairs

Don’t overlook the non-glamorous updates and deferred maintenance if you’re hoping to maximize on your investment with your home sale. Potential buyers need to have confidence in all facets of your home or they will not be able to envision themselves living there. That means everything needs to work the way it should: faucets that don’t leak, decks that don’t sag, doors that open according to code, etc. Start by checking up on your roof and HVAC system, and move your way down the list in search of necessary repairs.

If HVAC repairs sound expensive, don’t be alarmed! Curbio has a fix-now-pay-at-closing financial model, meaning sellers never pay out of pocket until closing.

5. Finish unfinished spaces

If you’ve been waiting for a reason to finish your basement, before selling is a great time. If you have a space in your home that doesn’t serve a specific purpose or function, it can be a red flag in the eyes of a buyer. Your home value may skyrocket just by clearly defining each space throughout the property. Try converting that catch-all room to an extra bedroom or home office and transform an unfinished basement into a family den.

6. Focus on your kitchen

Kitchens, without a doubt, are the heart of the home. That means that they are typically the first space potential buyers consider when evaluating a home purchase, and kitchen investments are some of the best kinds you can make to increase your home value. First, ask yourself:

• Is my kitchen functional?
• Is my kitchen spacious?
• Is my kitchen sleek?

Next, focus on the areas of improvement that will maximize your home’s value. If your kitchen is relatively new, consider smaller upgrades like fresh hardware. On the other hand, if your kitchen is dated, in need of love, or under-functional, you should seriously consider a kitchen renovation to help your home compete with new builds and win the hearts and minds of buyers.

7. Open your floor plan

A spacious, open living area is a desired feature in today’s real estate market. Floor plans with lots of walls and too many separate rooms tend to inhibit a communal feeling and often lack natural light, which can be detractors from your home’s value. Consider opening or removing some of the non-load-bearing walls in your home to form an open floorplan within your living space.

8. Create an outdoor experience

If your backyard is just a patch of grass, that means it’s full of potential opportunity to increase home value. A covered patio, pergola, fire pit, or an outdoor eating area are all great ways to set the scene for an experiential outdoor lounge space – and appeal to buyers. Who doesn’t want a place to roast s’mores, stargaze, and grill out?

9. Transform your bathroom into a spa

Self-care is in, and that means buyers are looking for bathrooms that emulate a spa. Incorporating spa-like finishes will help your bathroom feel luxurious, relaxing, and indulgent. That could entail adding sleek finishes, a soaking tub, and a light, airy color palette.

Now that you’re informed on what updates to complete before listing your home, it’s time to get started! Curbio is a turnkey solution that provides full-scale project management for every pre-listing project, no matter the size or scope. Plus, sellers never pay out of pocket – 100% of the project costs are deferred until closing. Your real estate agent can request an estimate from Curbio free of charge, with a same-day response. Contact me today to get started!

It’s no surprise that lighting plays a key role in setting the tone for a room. After all, sunshine streaming through a window is energizing, a bright lamp is helpful when reading, and a candle is perfect for adding an ambient glow.

Heading into winter – where daylight dwindles and snowy weather can be grim – some home sellers are likely considering how to brighten their space, which may involve enhancing or upgrading the light sources inside and outside the house.

Getting ready to sell your home? Learn how to help prospective buyers view the place in the best possible light – literally.

Is it worth upgrading lighting?

Refreshed light fixtures and bulbs can make a big impact on the impressions of buyers.

“When most people think of decorating their home, they tend to focus on furniture and finishes. In reality though, lighting is an integral component of design and can absolutely make a difference when it’s time to sell,” explains Jeannie Do, a member of the International Group with RE/MAX Professionals in Lakewood, Colorado, who holds a BFA degree in Interior Design and spent 10 years designing luxury homes and commercial spaces.

“A bright room filled with natural light feels vastly different than a dimly lit room, but both can be appropriate in the right setting,” she continues. “We can use light to control the way a space visually expands and contracts. Bright light helps a space feel larger and cleaner in some circumstances, whereas dim light makes the space recede, feel more intimate, and can also be used to hide things. As a real estate agent, I use these principles to manage my potential buyers’ showing experience.”

Do quips that she knows a home tour is off to a good start when the prospective buyers admire the brightness of a space right away.

“When a home is well lit, buyers see it as a fresh canvas and they’re able to imagine all the possibilities. That’s why we always ask sellers to open the blinds and turn on all the lights ahead of showings,” she says.

“As those buyers venture deeper into the home, it’s okay for certain areas to appear moodier so we can push the perception of a retreat. For example, a primary bathroom suite with a large tub is a great place where we can use dim lighting to evoke a spa-like image.”

Lighting can also help a home seem more updated. For example, if the buyers walk into the bathroom and see dated vanity lights, they may question how well other areas of the home are maintained.

“I liken updating a room but not addressing lighting akin to wearing a five-piece suit with flip flops,” Do says. “The look is almost there, but something is off.”

Many homeowners may have never considered the coloring of their light bulbs. The shades are typically listed on the packaging, described in ways like “natural daylight” or “warm white.”

“The temperature of a light is measured by Kelvin degrees. For residential homes, I would recommend bulbs between 3,000-4,000K,” Do explains. “Any lower and it can get too warm. Any higher, it can be too cold and make your home feel sterile, like a science lab.”

Be strategic in merging function and design

In addition to the brightness of a bulb, the style of a light fixture can also play an important role in staging a home for sale.

Do advises sellers to be cognizant of their home décor – and the look they’re trying to achieve – when selecting elements to incorporate.

“Nowadays, we’re seeing people return to the familiarity of neo-classicism or transitional design – and midcentury modern is still immensely popular,” she says. “While some design movements are more forgiving when it comes to combining styles, others are not. We wouldn’t want to put a heavily industrial light fixture into an organic modern home. Organic modern is about bringing lightness and natural textures into the space, and an industrial fixture with heavy metal detail could look out of place and detract attention from the other parts of the room we’re trying to highlight.”

Examples of fixtures that may benefit from an update include pendants over a kitchen island, additional recess lighting, a contemporary lit ceiling fan (with a remote or wall-mounted control), floor and table lamps throughout, and more. For a dining area, taller ceilings may call for a pendant light (think metal or rattan), whereas lower ceilings may work better with a flush lighting fixture to optimize space.

Do reminds homeowners and home sellers alike to think about the three components of well-rounded lighting design: ambient, task, and accent.

“Ambient lighting is going to be diffused and illuminate a space in a uniform blanket of light that dictates the room’s mood. Task lighting is just as it sounds – it’s a secondary, slightly brighter layer to help you achieve a specific task. Think about under-cabinet lights to illuminate your kitchen counter when you’re cooking, or a table lamp to help you read your book in the evening,” she says.

Accent lighting isn’t used as commonly, but in certain areas it can help set a mood, Do says.

“Accent lighting is what you use to highlight something special about the room. It could be a wall sconce to light up your artwork, or lighting inside a cabinet to draw attention to the decor you have inside. We are calling for the viewer’s attention, and bright accent lighting tends to create an interesting contrast.”

Exterior lighting also contributes to a home’s aesthetic. Swapping sconce fixtures on the front of a home – often on either side of the front door and/or garage doors – for a sophisticated, modern look can elevate curb appeal during the daytime and at night.

Meet the needs of the modern buyer

When preparing a home to hit the market, sellers may want to consider how buyers could use each space – and stage accordingly.

For example, the COVID-19 pandemic jumpstarted remote work for many, promoting the urgent need for home offices. Though some people have returned back to the office, many employees still work remote or have adopted a hybrid work schedule. This specific use is still a priority for plenty of homebuyers – and therefore, if your home has a workspace, it’s imperative to think about the impact of lighting.

“With the high number of people now working from home, buyers are considering how the lighting changes in their house during the workday,” Do says. “Ask yourself, ‘Is the lighting in the office too dim for a video conference call?’”

According to the 2023 RE/MAX Future of Real Estate Report, many people – particularly homebuyers from younger generations – are seeking out dedicated workspaces with adequate natural light. This was especially true in cities, where 79% of respondents said natural light is an important factor when looking at homes.

Knowing this, sellers with a home office (or a guest room that serves multiple purposes) may want to optimize natural light though small adjustments like switching to brighter bulbs overhead or staging with a statement lamp. The result is a better illustration of how the ambiance might aid productivity.

Other things to consider

Unless your house is being sold as furnished, most items inside will come with you when you depart.

It’s important to know the protocol for installed items, like a chandelier or special pendant light. If you have a light fixture in your home that you plan on taking with you when it’s time to move, it’s crucial to disclose it from the start. Talk with your trusted real estate agent about ensuring this in writing.

Ultimately, the quantity and quality of the lights throughout your home play a critical role in showcasing its best qualities to prospective buyers. When you’re ready to sell, contact me! I have expert insights on the transaction – from staging to selling and everything in-between.

Using color throughout a home can be expressive, creative and hold cultural significance. But what happens to that level of personalization when it’s time to sell?

According to Jeannie Do, homeowners preparing a property to sell need to look past their own emotional connection to color and focus on what changes – like a fresh coat of paint – can elevate their home’s overall aesthetic, appeal to buyers, and potentially increase ROI.

Do, an agent and member of the International Group with RE/MAX Professionals in Lakewood, Colorado, holds a BFA degree in Interior Design and spent 10 years designing luxury homes and commercial spaces. Through projects as intimate as renovating a mid-century modern home and as sizable as designing NFL stadiums, Do has developed a keen eye for the role color plays in creating an experiential space and the impact it has on consumers.

Do shares what sellers should – and should not – change up when it comes to their home’s interior paint colors, and what shades serve best as a visual template for prospective buyers.

Reconsidering bright colors

Colors used to express oneself, Do believes, can oftentimes be a reflection of their personality, mindset and values. Working with clients from all around the world, including countries like Morocco, Japan, Taiwan, Mexico and more, Do regularly sees the tie between home color and culture.

“As a member of the International Group with RE/MAX Professionals, we work with a lot of Asian clientele and in many Asian households, you may see the color red because it represents good fortune and is very auspicious,” she explains. “Red is a color of high energy and I think that can relate to the dynamic of Asian families who cherish their extended family and host lively gatherings all together.”

She continues, “That said, red is typically a color we would avoid in home staging because it’s seen as a statement color.”

Many home stagers agree that while color is a great way to be expressive while living in a space, it’s often best to eliminate brighter shades when preparing a home to sell in order to appeal to more buyers.

“When it’s time to sell, you should aim to remove yourself from the house and make it a blank slate – almost like an art gallery,” Do says. “Galleries usually have white walls because it allows the art to shine without making an impression on it. I tell my clients to approach their own homes in the same way – you need to set your house up as the neutral gallery for the buyer to see as their next piece of art.”

Aligning with trends

While neutral paint colors are typically timeless, Do shares that there can be a place for brighter colors to stay up or be added in when preparing a home to sell. If the seller’s goal is to match their home with current design trends, like today’s buzz around mid-century modern style, for example, then in-theme colors may be embraced by prospective buyers.

“Right now, the rich jewel tones are on trend, like hunter greens, deep blues and mustard yellows. If they’re implemented in a design-forward way that could appeal to the current buying market, I would say to leave it up on the walls and carefully curate the space around it,” she says.

Do warns that some wall colors, on the other hand, can actually date a home.

“Color doesn’t necessarily always have to go. But if we’re seeing those dark brown or rich red hues from the early 2000s, it may do a disservice to the overall aesthetic of your home. In these cases, I definitely recommend changing it to a color that’s more neutral,” Do advises.

Homes vary in size, have unique layouts and receive different quantities of natural light, thus requiring different shades and undertones of paint even within one color family. That said, Do often finds herself suggesting the colors Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore, a neutral-toned white, and Pure White by Sherwin Williams, a creamier tone, to her clients as safe bets for creating a gallery-like effect.

Consumer preferences also have a longstanding history of mirroring societal trends. While cooler grays were preferred for a period of time, warmer neutrals are rising in popularity.

“Because of the change in lifestyle due to COVID-19 in the last couple of years, people are actually starting to favor warmer tones for their mood-boosting and comforting effects. It’s all about psychology,” she explains. “Because people are so uncertain about what’s happening in the world, they want to come home to a place that makes them feel safe.”

Creating a synchronized space

Wall color surely sets a backdrop. But the rest of the elements within a home’s interior have to align to create a space that buyers can envision themselves and their families living in.

“Your furniture and décor pieces have to be cohesive with the wall color. If you have really modern furniture but dated wall colors, the interior can feel disconnected,” Do says. “It’s much harder for buyers to picture how they would personalize, furnish and decorate the home when it doesn’t feel natural.”

Do understands that for many, it’s not in budget to make big changes to a home before hitting the market. In addition to decluttering the space, she shares a few other tricks for staging just with existing items within the home.

“Lighting and window treatments are a relatively easy way to elevate a space. It can even be as simple as moving your curtains all the way up to the ceiling to visually elongate the walls and make the ceiling seem higher,” she explains. “Bring in as much natural light as you can. In smaller spaces, consider swapping out heavier curtains for ones that are sheer to really optimize sunlight.”

A qualified seller’s agent will have insight on the local housing market, have seen comparable properties, and can provide further suggestions to help prep a home to sell.

“When it’s time to sell, just keep in mind that you’re trying to appeal to others’ taste, not your own. Getting rid of personalization and loud wall colors can help the process move along much smoother and attract more buyers along the way,” Do says.