Emergency Help ASAP
I am having an open house this Saturday. I am trying to sell my house on my own. I was not planning on painting my front door. I have a fiberglass front door stained oak. As I am steadily crossing things off my list, I get to my last project: refinish front door where the sun has faded my fiberglass finish. Bad news: It has gone horribly awry. I now have a half-stripped door and a stain that doesn't match the original. I am in a mild panic. I don't think I can strip, stain and topcoat with two small kids and cold weather over the next several days. I am now thinking the easiest thing would be to paint the exterior. Can someone please help? What color do you suggest? Remember, I want to SELL!!! Any other colors than what I've suggested here. Sorry for the crude photos...I used microsoft paint, and tried to pick colors from my 1960's multi-colored brick. The shutters are factory black vinyl. Thank you, thank you for any help in advance.
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High gloss white would be my choice. Light colors on the porch are more inviting and since the trim is already white it will make the entrance appear larger.
While you are at the store buying the paint pick up a WELCOME mat. Prospective buyers are already feeling at home! Since you are at the store anyway go ahead and get a couple of large yellow mums to go in the wood containers the fake plants are in right now. The fake plants look a little...how do I say this; fake! And since you are painting anyway those containers would look great painted white.
WOW! White door, white containers with happy yellow flowers and a welcome mat. First impression is great! Oh...and just so you know houses with yellow flowers by the door sell faster than houses with any other color flower. Maybe because the flowers look so cheerful.
It also appears there is a bench to the right of the door. It needs to be centered under the window if possible. It might look more inviting with a fresh coat of paint as well.
You may want to do is ask a friend or your real estate agent to walk through your house and take an objective look. They will see things you, as the homeowner, have become blind to; items, spaces and maybe a way to add a little extra appeal so you can sell fast!
I know it isn't easy with children, but set out a plate of cookies, add a few drops of vanilla to a cup of water and put it on the microwave until it boils, then set it out in a hidden place in the kitchen. Light a couple of vanilla candles in the bathroom or family room (people are sometimes allergic to floral smells, but never to vanilla.)
Please post updated pictures when you can. Hope it sells fast!
Again, it can be tough to pick a good color under pressure, but white, off-white, tan and black are always available premixed and are safe and easy to match if you have to.
How about a nice wreath or seasonal sheaf of wheet with some leaves, corn and bright ribbon? Pumpkins and gourds are good for Thanksgiving and a nice arrangement can really perk up an entry. Perhaps a backet with some small ones and bigger ones nearby? Maybe a bundle of cornstalks? These will add a much needed punch of color and will look welcoming and festive.
Good Luck!
The door looks a little flat--do you put a finish on top of the stain?
also I like the red or black front door that match the brick colour. When you are selling your place, consider what most of your buyers prefer and like, so red and black would be the safest go
Good luck!! :)
Picture:
# 1 - The thingy hanging on the door looks a little small. Cheap wreath: use a large piece of cardboard. trace a circle using a large bowl to trace around. Use a smaller bowl inside the large circle to trace an inside circle. Cut out wreath shape. Use cardboard to hot glue real leaves on. Spray with clear high gloss paint..or even semi-gloss (if you have it on hand) Use a ribbon to hang it. Make it large enough to correspond to your door size.
# 2 - Remove whatever is in the middle of your coffee table. Need more space for the eye to rest.
# 3 - LOVE the pineapple!
Get rid of the garbage can!
Not knowing what kind of fruit you have I would suggest apples. Bright red (polished) apples with one sitting on the counter top beside the bowl and you might consider baking a couple with cinnamon and a teaspoon of vanilla. Or you might consider having a plate of chocolate chip cookies sitting toward one side of the island. Slice-and-bake are easy and will leave a delicious aroma wafftng through the house. It's also a good idea to grind half a lemon in the garbage disposal to remove sink odors
#4 - I think your bookshelve look fantastic...but you may want to remove a few more books. In other words free up a little more space for that potential buyer . As you already know less is more. :-)
#5 the art work may be a little too high. Difficult to tell from the angle. And maybe the lamp could be raised up by putting a couple of books under it.
#6. Looks sweet...but hid the changing pad and wipes.
#7 - the mirror is reflecting closet doors. Move it over the small chest of drawers so it will reflect the beautiful fall leaves.
# 8 - You have already made the change I would have suggested! I wonder how it would look if you switched the pitcher and the candle sticks...
Are you selling it yourself or are you using an agent?
Would love to see the LR and family room from different angles. Is there a lamp in the FR?
How do the bathrooms look? Have you upped the wattage in your lamps?
Be sure to bake those apples! ;-)
Can the sofa be moved down so the mirror is centered on the back? It looks like the furniture is slid ding off the rug! With the brick and the furniture concentrated at one end it makes that side top heavy. So move the sofa down. You may have to switch the chairs then. Arrange them in a 'U' configuration. The armoire should be directly centered across from the sofa.
Move the little table that is next to the armoire to the right side of the sofa. Add a lamp. (the more lighting the better) Drape your throw on the right hand side of the sofa. Put the lumbar pillow in front of the pillow on the left hand side. (it looks nice, but people read a pillow in the center as uncomfortable since it has to be moved to sit down.) The small chair that is by the back door can go into the left corner by the back door. Put the pillow from the recliner in it. (men don't like pillows in their recliner!)
Do you have a small bookshelf that will fit under the window? If so pop a lamp on top to make it a reading corner. Don't have lamps? Thrift store and spray paint!
This is the place for that bowl of fruit! Clear the coffee table and put a small bowl of oranges on it. That's all it needs.
On to the LR! Remove the baskets under the coffee table. They make it look like you don't have enough storage. Remove about half the books to create the look of more space. (the books could go on a shelf in the family room.) Don't know what if anything is in that lovely dish on the coffee table, but swap it out for the silver bowl, top shelf, second row) then fill the silver one with peppermints.
The bookshelves are the focal point, but that don't aren't really drawing the eye. Bring the black tray from the top, right shelf down to the bottom, left shelf. Get rid of the basket. Put a few of the books you removed up there. Let's make the center portion really draw the eye. Swap the beautiful fish for the silver platter. Swap the red books/candle holders with the books/plate on the bottom shelf, third row. Arrange them so they read opposite from how they are now (with candlesticks on the left & books on the right) Now you need something that pops on the third shelf, third row. Maybe frame a piece of wrapping paper in a 5X7 frame?
Get rid on the center pillow on the sofa and the gold pillow on the slipper chair. Maybe put it on the wing back chair instead of the one that is there.
That's a lot of little things. I probably don't need to ask, but have you cleaned out the closets? The frig? Are the bathrooms perfect and do they smell divine? The master bath is a place to burn a candle or 3 candles (along the edge of the tub) BTW.
When you have the open house turn on every light! Basement included.
Oh my! This is a novel. I am going to make a separate post so I can share some other ideas to help you move that house!
Rent or borrow a professional camera with a wide-angle lens and be sure to take the photos on a sunny day. A wide-angle lens will make your house and property look much bigger. One in three houses are sold online today! People skip properties with poor pictures. Post at least six good, bright house photos, both inside and out, online. The more good pictures you post the better.
Next interview 3 real estate brokers. Ask friends, business associates and relatives for the names of ones they have used.Once you have a few names (3-5) give them a call and schedule interviews at your house. When they arrive they should come armed with a basic market value for your home. They will put this together abssed on recent neighborhood sales statistics. They should then walk through your house and sharpen that number by considering your home’s unique features and/or problems. Be suspicious if someone gives you a high number. They are just trying to secure a listing. You can tell the agent you are interviewing a few agents and will get back to him/her. Now you have gathered some very important information! You know what changes need to be made, you have a fair price, adn you know how quickly houses are selling in your neighborhood.
ANother way to move a house is to auction it off! Yep, auction. Run an add in the newspaper and on Criagslist and anywhere else you can think of. Have an open house over a designated weekend. Set a minimum bid and accept only sealed bids over the course of the next 3 days. High bidder wins!
If all else fails you can ahve a real estate companies put your home in the MLS for a one-time upfront fee of as little as $350. Yes, you will still have to pay the buyer’s agent 3%. But paying 3% rather than 6% if it sells, but it might be worth it if your house stays on the market more than a couple of months.
Oh...and I hope to see updated pictures again today or tomorrow!!!
:-D
If not then remove the armoir and remove whatever is on top of the E.C. Put the chair catty-corner and put a tall stack of books or a book shelf next to it. Add the pillow from the recliner.
Please post pictures as you go. You are doing an incredible job!
Exterior photos:
Post a new picture of the front of the house without cars in the driveway. All a potential buyer sees is your vehicles! They can't envision theirs in those spots if yours are there!
Second picture: you have repainted the bench, centered it under the window, removed the fake topiaries, etc. In these pictures there is nothing to draw the eye to the door, but I know with the mums and the wreath there is now with all the things you have done. :-)
Third picture: That can't be my house because there are lots of cars that belong to strangers are in the driveway!
Remove the Welcome friends sign at the door. That keeps people at the friend level. You want new owners!
In the next pictures it is more of the same - your cars in the drive. Then I come to one take from the right side looking toward the yard and the thing that catches my eyes is the thing that goes under a down spout, but it's just sitting in the middle of a shrub bed. The next one is fine. Keep it. Then I see two pictures that show lawn. Lots of lawn, lots of mowing. Delete them.
Neighbors across the street have a lovely home. So do the neighbors to the East and West, but you are not selling their homes, so delete the pictures. Too much information.
View of backyard - great. View of extra storage that can be used for this, that or the other not so good. Delete it. They can see it in person if they get that far. View of pasture - great. Remove dog run, blueberries, and bird house (unless you bird house.)TMI again.The exterior photo of the storage shed/bird hutch is all you need. No need to tell them what to use it for. Exterior shot of the workshop from the front view is enough. They can see the inside in person, because it looks rough (which is normal for a work shop, but no need to show the dirty laundry, so to speak. Wood stove pix good.
Love the back patio and pictures. Wish the cover were off the grill and the table were set with a couple of plates of burgers and chips and there were glasses on a trya with a glass pitcher full of tea. What Southerner worth his or her grits wouldn't want to sit down and eat right then?!?! Draw 'em in!
Whoops. Overload again.Third picture of patio needs to go.
You are going to hate me by the time I finish, but I will fearlessly continue. Back door from den looks sweet, but needs to have flowers by it. Bring a pot of mums from front for a reshoot.
Magnolia next to swing picture. Great concept, but can't be my house cause there's a strange car in the driveway...and a big 'ol garbage can there. Crop the picture to eliminate these unslightly items. Delete the next one of the swing and work shop. Use the third one.
Enjoy your coffee right here sounds inviting, but it needs to have a couple of steaming cups on a tray with a little nosegay of flowers.
My hubby said open all blinds, shades, shutters. He thinks it looks like you are trying to keep people out. So if you do decide to reshoot the photos keep that in mind.
OK...so that is all I have for the moment. I already have more in mind. I know I am overloading you though, so I will stop here and we will revisit it tomorrow.
I am rewriting your "About This Home' as well. I will post it and you can decide.
The shelves are better. I think a small vase of pink camelias would look nice on the shelf where you put the picture frame (3rd row, 3rd shelf from the bottom.) The would draw the eye toward the center...which is good. I wonder if a candle where the black vase is would do the same - draw the eye - if it were lighted?
I like the sofa with the middle pillow removed. It lookes like you could sit down now. The gold pillow doesn't work very well in the wing chair, does it? You should put the smaller pillow back. The coffee table is better with the basket gone. I can see the floor on the other side, which is good.
Flowers will work for that bowl. So will pinecones. What I had in mind was something most anyone will pick up and put in there mouth, hence the peppermints. Is there a place you can put a shallow dish of them? I think the vast majority of people will take a mint without thought...and food gives us a good feeling. Anyway, I believe if you can get food in their mouth you can get a 'sell' out of them. (just a personal theory)
Flowers in every room might be too much, unless they are fake. I have allergies and have had to leave houses because of the flowers or air freshner. That is the reason for using vanilla candles and boiling vanilla, etc. With vanilla and peppermint you are safe (though I can't eat peppermint I still like the smell.
You can always put wrapping paper, paper grocery bags, etc. in the bottom of a container to raise the item you want seen up. Like they do in gift baskets. Just make sure if any of the 'stuffer' should become visible it is something that looks nice (white tissue paper, colorful gift wrap, etc.)
I wonder if the throw were casually draped over the arm of the chair and a book were laid open, face down across the arm if it would look like one could just step over and curl up in the chair? We want people to imagine sitting there reading.
OK...let's move on, but first I need to go walk some dogs...
Have you tried the pots (that are in front of the plant stands) on the top step? They might help get some of that lovely color in front of peopel faster.
Yes, use the topiaries. By the patio doors would be inviting or the carport door. Whichever one you think needs them most.
Houses that have American flags hanging on them sell faster as well. If you have one available maybe you could hang it on the workshed. A wreath on that shed door would look good, especially if it coordinates with the one on the front door. :-)
When showing the house close all toilet lids. Open doors to areas you want the potential buyer to see such as walk-in closets, pantries, attic, basement, etc.
Have a print out of basic info for potential buyes to look at as they stroll through the house. When someone comes in ask them to excuse you while you step outside to make a phone call. Let them look around and be as critical as they like without fear of you hearing them. Of course all valuables have already been removed.
I didn't see a mail box, but it should be evaluated with a critical eye. Make sure all doors open easily and without squeaking.
I am hopping around tonight.
Do you have a floor plan on your web site? If not add one.
I have come up with these ideas alnernate ideas for you: Sell your house on eBay
This is a foolproof way to get your home attention with really zero risk involved. The only cost is a $150 fee. Ebay draws a lot of traffic to your home and what makes it really great is that you can walk away at the end. The auction is noncommittal. Even if someone meets your price, you can always change your mind.
Two out of three home buyers start their search online. The five highest-traffic Web sites are:
•#1 yahoo.com
•#2 craigslist.org
•#3 zillow.com
•#4 trulia.com
•#5 homes.com
THat's all for tonight. :-)
You have done a nice job of getting rid of clutter. Don't get expensive as they are buying the house and they know that.
I can tell you as a recent house shopper that the little details do make a difference. Too bad I don't live in your area...looks like a great buy to me.
Lyvonne
www.essentialsinside.com
Here are some guidelines for getting good interior photos I posted on another discussion:
To get decent interior photos, I would open the blinds (unless the view is bad), turn on all the lights (unless in the forground near the camera), set up the camera on a tripod, and take multiple long timed exposures with high depth of field (f8 is nice). Set the exposure on a mid-tone in the room and bracket the exposure. Watch for the time of day when the room is the brightest, and not too early (too blue) or too late (too red) in the day. If the light or room color looks off, try some with the tights turned off, or change bulbs.
If you notice in home magazines, many photos are done so the interior shows nicely but the windows are very light. Your home looks dark in the picture because it is thrown off by the window--if you can see the view as well as or better than the room, the exposure is off.
Do not rely on the flash to get a good picture--if you can, you can try bouncing the flash off of the ceiling during the timed exposure, but set one or two stops below the overall exposure. That is called fill flash. This is particularly important for rooms with lots of windows.
Take a look at your instruction manual or get a friend to help, and it is worth the price of an inexpensive but sturdy tripod. Press the shutter very gently to not wobble the cameria, and try different angles. Also a moderately wide angle lens can help, but can make verticals look distorted.
Try taking pictures from different places and from between sitting and standing height to see what shows your home to its best advantage in all rooms, and outside.
Your photos are already very nice and much better than most.
That shot of the backyard with the tea service is lovely although the background is a touch bright. Still, it is good enough you might be able to submit it for stock. Very inviting. When you take pictures of the front, pick a time of day when there are not such deep and harsh shadows on the porch--you can't even see the newly redone door and wreath.
My husband and I had a weekend get away, so I am just checking in.
WOW! You have done such a good job! I love the shot of the patio table with the tray. I want to come have coffee with you!
The living room couldn't get any more perfect. The blue book on the chair pulls your eye in and the color brings all the little touches of blue together.
Another little tweek is rearranging the pictures that are over the armoire in the nursery. Center them over the furniture rather than centered on the wall. Because you have several groupings of 3 pictures already try hanging these differently. Hnag the two taller ones so they are one over the other then the long one to the right side with the basket under it. I know they are all in the same size frame, but I couldn't think of how to describe them. I think you will understand though. :-)
.
I am going to wait until you tell me it's time before I look at your web site again.
I hope the neighbor decides teh house is perfect and buys it on Tuesday!
Thanks to all who helped me pull this off. I learned so much throughout this process, and it made my husband and me a believer in home staging. It's really hard to move a property in my small town. I would just LOVE to tell the realtors who told me my house would sell for $20K less than what I got how to do their job!
My MIL also suggested I center that artwork over the furniture and not the wall. But in the end, I didn't have to make that change, as the contract came in before I could attempt it.
Now all I have to do is find a new home to buy in our new town! Wish me luck.
THE END :)
I can hardly wait to help you decorate your new home! ;-)
Hope you have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!
Lyvonne
www.essentialsinside.com
I almost told Chipmunkmom that the Wouzza Houzza Team would be looking forward to seeing her new house! Thought maybe we should check with Houzz before using the name.
Gla to hear you were accepted in the OLLD club even atsuch a tender age. ;-)
janishill - someone not like you? That's crazy! I think you're awesome. I love reading your advice.
lisalovesquilts - congrats on being an OLLD doofus. (very much just kidding. :)
Lyvonne
www.essentialsinside.com
Maybe you have a new profession as a home stager!
I wanted to have them for myself for when I'm looking for things for my new house anyway.
See if you can get a floorplan from the realtor. I made multiple copies of mine, and keep taking notes on them...furniture placement, wall colors, flooring choices....
best of luck with your new home!
Lyvonne
www.essentialsinside.com