Saturday, August 21, 2010

Home For Sale? Maximize Your Entryway For a Great First Impression

When prospective buyers come to look at your home, your entryway is going to be the first thing they see. Here are some tips on how to make their first impression of your home's interior a great one!

1. Clean, clean, clean.

Cleanliness is the cheapest and best method to make your entryway attractive. Wipe down fixtures, walls, and floors. A cleaner with natural citrus oils can leave a pleasant scent behind. Ruthlessly clean corners and behind any doors.

2. Declutter.

Make sure that only the minimum number of items are present to provide a clean, spacious look to your entryway. Put away all unnecessary items, including shoes, coats and hats. Make sure there is a place for visitors to place their shoes and other things when doing a walkthrough.

3. Keep it simple for the holidays.

Even if you adore Christmas, keep your decorations simple. A garland on the door and some holiday-themed decorations are one thing; massive amounts of ornaments, skeletons in the corner and bats hanging in the doorway aren't.

4. Add a table.

A table allows people on a walkthrough to leave their bags, coats and other paraphernalia on something other than the floor. It doesn't have to be very big; just of an appropriate height for people to use it as a landing strip.

5. Plants

Fresh flowers or a few well-cared-for plants in an unobtrusive location can give your entryway a sense of space and provide a pleasant accent. Avoid plants that require a lot of care or that "shed" a lot; the last thing you need is a dead plant decorating your home's entrance!

6. Mirrors

A mirror can make a narrow entryway seem larger. Elaborate frames or different sizes of multiple mirrors can also work as a neutral decoration. It's also the place for last-minute checks of hair and face, which can help put buyers at ease when visiting a strange home, even if the owners aren't present!

7. Neutral Decorations

Take down any personal photographs or art and put up some pleasant, neutral themed artwork to greet the eyes of people walking in. You don't want your personality to shine in a house that you're trying to sell; neutral decorations and furnishings will help enable people to visualize themselves in your home.

8. Use that closet.

Even an entryway closet should be clean and empty of all save coat hangers. This creates the illusion of more space and a more welcoming entryway. If the closet is empty and ready to hang coats and hats, prospective buyers can imagine the coats of their friends filling that space.

Staging a home for selling is a fine art and first impressions are so important. If you carefully stage your entryway to be a warm, welcoming area, it sets the tone for your buyers' entire visit.



Source : Ezineartcles

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