When your home is for sale, it is now a product that needs to appeal to the greatest number of buyers. Walls, along with the floors, are the bones of a home and they need to be in good condition and neutral in appearance so that they do appeal to the greatest number of buyers.
People are heavily influenced by color, and it is difficult for buyers to look past the dark purple or other strong colors on the walls.
Paint is an inexpensive but effective way to re-decorate a room. It can update a kitchen or bathroom, make a small room seem to be larger, and make architectural details like molding or built-ins pop.
Dirty and scratched walls and peeling paint turn off buyers.
Potential buyers will be thinking about how they have to take the time and spend the money to repaint; or even worse, thinking ‘I don't want to buy this place".
Painting does cost money for both labor and materials, but its benefits far exceed its cost. Even if the buyer is willing to make an offer, you can bet it will be less than asking to compensate for the paint job they will have to do.
Paint Sheens (all Benjamin Moore Regal)
Follow these guidelines for choosing paint finishes:
Flat - good for ceilings (use Benjamin Moore Decorator's White). Can also be used for walls if the walls have a lot of imperfections as these would be more noticeable when painted with a sheen or gloss. However, flat paint is more difficult to clean than paint with a sheen or gloss.
Eggshell - good for bedrooms and living and dining rooms. Highly washable, durable and stain resistant.
Matte - good for busy areas like hallways and kids' rooms as it is a flat paint but highly stain resistant and durable.
Pearl - good for hallways, bathroom and kitchen walls, and kids' rooms as it is highly durable and can withstand repeated washings.
Semi-Gloss - good for trim and doors, and also kitchen and bathrooms. It is highly durable, scrubbable and washable. Use a color in the white family to make trim pop.
If you prefer to choose one finish for walls in all rooms, then Eggshell is recommended.
Paint Colors
Before purchasing any paint, test a sample on the wall. Benjamin Moore now sells small jars of the most popular colors, or invest in purchasing a quart. If the wall has a dark color on it, hold a white piece of paper next to your sample. Look at your sample painted swatch at different times of the day to see if it changes color with the lighting.
When painting a home that is for sale, it is best to stick with neutral colors. And that doesn't mean white, as it is very stark and cold. It also doesn't mean it has to be some variation of off-white or beige, but can be a certain shade of green, blue, brown, gold or earth-toned red.
If you wish to "play it safe", the following is a list of colors that are in the off-white or beige category.
Recommended Neutral Paint Colors For Walls
Below are color swatches of my recommended netural paint colors, as well as a list of the colors. Keep in mind that the appearance of the color on the swatch may not reflect it's true color as it depends upon the monitor settings with which you are viewing them.
Natural Wicker (OC-1)
Elephant Tusk (OC-8)
Muslin (OC-12)
Cedar Key (OC-16)
Collingwood (OC-28)
Tapestry Beige (OC-32)
Misty Air (OC-44)
Hazy Skies (OC-48)
Gentle Cream (OC-96)
Pale Celery (OC-116)
Celery Salt (OC-136)
Shelburne Buff (HC-28)
Edgecombe Gray (HC-173)
Manchester Tan (HC-81)
Rich Cream (2153-60)
Note: All Benjamin Moore
Do you have any favorite neutral colors you use or recommend? I'd love to add them to my list.
Boat Dock: 250' Pier on the Patuxent River With Deep Water
Discover your new favorite getaway! Your new home is located just over an hour from Washington, DC and 45 minutes from Annapolis,Maryland. This waterfront estate is unlike any other property you will find on the market today. Home offers 7 bedrooms, 8 baths and is nestled on 4.27 acres of prime waterfront. Private pier and cabana for your enjoyment.
For additional information or to schedule a personal tour, contact Chris Minion or Rita Minion.
Great opportunity for waterfront buyer! Engergy Star Home has very efficient utilities! This Colonial style home offers 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths with 2,264 sq. ft. of living space. A few of the amenities include spacious rooms, plenty of closet & storage space, unfinished basement with bathroom plumbing, 20 ft. pier on Mill Creek and nice views from many rooms. New 24 x 25 attached garage. Spacious rear deck (18 x 18), gas back up heat, motion floor lights & much more. Home shows great!
Home is located in a water access community, the Chesapeake Ranch Estates. A few of the community amenities include 2 beaches on the Chesapeake Bay, Lake Lariat & beach, airpark, clubhouse, horse stables, garden, ballfield, 2 boat ramps and playground.
Minutes to shopping, restaurants, marine activities & the resort town of Solomons. Convenient to Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Easy commute to DC/VA and Annapolis areas.
For additional information or to schedule a viewing appointment, contact Chris Minion or Rita Minion today.
DISCOVER WATERFRONT LIVING IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND.... where relaxation is a lifestyle, not a vacation!
We consider Southern Maryland an excellent place to reside and would love to share with you our enthusiasm for the many neighborhoods that encompass it. Our local expertise & extensive real estate experience will benefit you whether you are serious about buying or selling a waterfront property in Southern Maryland.
We Specialize in a Variety of Properties: Waterfront Properties, Vacation Homes, Second Homes & Relocation Services.
This charming & remodeled "Cape Cod" style home won't last long! Beautiful remodeled kitchen & bath, hardwood floors, ceramic tile foyer, new roof, new windows. Deck, front porch. rear fenced yard. Detached garage and in-ground pool too! Home offers 3 bedrooms and 1 bath. Great Leonardtown location!
Convenient to shopping, restaurants, hospital & Patuxent River Naval Air Station.
For additional information or to schedule a viewing appointment, contact Rita Minion or Chris Minion!
JUST REDUCED! Rambler For Sale In Greenbrier Community On Quiet Cul-de-sac - $239,000!
RAMBLER STYLE HOME LOCATED SOUTH OF PAX RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION
Location: Lexington Park
County: St. Mary's
Community: Greenbrier
Address: 47407 Topaz Place
List Price: $239,000
MLS# SM7174344
This charming 4 bedroom, 3 full bath Rambler style home shows great! A few of the features inlclude ceiling fans, front porch, rear deck, shed, rear fenced yard, paved driveway, vaulted ceiling in livingroom, kitchen with breakfast bar/counter, separate dining area, finished basement, separate laundry room in lower level & all appliances convey including the washer & dryer. HMS Home Warranty too! Home is situated on a quiet cul-de-sac location.
Convenient to shopping, restaurants, hospital, Patuxent River Naval Air Station & the resort town of Solomons. Easy commute to DC/VA & Annapolis areas.
For additional information or to schedule a viewing appointment, contact Rita Minion or Chris Minion.
To view additional listing information & photos, visit: 47407 Topaz Place
Southern Maryland Is A Great Place To Visit...... An Even Better Place To Live!
Discover Southern Maryland.....where relaxation is a lifestyle, not a vacation.
We consider Southern Maryland an excellent place to reside and would love to share with you our enthusiasm for the many neighborhoods that encompass it. We pride ourselves on providing unparalleled service & look forward to developing a long term relationship with you. Our local expertise & extensive real estate experience will benefit you whether you are serious about buying or selling a home in Southern Maryland.
We Specialize in a Variety of Properties: Waterfront Properties, Vacation Homes, Second Homes, First Time Home Buyers, Investment Properties, Foreclosures, Horse Properties & Relocation Services.
Hello Everybody-Today at work a woman who rescues animals brought in this sweet little 3 month old male beagle named Fred whose Mom had been euthanized by the animal shelter. The puppies escaped this fate and were rescued by a woman named Phyllis. Besides Fred there are three females.
They all need a good home. If anyone is interested in adopting Fred or his three sisters or knows anyone who might be you can call Phyllis at (434)993-3523.
So as YOU can see we occasionally have more than sneakers, medical and teddy bears show up on our doorstep.
WATERFRONT HOME FOR SALE IN ST. MARY'S COUNTY WITH FRONTAGE ON ST. INIGOES CREEK
PRIVATE WATERFRONT RETREAT!
Location: St. Mary's County
List Price: $599,000
Body of Water: St. Inigoes Creek
Dock: 50' Pier with 4'+ MLW
Untold treasure on this amazing & private waterfront retreat. Almost 2 acres with 750' of waterfront on St. Inigoes Creek. Amazing sunsets! 50' pier with 4'+ MLW.
This captivating 3 bedroom, 2 bath "Rambler" style home offers 1,475 sq. ft. of living space. A few of the features include cedar beamed, cathedral ceilings in the great room, hardwood floors, open kitchen w/island & dining area, large screened porch, garage & an in-ground pool!
For additional information or to schedule a personal tour, contact Chris Minion or Rita Minion today!
Convenient to Patuxent River Naval Air Station, shopping, restaurants and the resort town of Solomons.
DISCOVER WATERFRONT LIVING IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND.... where relaxation is a lifestyle, not a vacation!
We consider Southern Maryland an excellent place to reside and would love to share with you our enthusiasm for the many neighborhoods that encompass it. Our local expertise & extensive real estate experience will benefit you whether you are serious about buying or selling a waterfront property in Southern Maryland.
We Specialize in a Variety of Properties: Waterfront Properties, Vacation Homes, Second Homes & Relocation Services.
Ok, so I went to this house Thursday and took some pictures and emailed the quote to the Realtor Friday. Well, instead of answering my quote, she called me yesterday (Saturday) at 11am and asked if I could help her do some staging for the open house TODAY (Sunday). So....I started throwing things into my car, ran to the store to get a few things, started at 4:00 and finished at 7:00, ready for open house today. A little goes a long way....she was happy. PS. I should start charging extra for same day staging. LOL
The biggest bang for your buck, by far, is using paint to improve your home's appearance. Paint will make a room cleaner, fresher, brighter, and more stylish. It gives buyers the impression that the house has been well maintained and cared for. It makes your home more competitive with new construction.
Paint can be used to help minimize negative features and to help showcase positive features. It can be used to create a flow throughout the house and to create a lasting positive impression.
Many people have trouble choosing paint colors or are afraid of making the wrong choice. Many times sellers choose colors that they personally like, without taking into consideration the need to be appealing to all potential buyers. It is very important that the colors you choose are neutral, but not bland. Most professional home stagers offer Color Consultations as one of their services, and it is a smart idea to seek the advice of a professional before purchasing your paint.
If you currently have your house on the market or are planning on selling your house in the near future, then this seven-part series was written for you.
In addition to the traditional use for paint, improving the general appearance of a room, I would like to share some other ways paint can be used to help make your home more appealing to buyers.
Prior to staging, this library lacked impact. The built-in bookcases and fireplace were great features, but they were not being showcased. Painting the walls with a rich, warm color made these features POP.
The opposite of the previous example...this den was dark and needed to be lightened. A brighter room was achieved by painting the dark woodwork a lighter color. Painting the shelves and the wall behind them the same color created a more custom "built-in" look.
This laundry room is one of my favorite transformations and is featured on my website. This was valuable real estate space that was not being properly marketed. By painting the cabinets white like the appliances, a cleaner and more pleasant room to do household chores was created.
Walls and cabinets aren't the only places to use paint...
these worn steps were given new life by painting them a rich black.
Other cost effective ways to use paint to prepare your house for sale:
Paint old furniture to give it new life
Update brass light fixtures and brass fireplace screens with black or bronze spray paint
Improve the appearance of mirrors
Update artwork by painting the frame
Use spray paint to revive patio furniture and flower pots
This concludes my seven-part series on The Secrets of Selling. I hope you have found it useful and informative. For more information on preparing your home for sale, visit my website ... or search online for a professional home stager in your area.
Consulting with a professional home stager before you list your home
is the most important "secret to selling" there is!
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In Feng Shui, the kitchen is where the kind of prosperity we all want really begins. The "bills are paid, food in the pantry, good wine in the cabinet and wanting for nothing" type of abundance.
The kind of 'having' that feeds--literally--ALL other wealth endeavors.
There's a saying in speculation not to 'gamble scared money'. The rich do indeed get richer--probably because they don't worry about trying for more--they have more than they need already.
The prevailing feeling that "our sustenance will not be threatened."
The kitchen is a key area in Feng Shui practice because if it is a disaster, it will breed disorganization and ultimately, lack.
The kitchen is also, often, the most used (or as the case often is, misused) area of the home and therefore the most in need of constant tending.
Here are some basics to whip your kitchen into shape and energize prosperity and abundance in your life:
The kitchen MUST SHINE. Mirrors reflect, and thereby increase. Increase is what it's all about. If you can have stainless steel in your kitchen and it is a compatible element with the area of the home in which your kitchen is located, and you can keep it shiny, fantastic.
Shiny floors and especially carefully cleaned corners are important. Dull and stagnant energy gathers in corners and must be removed. It's okay to have rugs in high traffic areas but they too must be frequently cleaned. Nothing should be allowed to stay dirty.
Under cabinets must not be neglected. Just because something is unseen does not diminish the energy it generates. NO part of the house should be 'creepy' and getting under the sink to change out plumbing and wipe down shelves is important.
Cabinets organized. Where do junk drawers end up? You betcha--the kitchen. Tackle any repository for clutter first.
Dishes at very least loaded into dishwasher before bedtime. You will want to start your day with a spotless kitchen to symbolically invite prosperity in and set the tone for your day to be seamless.
Trash cans--small and frequently emptied--under sink or out of the way.
The stove is probably the most important element of the kitchen. The ancients believed the stove to be critical because the ability to cook food was literally the ability to stay alive! It deserves its own standalone tips:
If you can get a mirror (no matter how small) up on the wall behind the burners, to reflect and multiply the number of burners, you will be increasing prosperity. The more burners you have, the more food you can cook, symbolically and actually--and the greater the prosperity.
Burners need to be evenly used. We all get attached to the front burners when we cook. But make sure and alternate with back burners. We don't want ANY profitable activity to be stuck on the back burner!
Burners MUST be kept clean and all parts free moving. Oven and broiler ditto. Clean and degrease often.
Pantries are likewise very important because they represent abundance--the food that is in the pantry will be mimicked by the wealth in the rest of the home. Keep your pantry stocked with lots of staples, but use and replace often too. When you have something besides a vintage wine in a cabinet for too long, it creates stagnant energy. Use, enjoy and replace! I line my pantry shelves with foil which I replace often. I want the shine in there! (YMMV, of course. I just go with my instincts.)
The refrigerator is often neglected and very important to generating wealth. They don't call it cold cash for nothing! Clean frequently and move items around. Discard old often.
If your idea of cooking dinner is calling for takeout and popping a beer, no worries. You're better off cooking, which is one of the most magical things we can do! But if it's not your thing, simply turn burners on and off on regular occasion. Try to learn to cook, though. You're limiting options!
Bells and chimes are great to have in a kitchen. They move energy via sound--very powerful.
A bowl of fresh fruit or fresh flowers, changed often, are an awesome way to beautify, treat the senses and demonstrate abundance.
I hope the Feng Shui masters can add to this. :)
So next time you're struggling with a closing from you know where or need your home to sell FAST . . . cook a gourmet meal, then clean up spotless and light a candle of red, purple, green or gold to change filth to filthy lucre!
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
New Hampshire Home Stager
Other cost effective ways to use paint to prepare your house for sale: 
he prevailing feeling that "our sustenance will not be threatened."
;)
;)
