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Tips for Your Home…Light the Way

By
Home Stager

Tips for Your Home…Light the Way


When you’re planning on selling your home, everyone will tell you that first impressions matter…and they do!!!

And, those first impressions take hold even if there is a second viewing. 

 

Years ago when we were looking for a home in Northern VA, the agent and I viewed a home that on paper looked like it was what we’d been looking for. It was a seller’s market and we’d been looking for months. 

We walked in and could barely see the interior of the home. All of the window coverings were closed and no lights were on.

We flipped every switch in the kitchen and walked around finding lamps or lights so we could see the property. We opened the closed drapes to the patio area as well. 

By the time we turned on, flipped, and opened the blinds, I’d lost interest in the property. 

 

Whether or not it is a seller’s or buyer’s market, it is a good idea to make sure that your property shows all of the possibilities it has to offer.  You want to remove anything that would distract the buyer from viewing the property as if they were living in it. Running from room to room turning on lights was distracting!

 

When I was asked why staging a vacant property was important, one of the reasons I gave was a practical one…with no furniture in the house, the only light available to the buyer was the overhead lights or windows. 

Tips to Add Light to Your Rooms that Won’t Break the Bank…


~Remove your window screens

If you have them, now would be a good time to remove them and clean your windows. And, did you know that doing this can allow up to 40% more light in?

 

~Remove heavy drapes or window coverings and make sure that blinds or shutters are open to let the light in. 

~Add additional lamps to your secondary rooms. 

When I have consulted on occupied homes, 80% of the time, the secondary rooms, especially the bedrooms have only the overhead light that the builder puts in.

Add lamps to the nightstands and if there is a desk or dresser, add a lamp there as well. 

 

~Kitchen and Bathrooms

You can purchase inexpensive lamps that fit perfectly on kitchen counters in a dark corner or in bathrooms. 

 

~Use mirrors

 A well-placed mirror can reflect the light entering from a window or patio door. 

 

 

Let your buyers see what they’re buying!  And even if you aren’t selling, why not set the mood for your own home. 




Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

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for Houston & Harris Counties
and
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Comments(30)

Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

Nothing worse than walking into a dark home. Terrible first impression for sure.

Mar 01, 2022 08:41 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Kathy,  I am not a fan of sky lights but if that what it takes to make the place lighter, do it.

 

Mar 01, 2022 09:10 AM
Pat Champion
John Roberts Realty - Eustis, FL
Call the "CHAMPION" for all your real estate needs

Great post and information to share. I always tell my seller's it really is all about making the first impression a lasting one.

Mar 01, 2022 09:53 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Kathy the lighting in a house is huge in how it shows, and even the mode it sets.

Mar 01, 2022 03:47 PM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Hi Kathy Streib, I experienced this today. At 12N, inside the home was completely dark, not something you want to experience at a showing. I always advise my seller clients to open all the blinds/curtains and leave all the lights on for all showings.



 

Mar 01, 2022 05:01 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

The difference light makes in a home is the difference between night and day!

Mar 01, 2022 05:22 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Wayne Martin I love that!!!!  Larry and I realized early on that we need high ceilings and lots of windows!

Nina Hollander, Broker I don't understand either. I don't like overhead lights so our rooms always have lamps. 

Mar 01, 2022 05:35 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400 The good thing is that the tips are really easy and pretty inexpensive. 

Kat Palmiotti when we were looking for homes in Northern VA, I was so impressed by the listing agent. Every home we viewed that she had listed had every light on before we arrived. And all window coverings were open. 

Mar 01, 2022 05:38 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Brian England I agree. When we lived in FL I reminded my clients that part of what buyers wanted was that beautiful pool area and sunshine. Don't hide it. 

Hi Bill Salvatore - YVP Blog And even AZ has a few dark and cloudy days. 

Mar 01, 2022 05:43 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Joan Cox it is a must to do!!!

Roy Kelley Thank you. Say hello to Chef Dolores. 

Michael Jacobs well done with the words!!!

Mar 01, 2022 05:46 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Ron and Alexandra Seigel thank you very much!!!  I always have a small lamp in my kitchen. I love soft lighting to warm the kitchen. 

Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty even in sunny South Florida, there are dark cloudy days. 

Mar 01, 2022 05:48 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Will Hamm we've had sky lights in a few homes and they really do let in a lot of lights!!

Pat Champion precisely!!!  Some people we have to spend more time telling them. 

Mar 01, 2022 05:49 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

George Souto it is key!  I staged a bank-owned property in 2008. the previous owners had removed every light fixture in the 3 million dollar home. 


Hi Beth Atalay that must have been a terrible way to begin a showing. Even when you tell your sellers this, you can't always rely on them to remember. And, thank you for the feature in Bananatude. 

Mar 01, 2022 05:58 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

You said it Myrl Jeffcoat 

Mar 01, 2022 05:59 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Kathy I am all about light, funny we just did a bit of repair on our house and it was all light  related:)Endre

Mar 02, 2022 12:00 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Excellent advice and tips, Kathy.

I walked away from more than one home, without even stepping inside, when I was looking to buy. The good news for those of us who are capable of seeing past the negative...we have less competition when others walk away.

Mar 02, 2022 08:44 AM
Aura Alex
Seattle, WA
Retired Real Estate Pro

Kathy, excellent tips for getting more lights. I love windows and natural sunlight, but there are too many "cloudy" days in the Pacific NW. Lighting is essential!!

Mar 02, 2022 11:13 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Excellent tips on lighting Kathy.  It always surprises me when I go into a dark home and have to turn on all the lights and open the blinds.  That really should go without saying - is not the smartest move for a listing agent or seller.

Mar 02, 2022 12:33 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Kathy Streib - Great tips on letting more light in.  I always make sure that the windows are cleaned...and preferably before the photo shoot.  I have had sellers tell me how much it made a difference, just in the way the saw their own property. 

Mar 03, 2022 09:04 AM
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

Kathy, I totally agree with you. Years ago I got a listing that had been on and off the market for 3 years. Before I went to the house, I looked at all the old withdrawn and expired listings for the property. I thought the house was going to be dark and have 7-8 ft. high ceilings because of the age of the home and the lighting. When I got to the house, I was pleasantly surprised. There was an abundance of natural sunlight in the home. The ceiling height was 9 ft. I made sure my photographer took photos at the right time of the day to show how well the sunlight came through bringing out the beauty of the home. I sold it fairly quickly for the market we were in. Sometimes, lighting is everything.

Mar 06, 2022 05:44 AM