Get your home resale ready

First impressions are everything when selling your home. While you may love your trendy, colourful home, your style may not resonate well with potential new homeowners. Sharon Grech, Benjamin Moore Colour and Design Expert, shares her advice on how to make simple tweaks to increase your home's value.

The power of colour. Colour is so subjective, which creates a challenge when showing and selling your home. “You can't please everyone. Staging your home for sale can make it appeal to a broader market while also increasing its perceived value. Try to keep your colours simple and neutral so prospective buyers can imagine more of themselves in the space and less of you,” says Grech. “Choose colours and shades that complement your furniture and décor to create a sense of harmony.” She recommends mid-tone neutrals like Revere Pewter HC-172 or Jute AF-80. Timing is everything. Colour can drastically change depending on lighting. Consider the time of day you will be showing your home, as this can impact the overall look and feel of a space. “Typically, open house hours are between 2 and 4 p.m.,” says Grech. “Take into consideration the time of day you'll be showing your home and make your colour selections at that time.”

Leave a lasting impression. While your home's exterior will make the first impression on your prospective buyers, it also makes the last impression — which is why it is so important to spruce things up outside the home. “Small touches like a fresh coat of paint on the front door, repainting or staining the porch and railings and even adding a few potted plants can instantly provide curb appeal,” says Grech. “This is your opportunity to leave a first and final lasting impression.”

Other affordable cosmetic changes that can make a big difference in creating a fresh, clean and up-to-date looking space that Grech recommends include:

• Replacing out-dated light fixtures and hardware

• Removing/hiding clutter storing in attractive baskets or storage containers

• Installing window coverings – light or sheer window coverings will allow more light into a room, making it appear larger and more welcoming

• Repainting walls and trim

• Painting kitchen cabinets

Find more information at www.benjaminmoore.ca.

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