This Week’s Designed to Sell Strategies

In today’s tough market you need every advantage you can get. Here are some ways to get that competitive edge.

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Paint old doors and casing to give them a fresh look.
Living Areas
Don’t clutter your fireplace mantel with too much stuff, especially family photographs. Personal items will distract buyers from the fireplace which is probably one of your best selling features.

Be sure to set out a floor plan with the dimensions of each room, this way potential buyers can see exactly what they're getting and can envision their furniture in the space.

If your doors and casing look old and outdated, give them a fresh coat of sparkling white paint. It will make your whole house look cleaner and more contemporary.

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Don't forget to spruce up foyers and stairways.
Open stairways and foyers need to draw buyers up and in. Clear out the clutter and add a little color.

Myth buster: floor-to-ceiling mirrors do not make a room look bigger. They only make a room look outdated.

Evidence of pets is a turnoff to many buyers, so keep their presence under wraps.

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Clean out the basement make it multi-fuctional.
Get rid of shabby apartment-grade window blinds. New window treatments are an easy and inexpensive fix that can change a room dramatically.

If you’ve got a large finished basement, consider breaking the space into separate zones. It will actually make the space look bigger and appear to have more function.

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Stainless sells
Kitchens
If your kitchen is outdated, invest in a new cooktop, stove or refrigerator. Studies show that sellers recoup every penny they spend on appliances.

New appliances are a huge selling point for buyers, but don’t leave the protective plastic on them — you want to show them off. Take the plastic off, but keep the manuals nearby so buyers will know they’re getting new appliances.

Stainless steel looks great in the kitchen and will help you sell your house, but not with fingerprints all over it. An easy and eco-friendly way to keep stainless clean is to mix one part vinegar with one part water and wipe with a clean cloth.

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Update cabinets with new doors, drawers and hardware.
If you can’t afford new cabinets, just get new doors and drawer fronts. Then paint everything to match and add new hardware.

Instead of replacing the entire dishwasher, you may be able to get a new front panel. Check with the manufacturer to see if they sell replacements for your model. If not, laminate paper can be used to re-cover the existing panel. The laminate goes on like contact paper and costs about $20 a sheet.

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Declutter countertops
When staging your kitchen for home buyers, keep the countertops nice and clear. Just put out a few well-placed items and for a punch of color, add fresh fruit or flowers.

If you’re redesigning your kitchen, keep function in mind. Home buyers often look for a proper L-shape or triangular work space.

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Lose the dated tile.
Bathrooms
Do you have a pink bathtub from the 1950s or 1970s brown tile in the shower? Consider having them reglazed. It costs a lot less than replacements and can make your bathroom look brand new. What is cool vintage to you maybe just plain old to someone else.

To remove mold from grout, try a simple solution of bleach and water. If that doesn't work, try staining the grout.

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Use an eggshell or semi-gloss paint in the bathroom.
Real estate agents say they often catch house hunters opening medicine cabinets and snooping. Clean out bathroom cabinets so they look spacious and neat.

Spruce up an old bathroom vanity with paint or stain and new hardware. Use a good primer and enamel paint, flat paint will not work in a wet area.