The author writes articles on Austin Real Estate Blog. For more information about Austin real estate, Austin builders and Austin Texas real estate can be found on the net.
When you went in search of your new home, did you even briefly consider the structures that were dirty on the inside or out? If paint was chipping, rugs were stained or wood chipped, did you look twice at the asking price or turn around in search of a home with more upkeep, more shine and more polish? If you say that the appearance of the home didn’t phase you at all, you’re lying.
The look of a building is often the final tipping point for an interested buyer. If it looks rundown and unloved, people will think there is no reason to consider it, let alone purchase and revitalize it. If it appears to be falling down, it will appear to be worthless. You will never sell your home and move to the pretty, clean one you discovered in the neighborhood you are moving to. Therefore, it is important from the moment you move in to the moment you relocate that you maintain the appearance of your house.
Begin by keeping the paint fresh and clean. Do not let it chip and fade into a disgusting example of neglect. Give it life by reapplying paint every few years. And when you do, don’t opt for the cheap no-name brands. Invest in high-quality paint that will give the rooms a feel of class and warmth. The best way to do this is to consult a paint dealer. He’s not just there to make money; he’s there to make happy customers, which means he is there to do whatever you need to maintain the look of your home. He’ll point you in the right direction for the right paint.
When you start applying the color, do so carefully and meticulously. Do not just slap it on as if there were no other concerns in the world. Color alone does not make the room. You are trying to make a good impression not convey to the public that you couldn’t care less about the condition of your walls. Go over the corners and edges slowly; clean up any bumps; and create an atmosphere that screams “I took my time; I care. This is worth something.”
Once you’ve got the walls taken care of, take a look at the wood surrounding them. Do they need to be refinished? Do the carpets need to be shampooed? Do they need to be replaced entirely? Are any of your tiles cracked or missing? Have the wood floors seen better days? Examine everything that could detract from the appearance of your home and give it life.
If you don’t care about how your home looks, no one will care about your home. Take the time to breathe beauty into the walls, floors and extras in your home and you’ll reap the rewards. You’ll have people oohing and aahing over the extras you’ve added. You’ll have friends envious of your gorgeous dining room and redone floors, and most importantly, you’ll have buyers scrambling to retrieve their checkbooks before the person behind them can do the same and snatch this well-loved property out from under their noses.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- Real Estate News From Austin, Texas
- The Barton Creek Community, Austin, Texas
- Wine Tasting in Austin, Texas
- Austin Texas' "East Avenue Development" On Schedule To Be Completed In 2010
- Austin Texas Real Estate
- Austin Texas 2008 Economic Forecast
- How to Have a Smooth Purchase in Austin, Texas - Part II
- Austin, Texas Lake Cruises and Boat Rentals
House Mortgage Refinance – To Capitalize When the Rates Are Low
By: Robert Linley | 23/11/2009With US President Barrack Obama signing off a landmark stimulus package, innumerable homeowners have been presented with a golden opportunity to opt for a house mortgage refinance at a much lower rate. This is really the best time to cash in on the situation as the interest rates for mortgages are not going to stay at this level for ever.
Real-Estate Investing is For Soccer Moms
By: S.A. Philipp | 23/11/2009ATLANTA, GA - If there is anyone who should seriously consider investing in real estate it is America's army of Soccer Moms. These extraordinary women generally have what it takes and need what it provides. The biggest threat to America's Soccer Mom is the lack of financial security and therefore...
Moving? Holding a Packing Pary
By: Timothy Clendaniel | 22/11/2009Moving involves a lot of work. There are utilities to disconnect at your old place and set up at your new one, changes of address to send, forms to complete and file, and packing. Packing usually involves the most work and takes the most time in the entire moving process. This...
Why I Love the Latest Home Stimulus Package
By: Mark Thomas Walters | 22/11/2009Since he became US President, Barack Obama has made the issue of housing one of his top priorities. He implemented the new home stimulus package that will help the housing industry with it's first time home buyers stimulus and home affordable plan. It helps lower income Americans to purchase new...
Miami Rental Property Application Tips – Letter of Employment
By: Mark Ferrer | 21/11/2009Nowadays, landlords are showing more leniency when it comes to choosing renters. Due to the number of vacancies, they cannot afford to be choosy. But while it’s really true that landlords are now willing to accept just about anyone, not all. There are still a number of landlords who puts protection of the property on top of their priorities. So if you find the owner of the Miami rental property you're applying for belongs to the stricter group of landlords and ask you for a letter of employment
Aventura Real Estate Seller Guide – CMA, Drives and Other Pricing Considerations
By: Mark Ferrer | 21/11/2009It’s natural for first-time home sellers to get confused when they arrive at the part where they need to come up with the right price for their Aventura real estate property. Unfortunately, they can also easily get the price wrong. Which is why there are several important contributing factors to think about to get this stage right. Don’t forget that the right price can mean the difference between a sale and a stale.
Helpful Tips in Determining the Fair Market Value of Your Coral Gables Real Estate Property
By: Mark Ferrer | 21/11/2009In home-selling, one of the most common (and costliest) mistakes homeowners make is pricing their property wrongly. If you sell your home too high, the property is at risk of getting stale from not receiving any visits from buyers. If you sell your home too low, you’ll surely regret the sale in the end. That is why getting the Fair Market Value for your property is important. If you're about to price your Coral Gables real estate property, here are some tips to consider.
Listing Homes for Sale – Listing Agreements and Other Considerations
By: Mark Ferrer | 21/11/2009One of the crucial steps in selling a home is listing the property. This is the part where homeowners get their homes for sale out there for buyers to see. There are steps within this part and it’s equally important to consider each. Read on to know what constitutes the entire listing process.
Vacant Homes are High Risk for Insurance Coverage
By: Joe Cline | 11/08/2008 | Real EstateEver since there have been kids and empty houses, there has been the potential for temptation and disaster. Kids like adventure and what's more adventuresome than an empty house and yard? For this reason, it's best to keep someone resident in a home that's on the market, if at all possible. Failing that, the homeowner would do well to examine his or her insurance policy to determine whether or not the house for sale is covered and, if so, for how long. As the national inventory of houses for sa
Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, How Does Your Garden Grow?
By: Joe Cline | 11/08/2008 | Real EstateYou’ve dreamt of a giant lawn with lush, green grass for years, ever since you moved from your parents’ home to the small apartment that occupied your twenties. Now that you have a house, you have a yard. There’s only one problem: it’s not the verdant landscape you imagined, or at least, it won’t be for long. That’s because a lawn takes work, maintenance and care to remain lively and beautiful. You can’t simply wish for green grass or blame Mother Nature when it turns brown; you have to create i
Do You Really Want a Mortgage at Retirement Age: it Can be a Bad Idea
By: Joe Cline | 11/08/2008 | Real EstateWhen you’ve reached retirement age and are ready to kick back and take life easy, it's not a good move to put yourself in the stressful position of having to pay a mortgage. Whether it's for a new house or second vacation home, if you have the savings, many financial advisors say pay cash. Mortgages increase risk at a time when it should be avoided. As you move retirement accounts from high-risk stocks to low-risk money market funds as you get closer to retirement day, it's just as prudent to a
Extended Coverage? Get a Residential Service Contract!
By: Joe Cline | 05/08/2008 | Real EstateFrom the outside it may seem pristine, with a perfectly manicured walkway, lush green lawn, symmetrical yet inviting garden beds and blossoming young trees. From the inside, the same will appear to be true. The walls will be perfectly painted. The floors will be freshly scrubbed. You won’t find a spec of dust on a single appliance, in any given nook or hidden beneath a rug. It will be a shining example of the perfect home. And then you’ll move in. Things you didn’t realize were there will rear
A Decent Tax Deduction: Getting to the Point on Mortgage Points
By: Joe Cline | 05/08/2008 | Real EstatePoints are everywhere. Pencils have points; pins have points. Conversations have points. Points can be earned; points can be lost. Points can be counted; points can be made. And in real estate, points can be paid. In real estate, points are your mortgage’s interest, your property taxes and your loan fees. They are the little things that push the cost of financing your new home, along with closing costs and down payments, up ever so slightly. They could be what makes you unable to afford the ho
Maintaining Your Four Walls: Repairing Dents and Cracks in Drywall and Plaster
By: Joe Cline | 04/08/2008 | Real EstateYour walls are what hold your home together. They are the all-important connection between the roof and the ground. Without them, you would have no house, no roof over your head and no place to hang your hat. You need your walls, which means you need them to be well maintained, and that can take a little bit of work. Over time your house starts to settle. It is not necessarily a sign that you have a problem with your house, but more a sign that the foundation beneath has shifted ever so slight
Like it or Not, Buyers Judge a House by Its Appearance
By: Joe Cline | 04/08/2008 | Real EstateWhen you went in search of your new home, did you even briefly consider the structures that were dirty on the inside or out? If paint was chipping, rugs were stained or wood chipped, did you look twice at the asking price or turn around in search of a home with more upkeep, more shine and more polish? If you say that the appearance of the home didn’t phase you at all, you’re lying. The look of a building is often the final tipping point for an interested buyer. If it looks rundown and unloved,
Austin Texas Real Estate: a Profile of the Reserve at Hudson Bend
By: Joe Cline | 01/08/2008 | Real EstateYou and your family deserve the best. You work hard all day, every day. When you come home, you should do so knowing that your house is located in a luxurious neighborhood and has luxurious amenities that will pamper you and let you forget about the stress of your job. The Reserve at Hudson Bend will give you just that. It is a small community located north of Austin in Texas Hill Country waiting to give you a permanent taste of luxury. History Austin is a large city, but it can’t fit all the