When preparing to sell your home, think about hoe your personal decorating style may affect prospective buyers. You want your hoe to be clean and clutter-free and as neutral as possible so prospective buyers can visualize how their furnishings will look in your home. And keep in mind, there is a difference in how you live on your home and how it should look when it's on the market.

Neutralize your home

Paint in a palette that won't jar potential buyers and that allows your personal belongings to blend into the background. Do this by lightening and brightening your color scheme in small, inexpensive ways.

Repaint walls in neutral colors - white, off-white, beige or gray. Not only will a new coat of paint freshen your rooms, but painting all rooms in a similar neutral color scheme will make your home seem more unified and spacious. Painting dingy woodwork can also help heighten up a room. Cover dark chairs or sofas with crisp, neutral slipcovers to let them blend into the background. Add color with accessories such as pillows, vases of fresh flowers or a small area rug.

Create an entry

What does your home say when prospective buyers walk in the front door? Since your front entry is your home's first visual impression, you want it to be as inviting as possible.

Even if your home doesn't have a distinct entryway, you can create one that is warm and welcoming using a few suggestions from the pros: Establish a focal point, or decorative lamp. You might add attractive storage with a wall shelf or a table artfully arranged with a few well-chosen collectibles or flowers. Or just hang a picture or mirror on the wall, and put out a decorative throw rug.

Let the light shine in

A home that's awash with natural sunlight is desirable to prospective buyers - so open your curtains, raise the shades and let the sun shine in! Move large furnishings away from windows if they block the light or view. And make sure windows are sparkling clean!

Allow window coverings to recede into the background. If yours are old and dingy, or block light and the view, take them down. Replace with simple mini-blinds or shades. Or dress up windows with a simple draping of sheer fabric that lets the light shine through

Lighting for a brighter look

Proper lighting is a must for brightening your rooms. Be sure the lighting is adequate in each area for the tasks performed there - putting on make-up in the bathroom, food preparation in the kitchen, reading in the living room and bedrooms. Use the highest watt bulbs your fixtures will accommodate and add inexpensive strip lighting in areas that may be a bit dark

In addition, if you have a particularly nice feature or area - perhaps a plant or artwork - create a little showbiz with a spotlight on the subject. To create a special mood in one of your rooms, such as the dining room, install a dimmer switch. And when the home is going to be shown, turn on the lights - to show your home in its best light.

Merchandising tips

  - Remove excess furniture and knickknacks

  - Neutralize rooms with a fresh coat of paint in white, beige, off-white or gray.

  - Rearrange the furniture in each room for a more spacious look.

  - Add a splash of color and fragrance to any room with a fresh flower arrangement.

  - Put new logs in the fireplace.

  - Arrange colorful candles and candlesticks on a coffee table or fireplace mantel.

  - Add inexpensive strip lights to brighten up dark areas such as under cabinets or in bathrooms.

  - Dry-clean or launder window coverings or remove if they are dark and worn. Install mini-blinds, shades or sheer curtains.

  - Install the highest watt bulbs your fixtures will accommodate.

  - Open draperies and blinds and turn on lights before a showing of your home.
 

For a copy of this brochure, please e-mail Dan O'Brien and request the "Fresh Ideas for your kitchen" brochure.

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