Hi everyone!

Sometimes we get so focused on perfecting our indoor spaces that we neglect the outdoors. But if you're designing to sell, you've got to pay attention to every last detail! I wanted to share this patio project I worked on with my team at HGTV , because it shows how simple it can be to make your outdoor spaces beautiful!

For this patio, we replaced an old outdoor carpet with new, wood flooring, then we borrowed furniture from the neighbors to make it cozy and complete! Voila!

Have you redecorated your patio recently? Send me your pictures! You can private message me or post the pictures to your profile here on LisaLaPorta.com and "like" them.

Ciao!
Lisa

Hi everyone!

Often, the most neglected room in the house is the guest room. But when you use your guest room as a messy storage closet, you might as well be subtracting square footage from your home!

This guest room was bland when HGTV’s Designed To Sell team (including yours truly!) arrived at the scene, but we made a few changes to make it stand out. Take a look and keep in mind that the changes we made are still neutral enough to be attractive to most homebuyers. If you’re designing to sell, be sure not to go over board with bold design choices.

What does your guest room look like?

Ciao!
Lisa

Hi Gang!

I received this letter from reader Sandy Gregory, and thought I’d share her question, since it comes up so frequently! Check it out:

“I've been in my home 28 years, but would like some updating (sprucing up) for one day soon when I anticipate I'll have to sell it. I have seen the low budget makeovers where people actually don't want to move afterward, as it looks so much better than when they lived in it. I don't know where to start with minimal decorating/updating – I’m hoping to get top dollar in a market where it’s hard to sell in the first place. How can I get maximum dollars for my house when I decide it’s time to move?”

First of all, Sandy, thanks for the question! I assure you, you’re not the only one wondering this – actually your question is the very premise of the show “Designed To Sell”. Recently, I’ve posted a bunch of clips from “Designed To Sell” right here on LisaLaPorta.com. In each of these episodes, my team and I are presented with a completely new project – each house has a unique set of features and design challenges, but there are also common fixes that we do for every home, like repainting.

If you take a look at the clips here, you are bound to get inspired! Then, post pictures of your own unique home to your profile and "like" them, so I can get a look at them. I may be able to blog about quick fixes or updates that you can do to spruce up your home for a successful sale - and that goes for everyone else too! Post your pictures to your profile and "like" them - I'll take a look and try to get to each one of you with my advice!

xo,
Lisa

Hi everyone!

My last staging to sell installment (for now!) is about clean up and de-cluttering tips that seem obvious…but that might escape your notice as you get your house ready to show.

Unpleasant pet odors won't win over buyers. We all love our pets, but unpleasant pet odors can make a negative first impression. Be sure to get rid of old carpet that can trap offensive smells. Replace it with fresh new carpet in a neutral color. Plus, if you paint the walls to match, your living room will look bigger. It'll go from designed to smell to designed to sell.

Pack up unnecessary items and furniture before you show the house. An over-packed living room is a red flag to buyers that your home lacks storage space. Pack up unnecessary items and furniture, and move items to your garage or a nearby storage facility. Clear the way for a sale by letting buyers see your square footage, not your personal belongings.

Storage space sells!

Potential buyers love homes that have lots of storage space. Since they will open your closets, it's a good idea to clear out unnecessary clutter, and organize your shelves to show off how much storage you really have. Plus, it gives you a chance to start packing, as you will definitely be moving once buyers see all that closet space.
 
De-cluttering is always a good step to take before packing, and it feels great to get organized. What staging to sell tips have you used in the past?
 
Bye for now!
Lisa

Hi gang!

Yesterday we talked about moving furniture around and today we’re going to focus on creating a space that has flow. Here are a couple of tips to help you get started:

Create a nice flow in your rooms. Buyers are attracted to homes that have a good flow. You can create circulation by replacing square or rectangular dining tables with round ones. Cutting the corners adds room to this maneuver and creates a spinoff effect that adds flow to your home — cash flow, that is.

Create a better flow in the house by starting with the floor. Want to create better flow in your house? Start with the floor. Join two rooms together by using the most cost-efficient material in the book: vinyl tile. First, use a snap-line to create a center point between the two rooms. Next, the fun part: Peel and stick the new vinyl tile down, and watch your kitchen and dining room go from old to sold!

Do you have any other tips for creating flow in your home?

Have a great weekend!
Lisa

Hi friends!

We've taken a look at a few of the remodeling tricks you can use to spruce up your home for sale. Now it's time to think about how to stage the furniture in each room. I love moving my furniture periodically, just to give a room a new look!

Check out these tips for making all that furniture wrangling easier and more effective.

Staging rooms to show off their true potential is essential when selling your home. Clear out clutter or other personal items that will distract buyers. Paint the walls a neutral tone, and furnish the space to show off how functional it is. When buyers come through and imagine themselves there, you can bet an offer isn't far behind.

Use tape outlines on the floor instead of actually moving furniture around. Instead of lugging the heavy furniture around the room to see what feels best, put outlines on the floor with painter's tape. Arrange the room according to your outlines, and save your energy for counting offers.

Stage rooms with one purpose so buyers will know what it is. Potential buyers are confused by extra rooms that have a mishmash of uses. To avoid this problem, first clear away clutter and excess furniture. Paint the walls a neutral tone and then furnish the room with a desk to stage it as a home office in which buyers will want to get down to business.

There are more "Staging to sell" tips to come, so keep checking back!

xo
Lisa

Hi friends!

We’ve gone through all the rooms in the house, plus your outdoor areas! There are a few more tips and tricks I’d like to share that can really update your home – so much, that you may not want to move out!

A shabby wood-panel wall is not a strong selling point. Instead of ripping it out, cover it up. Use wood filler to carefully fill in all the cracks between the panels. Then, use a sponge to wipe away the excess filler. Once it's dry, paint the room. You'll see an unattractive wall go from standing out to blending in.

Vinyl tile is an inexpensive way to update your home. Laying vinyl tile is an inexpensive way to update your home, but there's a right way and a wrong way to do it. You need to avoid laying patterns that look too perfect. Instead, make sure to switch up the direction and placement of the tiles to mix the tones. That way, you end up with a floor that has a natural feel.

Once you’ve covered or fixed the parts of your home you need to update, it’s time to let the sun shine in! Buyers love light and airy living rooms, but dark and dingy isn't on their list. Open up your window shades to let some light in. Cheat some sunshine with a light-colored paint and lots of artificial lighting. You can never have too many lamps. Last, arrange the space with lightly colored furniture, and you'll have a living room that brightens your chances of a sale.

How have you updated your home recently?

Bye for now!
Lisa

Hi Gang!

Now that your house is in great shape, it's time to tackle the great outdoors - that's right, your yard makes an impression on potential buyers too! Here are a couple of tips for making it stand out - and if you missed my previous staging tips, you can find them here. Enjoy!

A nice outdoor deck can be a big selling feature, but an old one is a major liability. To give your outdoor space new life, first sand the wood. Cover it with a light-colored stain instead of paint to give it a rustic, grainy look. Furnish it for entertaining, and watch your open house turn into a party.

Breathe new life into a worn patio. Do you have a red-brick patio surface that needs to be freshened up? Here is an easy way to give it new life with paint. First, roll a light coat of paint onto the bricks. Next, lightly spray them with water and then dab them before they dry to give them an outdoor look. When you are done, you will have a patio that looks fresh and reels in buyers.

These tips should give you a good start! What other easy DIY tricks have you used to update your outdoor areas?

Ciao!
Lisa

Hi gang!

Welcome back from vacation! I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving. Last week, I gave you some easy staging-to-sell tips for your bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen. What’s left? The living room! Here are some quick tips to make the first room people see when they walk into your home something special:

Dress up a window without shelling out big bucks for window treatments
Here's a trick: Use place mats. First, apply a hook-and-loop fastener to the place mats and attach them in a row to a basic curtain rod. Now that the place mats are attached to the curtain rods, pin them together at the bottom, and you'll have a stylish valance that costs about $12. See my post about how to do this here!

Adding drama to old hardwood flooring is easier than you might think
First, isolate damaged boards, cut them out and replace them with new pieces. Rent a sander from a local hardware store, and give the floor a good sanding. The last step is to stain the boards with a rich color, and watch your floor go from drab to dramatic in no time.

Buyers love built-in bookshelves
There's a fine line between filling them with clutter and staging them to sell. The trick is to arrange neutral items in clusters. Make sure that no single accessory stands out too much. That way, you'll show off your attractive built-ins, and not your personal belongings.

These are just a few tips to spruce up your living room before you sell. These tips are also great for you DIYers who simply want to spruce up the house.  There’s lots more to come, so stay tuned!
 
Bye for now!
Lisa