Selling your home can be a headache – from finding a real estate agent, to listing the property, and finding somewhere else to live, many sellers may be wondering where to even start.
The truth is – you don’t need a degree or copious amounts of cash to prepare your home for the market.
Joey Bordi, the senior designer and project manager for City Real Estate, a firm based in San Francisco, California, spoke exclusively with Daily Mail, revealing the easy and even free tips that sellers can do to get their home in tip-top shape.
As a designer and project manager, Bordi works with real estate agents to prep their listings to reach maximum value.
He said one of the worst mistakes sellers can make is keeping their home hyper-personalized, making it impossible for a buyer to envision themselves there.
’Your home is your safe space and you should live in your home how you want to, but when you’re going to sell it, it really needs to be palatable to the widest reach of buyers,’ he said.
Bordi advised keeping the home as empty as possible and sticking to a neutral color palette so that potential buyers can envision themselves living in the space.
He gave the example of a green couch – someone may love the concept of a bold color for their sofa, but if a potential buyer hates green, that may be all they remember from the viewing.
Joey Bordi, a senior designer and project manager with City Real Estate, revealed the worst mistakes and best tips for homeowners who want to sell their houses
Bordi advised against ‘hyperpersonalizing’ a space and opting for a neutral color palette to appeal to the widest range of buyers
Bordi urged sellers to focus on the kitchen and bathrooms, investing in these spaces over other rooms
‘If it’s a neutral palette – it’s aspirational living,’ Bordi explained.
Keeping the décor simple so that buyers can picture their own style and furniture in the space can help them envision themselves living there.
Personalized decorations, including family photos, kids’ drawings, and unique styles, make potential buyers feel like they’re walking into someone else’s home instead of seeing their future home.
‘Buyers don’t want to feel like they’re intruding on your family memories,’ Bordi advised.
‘Think model home, not a walk down memory lane.’
Staying true to the bones
Bordi cautioned that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all for prepping your home, and sellers can best maximize their property’s value by staying true to its architecture.
Selecting a design that meshes well with the home’s style makes it more cohesive. Modern finishes and designs may look amazing in a contemporary home, but can be an eyesore in an older house.
Painting everything white may be the first instinct when making a home more versatile; however, it can hide certain homes that have unique character.
Bordi said two of the biggest mistakes he sees sellers make is overspending on materials and investing in the wrong areas
‘If you have beautiful woodwork, paint the walls white, but don’t paint the trims and the moldings,’ Bordi said.
‘We always leave those untouched and give that option to the new buyer.’
The designer also warned against black finishes. It may seem like an easy way to update a space, but it can be a mistake.
’Black is a timeless finish. But I think it could go wrong really fast if it’s done incorrectly,’ Bordi said.
’Just because something’s new and trendy, it might not work in your classic home or your hyper-modern home.’
Sleek, modern styles have become a popular trend in interior design. Minimalist decorations, glossy furnishings, and sharp lines have recently risen to prominence.
However, Bordi said the trend is on the decline and more sellers are opting not to decorate traditional spaces with hyper-modern furniture.
He explained that the design is great for certain clients, but doesn’t appeal to the masses. A space needs to invite potential buyers, and modern pieces may deter certain individuals from envisioning themselves in the space.
Bordi said homeowners who don’t have an eye for design should try to match the architecture of their homes – don’t put hyper-modern finishes in a traditional house
The designer also cautioned against overspending and wasting money on renovations that the new owner may not like
More expensive isn’t always better
Bordi emphasized that opting for the more expensive improvement won’t always pay off in the long run.
He explained that picking materials for a home remodel should match the home’s value.
If the materials outvalue the home and the buyer doesn’t like the renovation, it could end up being a waste of money for the seller.
Bordi clarified that multi-million-dollar homes should have high-quality materials to match their worth, but modest homes don’t need that level of investment.
If a homeowner wants to renovate a home to live in it forever, Bordi advised going all out, but those who are planning to sell should purchase materials modestly.
The designer revealed that two of the biggest mistakes he sees sellers make are focusing on the wrong areas and spending too much money.
‘Kitchens and baths sell homes,’ Bordi emphasized, adding that these areas should be the homeowner’s primary focus when preparing their homes to sell at maximum value.
The designer urged homeowners to keep aspirational living in mind when redecorating their homes before it hits the market
Bordi said homeowners should purchase materials that match the value of their home instead of opting for the most expensive option
Lastly, the designer advised that homeowners should do their research when picking a realtor and lean on experts for tips
Picking a realtor
It may seem like the hard work is done once a home is in tip-top shape, but it’s just getting started.
Finding a realtor to put a home on the market is no easy feat.
Bordi said that the first red flag homeowners should look for when choosing a realtor is a ‘yes man’.
He cautioned that the best agent will be honest about the improvements that need to be made instead of promising off the bat that the home will sell.
Bordi also pushed homeowners to do their research and meet with multiple brokers and compare notes.
If three experts say your kitchen needs a renovation, your kitchen needs a renovation, he said.
Lastly, and perhaps most simply, he said to tap into your network, reach out to friends, colleagues, and family members for recommendations on the best agents.