Seven Strategies for a Successful Sale

Improve your odds of selling (or your reasons for staying) with tips from designer and HGTV host, Lisa LaPorta

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HGTV's Lisa LaPorta

Once upon a time — not long ago — houses sold themselves. As soon as the “for sale” sign was in the yard (and sometimes beforehand), a seller could expect multiple offers from eager shoppers. Buyers had to move quickly; they didn’t have time to weigh options or to question a home’s integrity, let alone its décor and cleanliness.

Needless to say, times have changed. That’s good news if you’re a first-time buyer, because you have the luxuries of time and a steady real-estate inventory. But if you have a house to sell, you have your work cut out for you. To help make your property more salable (and valuable) or to make it more pleasant while you live there, take these tips from designer Lisa LaPorta (pictured below) of HGTV's Designed to Sell:

• When staging and decorating, don’t forget the exterior. First impressions are huge! Lisa says that if you spend as much as one-third of your house’s total value on improving its curb appeal (landscaping, paint, fences, lighting, door hardware, walkway, driveway, mailbox), the cost will come back to you – it can transform the house.

• Paint is the least expensive investment. Priming is important to the longevity and to the finished appearance and can save you money: It allows you to apply fewer coats of paint, which is more expensive than primer. (For example, Kilz Premium costs $20 a gallon, whereas paint costs $30 to $50 a gallon.)

• Applying a neutral main color offers more opportunities to accessorize. You can be daring with the color of the front door, trim and accent areas. (The same philosophy applies to interior painting. Bring in color with accent pillows, artwork, candles, etc. – items that are easy to change.)

• Play up the architecture (trim, textures, door, shutters) with color. (Matching the trim color to the stucco or siding is a missed opportunity to feature your home’s character.)

• Besides applying a fresh coat of paint, you can draw attention to the front door with potted plants, an attractive walkway and neatly trimmed shrubs. Make the house inviting by making its entrance a focal point.

• Embrace the season by adding a few decorative elements: winter or springtime wreaths, gourds and pumpkins during the fall, garden accessories for summer. If you already use seasonal décor, you may need to edit down to only a couple of items. Ask a trusted friend for his or her perspective. Lisa says, “You want your house to stand out but not to be glaring.”

• When it comes to the interior of your home, keep it clean and simple. This advice is not new, but it’s never been more vital as a tool to make your home appealing.

Even if you’re not planning to sell your house, it’s still worthwhile to make it a haven for yourself and inviting to your family and friends. Lisa says that nearly every time the Designed to Sell team helps people improve their homes, most of the homeowners ask, “Why didn’t I do this sooner?” If you’re the homeowner, “sooner” means now.