Create
a Bathroom That's More Attractive to Homebuyers
Five
tips sellers can afford:
With mortgage interest rates falling, more homebuyers
are being approved for loans and venturing out
to visit open houses. Real estate agents are hearing
from eager sellers who want to know how to create
an appealing look for their houses -- especially
the bathroom -- without dropping a lot of cash
down the drain.
Since
homeowners are likely to have decorated with their
own individual style, buyers may be left with
styles and colors they don't like. There are quick
and inexpensive changes that are easy for new
owners to build upon or change. Since small rooms
often get most looked at, try new products and
designs for bathroom solutions without replacing
the tub, toilet or tile.
Add
decorative tile appliqués. Stick'N Stile tile
appliqués stick to bathroom surfaces -- tile,
fiberglass, mirrors -- enhancing an existing motif.
The adhesive-backed tiles, made by Environmental
Graphics and available at Bed, Bath & Beyond,
come in different shapes and designs, from whimsical
dragonflies to crisp geometric squares. Using
Stick'N Stile is far less expensive than installing
new tiles and removal is a snap.
Paint
the unexpected. Apply a fresh coat of sky blue
paint on the ceiling. Paint the molding around
the door and windows a slightly deeper hue. "Use
subtle tones throughout the bathroom because this
is a small space," suggests Anne Davis, a
design specialist with The Home Depot in Houston.
"The paint makes everything look fresh and
new." And if the new owners have something
else in mind, light colors are easier to paint
over than dark.
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Accessorize
with items in one accent color. Choose an inexpensive
lamp, vanity tray and a handful of decorative
soaps, all in the same bright shade, such as sunny
yellow or fire engine red, from Target. The vibrancy
these accessories bring to a white or beige bathroom
makes the entire room pop, and the look is easy
for the new owners to recreate.
Add
greenery for fashion and function. A moth orchid
is an elegant addition perched on the bathroom
windowsill. It is one of the few flowering plants
that likes the moist and humid environment. Plants
that need low sunlight, such as parlor palms,
set in oversized garden urns, add a dramatic,
tropical look. Or hang a wreath made of eucalyptus
-- it prevents mold, which everyone appreciates.
Turn
adjacent linen and utility areas into organized
oases. Few people have time to keep these spaces
neat and well organized. Sort and store medicine,
cosmetics, household cleaners and paper supplies
in plastic bins on shelves. Remove bi-fold closet
doors and replace them with curtains made of twin-sized
flat sheets in a color that compliments the décor.
This is an inexpensive touch you can leave behind.
Little
touches can make a big splash in the bathroom.
Do not use the bathtub or drawers as hideaways
for leftover junk or other items. It suggests
to homebuyers that the house is too cramped for
everyday living.
Courtesy
of ARA Content
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