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What everyone wants:

I am coming off of a high note with regard to a recent project.  A rather simple but nice home here in Sonoma was to go on the market.  The sellers wanted to upgrade to a larger home, this was actually their second home, as when they wanted to get away from the big city environment and just relax they would come here.

To form a plan for action we had a meeting with the owners, their realtor, and myself, with each putting in our thoughts and ideas.  The decision to keep it simple and not too expensive a project was decided on.  The basics of the house were good.  Mostly it just needed a bit of updating.   This was accomplished by upgrading the lighting, fixtures, hardware and accessories in each bathroom.

Next step was to paint a few of the walls in a soft warm light brown, bringing architectural interest and dimension to some areas, and installing new carpeting.   Then, with little bit of re-arranging of the furniture, a few added accessories, not much really, and eliminating a lot of clutter, the home presented a simple, clean, contemporary appearance to prospective buyers.  We focused on the strengths of the home, especially the wonderful views of hills and open pastures seen from the backside of the home.  

A realistic budget was agreed on and with careful shopping the amount spent on new purchases came in at $30 under budget.  It’s really very important to set a reasonable budget and to select new items keeping in mind the overall costs.  You can find well-designed faucets and light fixtures that are really not expensive but add a great deal of pizzazz to a house.  By keeping close watch on your spending if you find something that costs a bit more than planned, but also found things less than you expected, it all balances out.  

I want to encourage you, if you are thinking of selling your home, that by looking at what you have, evaluating your strengths and weaknesses, being willing to spend some money to upgrade and to also be willing to let go of a few things that aren’t enhancing the home, you can get a buyer.  It’s all part of marketing your property wisely.  Your realtor knows the market and what buyers are looking for and what they want.  Listen to your realtor and then follow their advice.

So, a quick sale if that’s your goal, can be simply achieved as can a quick change in your home.

Mary Courtney has been practicing Interior Design professionally for thirty-five years.  Mary’s work takes her all over the country and she currently is based out of Sonoma.  Mary may be contacted by phone at 707-721-6175, or courtneydesigns@cox.net  - www.marycourtneydesigns.com