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Interior Design Tips That Add Value to Your Home Listing

Interior Design Tips That Add Value to Your Home Listing

September 16, 2022

Interior Design Tips that Add Value to Your Home Listing

Selling your home is a big decision for you and a big investment for the buyer. Interior design is an essential aspect of marketing your home and generating interest, and also adds value to the sale and helps close the deal. But how much should you invest decorating in a home that you are leaving, and what are the design decisions that add the most value? Here are the best interior design tips to add value to your home listing.

The Value of Home Interior Pictures

The initial stages of home buying are a lot like online dating: buyers flip through a lot of pictures before they choose the homes they actually want to see. Pictures are absolutely critical for effectively marketing your home, and the value of home interior pictures is difficult to overstate. Research shows a home with just one photo spends 70 days on the market, while a home with 20 photos sells more than twice as quickly, averaging 32 days on the market.

Making your home look appealing in pictures is the first, crucial step toward generating the interest that sells your home, and homes with great interior design photos sell more quickly, and for a higher price.

Planning Interior Design for Your Listing

When planning interior design for selling your home, here are some things to keep in mind:

  • Cleanliness is crucial. If you are short on time and resources, cleaning your home is the most important factor in helping it sell more quickly, at a higher price. Homes that are “move-in ready” photograph more nicely and are more appealing, and potential buyers are less interested in homes that present them with a lot of cleaning tasks.
  • Declutter and de-personalize your home. Potential buyers are interested in imagining their own life in a home. They need to be able to clearly see a home’s architectural features and details and don’t want to be distracted by their own clutter and memorabilia. Again, if you are short on time and money, plan to remove all your own souvenirs, personal photographs, and memorabilia, and leave time for general decluttering that exposes the features of the house.

You also might consider hiring a professional to take care of some of the heavy liftings. Instead of doing it yourself, professionals will save you time and add value to your home. This might include seeking the help of:

  • Cleaners. Professional cleaners work quickly and efficiently, with the best tools and equipment. They can breathe new life into carpets and fixtures, getting more value out of your existing investment. Importantly, a professional cleaner sees your home with “fresh eyes”, and can take care of details you might miss. Investing in a professional deep clean can increase your home value by 3-5%.
  • Stagers. You may want to hire a professional home staging service, that will clean, decorate, and present the home in the most appealing way. Home staging costs vary depending on the size and condition of your house but average between $1000 to $3000. However, staged homes sell more quickly, and a third of real estate agents report that staging increases the initial buyer’s offer by 1-5%.
  • Photographers. You may be surprised at the value of hiring a professional real estate photographer. Professionally photographed homes sell 32% faster, regardless of market and price point.

In other words, planning interior design for selling your home may mean making an investment. But these investments usually pay off, either in the value of your home or in the length of time on the market.

Interior Design Tips for Increasing Home Value

Once your home is clean and you’ve refreshed the paint, it’s time to design the space to sell. The best design tips for home staging and home listings are:

  • Choose minimal. Furnishings are useful in home listing photos because they help create a sense of scale that may be lacking in empty rooms. However, potential home buyers want photos that show the features of the house, so streamline the interior to showcase the space, rather than the decor.
  • Indicate purpose. Potential home buyers like to imagine how spaces might be lived in and used. Decorate rooms with enough furniture to indicate the purpose of a space (home office, nursery, etc), without adding clutter. Again, keeping a desk, dining table, or patio furniture in your photos helps to indicate the scale of a space, as well as its purpose.
  • Go neutral. Neutral colors are always the best choice when listing your home. Neutral colors showcase the natural light and environment of a home, rather than calling attention to the decor. Even if a potential home buyer likes bold colors, they will want to choose the palette themselves, as they make the space their own.
  • Opt for Scandinavian. Staging your home with furniture with clean lines and simple designs is a great way to feature a space, and Scandinavian furniture is an excellent choice.
  • Never forget light. Light is one of the most powerful ways to take great photos, and is also an incredibly persuasive selling point in a house. When planning interior design for home listings, make choices that maximize light, including light colors on walls to reflect and enhance natural light, using sheer window panels to allow more natural light, placing large mirrors to optically magnify space and light, and taking photos at the time of day when the interiors have the most natural light.

Interior Design Descriptive Words that Sell

The more appealing the written description in your listing is, the more it will help capture the attention of potential buyers and help market your home. While words like “affordable” and “move-in ready” are always popular, here are some interior design descriptive words that help market your listing:

  • Spacious
  • Bright
  • Sun-filled
  • Striking
  • Detailed
  • Beautiful
  • Modern
  • Classic
  • Remodeled
  • Distinctive
  • Professionally decorated
  • Contemporary
  • Upgraded
  • Peaceful
  • Sunlit
  • Quiet
  • Private
  • Intimate
  • Updated
  • Original
  • Elegant
  • Inviting
  • Elevated
  • Timeless
  • Chic
  • Authentic
  • Versatile
  • Charming
  • Magnificent
  • Historic
  • Character
  • Cozy
  • Graceful
  • Ideal
  • Luxurious
  • Practical
  • Tasteful
  • Stylish
  • Tranquil
  • Upscale

Interior design for home listings is about keeping the decor clean and simple, to showcase the features of the space without distracting details of your own personal life and style. Great lighting, great pictures, and a great written description will help your listing stand out from the crowd, and sell more quickly. For more information, or for a design consultation when selling your home, contact J.Fisher today.

Contact

J.Fisher Interiors’ studio is located in east Austin. To schedule your consultation appointment, please fill out the contact form or call us at 512.954.0904. We would love to hear from you!

``Working with Jen was fantastic. She was extremely professional and finished on time and on budget. Very creative, efficient, accountable and I love the outcome. I was very pleased with the experience and highly recommend her to transform your home.``
JEFF HOPKINSPROJECT DATE: SEPTEMBER 2015
"Jennifer Fisher has a true passion for interior design, and it is evident in her work ethic. She is a professional with the artistic ability to produce exceptional results. That is why I can strongly recommend J.Fisher Interiors for any decorating needs or projects you may have."
Dean Crassas
"Very professional, reasonable and creative services. Worked within my budget and was always timely on requests and suggestions while meeting the decor selections for my contractors scheduling deadlines. I would recommend J.Fisher Interiors to all of my friends."
Marc Buffkin
The whole experience working with J.Fisher Interiors was excellent. My home looks amazing and there was a nice balance between brand new pieces and the vintage treasures that Jen was able to find. Unlike past experiences with designers, where my budget was ignored, she took great care in working within the budget and delivering a stunning space that I enjoy living in and get tons of compliments on…"
Kevin Warden
"Jennifer is helping us with a full remodel of our house. She has been instrumental in helping us with fixtures, colors, inside and out, our pool remodel, the entire project. She has been extremely professional, available, communicative and has really listened to our feedback and what we are looking for. She has kept our deadlines and budgets on track and really gives us a variety of options to consider. I am so thankful to have her, I do not know where we would be without her!"
Kristina Weiss
"Jennifer jumped in to do a project for our office, and we couldn't be happier with the level of professionalism and skill with which she operates. She got the job done in a timely manner, her pricing was reasonable, and now, our team has been enjoying the space so much more. I'd highly recommend her expertise to other companies or individuals looking to freshen up their space."
NadaMoo Ice Cream
"As a recent divorcee, I rented a condo in a rush and it was a mess -- dark with an odd mixture of colors and styles. Jennifer worked quickly to completely transform the space using cost-effective options that made sense given that I might only be in the unit for one year. In addition to designing the space, she also served as a project manager for the work. She is very dedicated, works quickly and efficiently, and has a very professional and pleasant demeanor. She has a definite style and sensibility but also adapts well to her clients' tastes. I couldn't be happier with the result."
Jeff Binder
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Interior Design Consultation

J.Fisher Interiors’ studio is located in  Austin. To schedule your consultation appointment, please fill out the contact form or call us at 512.954.0904. We would love to hear from you!

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