Life in Big Canoe, Real Estate in the Mountains

Big Canoe is such a melting pot of residents from all across America that it is tough to define a certain style that makes Big Canoe unique. There are several weekend homes with rustic themes and cabin climates mixed in with sophisticated contemporary homes and classic traditional styles as well. So many Sellers ask me what to do before putting their home on the market. I have touched on this subject before but thought it was important to revisit and focus on two very important aspects in decorating; color, and flooring. Two of the biggest impacts a house has on a potential buyer are based on phychological impact. Color and consistency can help to draw potential buyers further into the house before making any judgements. Below are some do’s and don’ts when getting your home ready to sell with an emphasis on color and flooring.

• DO get rid of any wall paper that you can. Wallpaper goes in and out of fashion faster than fad diets.
• DO choose neutral flooring colors in warm natural tones such as caramel colored flooring. White carpet can make buyers leery of going any further for fear of making it dirty.
• DO choose colors that attract the RIGHT kind of attention. Visit some model homes for striking colors that are not only intriguing but also easy on the eye. Current colors seem to lean to earthtone naturals. Greens, browns, clays are popular.
• Do paint the walls yourself if you can. It is a lot of work but very rewarding in the end.
• DO NOT just pick a color out of the “blue”, no pun intended. Your idea of fabulous may be more unique than you think.
• DO NOT choose flooring just because it is on sale. Choose neutral flooring is easy to do in all price ranges. This is not the time to make a personal statement.  Wood floors are popular along with tight weave carpet.
• DO NOT buy from the first person you meet. Shop around. I just did and saved a whopping $300 just by making a few phone calls! That’s a whole new blog post!

Regardless of the choices you make to get your home ready for the market, be sure to keep within your budget. Floors and walls have the most impact. Buyers are aware that they may need to replace kitchen appliances or counter tops but for some reason they have trouble with wallpaper or linoleum flooring. On the flip side a house can be so neutral that is may appear to be boring to some potential buyers. As a colorphobicmyself I highly recommend the advice of a professional decorator. Most of them do not bite and are happy to have the opportunity to help.  Though you may love that antique organ that your great grandfather left you in his will, please keep is safe and sound in a storage facility and out of harm’s way. It may even help you to hire a stager for a few hours to maximize your living space and to enhance the natural flow of your floor plan. The bottom line is classic; a picture is worth a thousand words. Buyers will continue to click through the pictures if they can understand the story of  your home. The best way to achieve this is via walls and floors.

Cheers!

Karin Elliott