What is Real Estate

Writen by David McGuire

It's possible. Your first home could be your dream home. But, for most folks, the first home is a starter home. Starter home implies that you are not going to spend the rest of your life in that home. It implies that you plan on selling that home, probably sooner than later, and buying another home. Perhaps, bigger, more expensive, and with a larger back yard. And guess what? You are going to want to sell that starter home for a much as you can. So, where am I leading you, where is this road going?

Let me start with a few overused, but true, expressions. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. One man's trash is another man's treasure. Not everyone has the same taste in decorating as you do. That last one is a real shock, huh!

Neutral is a good thing in starter homes. Neutral doesn't offend a buyer coming through the front door the first time. Neutral doesn't scare a buyer. Neutral doesn't have to be changed because someone else can't stomach it. Neutral sells because it is safe. Let's say buyer x likes blue and buyer y likes yellow and buyer z likes green and your living room is blaze orange with magenta moldings because that's what you like. You might have a "first impression" problem! Now before you protest, read on...

You're about to say that, even though you are not going to live in this starter home forever, you still want it to be you and not 40 shades of white. After all, it is your home. Now, after you move in, you're going to clean up, fix up and, most likely, do some remodeling. These are the things that will make it feel like your home and add to the re-sale value.

But, let's do some common sense compromising. Let's keep all the moldings neutral. Let's also keep the floorings, counter tops, vanities and fixtures neutral. Use restraint, too, if you wallpaper. These are things not easily or inexpensively replaced. Buyers look at that fact. Wall paint is a wild card. It can go either way. Some buyers don't care what color the walls are. They don't mind repainting. Other buyers look at the same walls and see work and/or expense.

We now have a vanilla house. It's time to put your decorator hat on and start to add you to the house. A great place to begin is with window treatments. Not just with the texture, color or pattern, but with the actual design.

The possibilities are almost endless. Neutral walls can be brought to life with paintings, tapestries, or stylistic décor items. You are limited only by your imagination. Proper furniture can add not only color, but a dynamic and a depth from its very design. Neutral bathrooms can come alive with towels and shower treatments that are you! And lastly, lightening can strengthen and accent any room to maximize its overall appeal. Give much attention to lighting. It sells.

See, neutral isn't bad all the time. Your starter house can look like you, feel like you, be you, and also be very appealing to a potential buyer that wants a "move-in" home. Make your house their house and it will sell faster and probably for more money. Everyone wins!

Whether you're looking for Flower Mound, Texas homes for sale or house shopping elsewhere in Dallas / Fort Worth, Dallas Realtor David McGuire can help.