Be Sure to Keep Things Simple--and Clean

Curb appeal, cleanliness, collections and continuity--the four Cs of home design--can help speed up the sale and keep up the price of your home, even when real estate sales are sluggish, according to Los Angeles interior designer Ken White.

“The housing market is very slow right now, with a lot of inventory and tremendous competition, so you have to make your house really stand out,” White told Orange County homeowners at a recent seminar on designing homes for resale.

Speaking to the group at Design Center South in Laguna Niguel, he outlined designers’ techniques for getting houses ready to sell. “You have to be smart, to merchandise your home,” he said.

White, who “loves to play Pygmalion with houses,” also buys and sells real estate. He’s learned firsthand the importance of design in selling a house.

“If you want to get out quickly, deal with what you have. Remodeling is expensive,” White cautioned.

Put your money in paint, carpet and surface things, he advised. If kitchen and bath floor coverings need to be replaced, sheet vinyl is least expensive. Or use peel-and-stick tiles to do a quick make-over. Don’t purchase fancy bathroom fixtures--they’re not worth it. Spending $5,000 on new carpet and paint, however, takes the house into another price bracket and sells it faster.

The highest return comes from cleaning, White noted, so begin with a general sprucing up. Clean up, clear out and repair, he advised. “This process is not a lot of fun. But it has to be done when you move, so you might as well do it before. After you’ve cleaned throughly--and totally destroyed your nails--then comes the decorating.”

Appeal

Because first impressions are crucial, he said, pay special attention to the way your house looks from the street.

The front yard should be neat, with no bicycles in the drive or unraveled hoses.

Landscaping is important: weed, clean up, prune trees and bushes (but not too much--you don’t want to reveal unsightly telephone poles or utility lines). Display a lot of color in the garden--don’t just dot around petunias.

The front door should be sparkling--polish the brass fixtures and doorknob. If it’s beyond hope, replace it.

Check the paint. Do you need to paint the whole house or just the front door? A brown house may just need a touch of white trim to give it a fresh appearance. Be cautious in color selection--if the house has good architectural detail, you might select a strong color, but make sure it fits the surroundings. Your color choice may be terrific on its own, but hideous next to the neighbor’s.

Windows should shine.

Cleanliness

What does a messy house say? “What that says to me is the house is not kept up; these people really need to sell,” White said.

Clean up or replace dirty light fixtures and stained lamp shades.

Secure pets when you’re showing the house, and clean up after them.

Repair leaky faucets, advised White. “This is a red flag and tells me there’s something wrong with the plumbing system.”

Replace tattered screens, reglaze or replace mirrors in bad shape, clean or resurface cabinet doors.

The kitchen, which can make or break a sale, should be immaculate. Clean off countertops, put away dishes, towels, small appliances. Leave only a bowl of fruit or a bottle of wine and glasses on the counter.

Clutter

Remove distracting clutter. Besides looking clean and well-kept, your house should have a feeling of space and lightness.

If you don’t need them for privacy, take draperies down to let in light, expand space.

China cabinets are almost always overcrowded. Pack away all but a few of the choicest bibelots.

The coffee table is not a storage space. Remove magazines, games and other clutter.

If furniture isn’t in good condition, take it out. Get rid of dated looks--avocado-green appliances from the ‘70s, shag carpeting or the foil wallpaper you loved 15 years ago.

Collections

Collectibles that you prize look like a lot of junk to prospective buyers. The clutter isn’t theirs, and they don’t find it attractive. It’s best to pack away your dusty treasures (they’re hard to keep clean anyway), but if you must display them, they’re most effective in groups. Hang several African masks on a den wall or reserve a shelf in the china cabinet for your antique paperweights. Be ruthlessly selective, however--not everyone will be fascinated by your cabinet full of Kewpie dolls.

Continuity

“I often find if there are six different rooms there are six different color schemes in floor coverings, window treatments and furnishings,” White complained. “That’s confusing and makes a house seem smaller.”

To make space flow, select a major theme that begins at the front door and goes right into the master bedroom.

While you don’t have to use one color scheme throughout the house, it’s best to decorate the entry, living room and dining room in the same color.

Invest your money in a paint job; it probably earns the highest return you’ll get, next to cleaning.

Carpet is also a good investment. It should be very neutral. White recommends Berber in a light color, which is great on looks but hard to maintain. “You don’t have to be very practical because you’re selling the house,” he quipped.

Avoid custom spreads or drapes. Give the bedroom a coordinated look with inexpensive department store sheet and comforter ensembles.

Final design touches, designers and realtors say, should appeal to all the senses. Tuck air fresheners in potted plants in the entry or simmer potpourri on the stove. Bake a cake in the oven (one designer swears the smell of her banana bread sold a house) and serve it to prospective buyers. Put fresh flowers in several rooms. Open windows to let in light and air.