Alright, it's not a news flash that the real estate market is in trouble, and people are not selling their homes just to buy something that strikes their fancies. With too many foreclosed homes, the value of your home has decreased and the occasion to put it on the market and get a new, grander, or better home with all the proceeds has disappeared. Don't sit there and grouse; be pro-active. Rekindle the love you once had for the home you now live in.
Remember the first time you walked through your house, and the ideas that came to mind of how you could decorate to suit your taste and make it a home. Maybe you thought the bay window would be the perfect location to build a window seat, or that the kitchen would look fantastic with new countertops. But, did you accomplish some of that? In most instances, the response is no. You moved in, life went on, but your house stayed the same. It is not surprising that it is boring to you.
Your budget is the first and best place to start. If you don't know the amount of money you have available, you are not going to be able to write a list.
Here is some advice for you to begin with and you can do this without using a large amount of money for remodeling.
1. Paint the interior a fresh hue, especially if you still have the original white walls. Select a muted, conservative color, then add complementary colors for accent walls. Use a consistent color scheme throughout your house.
2. Find some modern window treatments and remove those old fashioned mini-blinds from your home. Be certain that your windows are sparkling clean to allow nature's light to shine in.
3. Move your furniture around. Living rooms contain furniture that is hardly ever used, and it's usually in much better condition than what's in the family room. Move the furniture around and put beautiful slipcovers on the older items for a fresh appearance to match the new color design.
4. Add new boldly colored throw rugs and pillows.
5. Contemplate resurfacing the kitchen cabinets. Put on different hardware or add hardware if there is none on your cabinets. The effect is astounding, considering it is such a small change.
6. Update the light fixtures, and get rid of any long tube fluorescent lights you may still have. Be sure that the light fixture compliments the new hardware.
7. Contemplate replacing the tops of the counters with a granite slab or an artificial covering like Corian. This could take up a large percentage of your budget, so consider granite tiles for a dramatic, yet inexpensive, option.
8. Upgrade the lights in the bathroom, coordinate with new hardware and use a fresh color scheme for rugs, soap dish, towels, and other accessories.
9. Choose an alternative color for the master bedroom to make it stand out from the rest of your home. Get rid of the old drapes and bedding, selecting something that will give the room a fresh, new look.
10. Change the plants in your home. It is a must to get rid of those droopy plants; after all they are not animals, just vegetation.
That should get the creativity flowing. Soon you will remember why you love your home. But if you still want to move, it won't take long for you to get ready for that first "open house" when the market turns around!
Samuel Classing lives in a small housing community in the Valencia California real estate market. He and his wife enjoy hiking in the great outdoors and recently started making trips to Pine Mountain Club after hearing the winding mountain trails and scenic vistas. They now look Frazier Park real estate.
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