In the ever-evolving landscape of home design, certain trends can either captivate or deter potential buyers. If you are a homeowner in Bristol, RI looking to sell your home, it’s essential to be aware of design elements that could turn away prospective purchasers. By steering clear of these design pitfalls, sellers can optimize their chances of attracting the right buyers and securing a successful sale. If you want to sell your home in Bristol, RI…most often buyers are looking for properties with coastal charm, well-lit spaces and updated kitchens/bathrooms.
While there are many design trends that can make your house look more attractive to buyers, there are also some that can turn them away. In this blog post, we’ll explore eight design trends that could potentially hurt homeowners’ chances when selling their homes and how Matt at Home Tree can help you achieve the best possible results when you sell your home in Bristol, RI.
1. Bold Paint Colors
While bold paint colors can be fun and exciting, they are also highly personalized to the tastes of the homeowner and can therefore be a major turnoff to potential buyers. Especially when you sell your home in a coastal town like Bristol, it’s best to stick with neutral colors like white, beige, and gray. These colors are timeless and appeal to the widest range of buyers. You can always accent the space with a pop of color here and there by using art and house plants.
Vibrant and bold colors can be polarizing, potentially alienating buyers who prefer more neutral palettes. Opting for neutral tones can help create a blank canvas that allows buyers to envision their own decorative preferences. If you want to sell your home in Bristol, RI for top dollar, consider covering up any bold paint colors around your home before taking pictures and showing to buyers.
2. Wall-to-Wall Carpeting
Another design trend that could turn potential buyers away when trying to sell your home in Bristol, RI is wall-to-wall carpeting. Although carpets may have been popular in the past, modern buyers prefer hardwood floors, luxury vinyl plank (LVP), or tiling. If you have carpeting in your home, consider removing it and refinishing the hardwood floors underneath or installing LVP, particularly in high-traffic areas such as kitchens, hallways, and bathrooms. This will give your home a more modern and updated look, while also making it appear more open and less cramped. If you want to update the flooring for your home in Bristol, contact Matt at Home Tree today for a list of local flooring contractors who will provide bids and give you an estimate for cost. 401.684.3937
In addition to wall-to-wall carpeting, thematic design elements – such as overly rustic or industrial motifs, can limit the appeal of a property to buyers who do not share the same aesthetic preferences. At Home Tree LLC, we always advise our seller clients to strive for timeless design elements and color pallets that transcend passing trends.
3. Busy Wallpaper
Busy wallpaper with intricate patterns can be overwhelming and distracting to potential buyers in Bristol, RI. Keep in mind that personal styles can vary greatly, what you may find to be aesthetically pleasing may not be the same for potential buyers. If you have wallpaper in your home, consider removing it and painting the walls a neutral color instead.
Furthermore, while unique architectural features can add character to a home, overly eclectic elements may not align with buyers’ tastes or preferences. Consider toning down unconventional features to appeal to a broader audience. If you want to sell your home in Bristol, RI for top dollar, consider changing any busy wallpaper schemes throughout your house before taking pictures and listing on the internet. Call Matt today for a complimentary comparative market analysis for your home in Bristol, RI. 401.684.3937
4. Cluttered Spaces
Cluttered spaces can make a home feel smaller and less inviting. Before you take pictures and put your home on the market, make sure to declutter and organize your belongings. This will make your home feel more spacious and help potential buyers envision themselves living there.
Cluttered spaces can make rooms appear darker and detract from the property’s potential. Prioritize decluttering to create a sense of spaciousness and allow buyers to focus on the home’s features rather than personal belongings.
Buyers, who most often begin their home search on the internet, will be immediately turned off when they see pictures of your home so cluttered it’s impossible to determine the dimensions of a single room. If you’re planning to sell your home in Bristol, Rhode Island, be sure to declutter as much as possible in order to appeal to a wider pool of buyers and receive serious offers!
5. Outdated Fixtures
Outdated fixtures and finishes can give the impression of neglect or require immediate renovation, which may deter buyers seeking move-in ready homes. Consider updating fixtures such as faucets, lighting, door handles, and cabinet hardware to enhance the overall appeal of your home in Bristol, RI.
If you want to sell your home in Bristol, RI…spend some time on Zillow perusing the recently sold section for homes comparable to yours – what kind of fixtures do they have in their home? How old do their fixtures appear? Did their home sell for over or under asking price? Reviewing recently sold homes in your neighborhood will give you an idea of the type of product buyers are willing to pay for and will also help you to understand how your home stacks up against your neighbors’ regarding value.
6. Over-the-Top Renovations
While certain renovations can add great value to your home, over-the-top renovations can actually turn potential buyers away. When renovating your home, it’s best to stick with classic and timeless designs that appeal to the widest range of potential buyers.
Furthermore, while DIY renovations can showcase your creativity and skills, poorly executed projects can raise concerns for potential buyers regarding the quality of workmanship throughout the home and if proper permitting has been received before renovations were made. Invest in professional renovations where necessary to ensure high-quality results.
Also, consider the level of renovations done to other homes in your neighborhood. Home improvements are only part of the equation when determining home value in Bristol, RI. In order to maximize the cost-benefit advantage of making home improvements, you need to compare your home to recently sold homes in your area to determine the level of renovations which financially benefits you as the seller. Matt at Home Tree is both an investor and Realtor in Rhode Island and has intimate knowledge and experience with home renovations in the Ocean State…call today or fill out a form below for your free home analysis, complete with estimated selling costs and estimates of repair! 401.684.3937
7. Overly Personalized Spaces
While it’s important to make your home feel like your own, overly personalized spaces can turn potential buyers away. If you want to sell your home in Bristol, RI, it’s best to keep your personal style to a minimum and create spaces that are more neutral and appealing to a wider range of buyers. Although your eclectic taste may be appealing to you, potential buyers often struggle to envision themselves in overly personalized spaces. Tone down unique or niche design choices to create a more universally appealing environment.
To get a feel for how neutral spaces and designs are created, browse for recently sold new homes in your area…local builders are keenly aware of modern tastes and their finished products can be seen as a showcase for universally appealing design.
8. Lack of Curb Appeal
First impressions are everything when it comes to selling a house. This is where the term curb appeal comes from…the appeal of your house as viewed from the curb. If your home lacks curb appeal, potential buyers may not even want to step inside. Make sure to clean up your landscaping, add some fresh flowers, and give your front door a fresh coat of paint to make your home more inviting. Modern curb appeal extends to pictures of your home posted on the MLS or Zillow. For modern buyers in the Rhode Island real estate market, curb appeal can be experienced without ever traveling to your property. For this reason it is important to have professional pictures and staging done so that your property presents in the best light for first impressions.
Dark or poorly lit interiors can leave a gloomy impression on potential buyers. Maximize natural light by removing heavy window treatments, trimming overgrown foliage outside windows, and strategically placing mirrors to reflect light.
At Home Tree, we are experts in helping homeowners all around Rhode Island sell their homes quickly and for the best possible price. We understand what today’s buyers are looking for and can help you make the necessary updates to make your home more appealing to potential buyers. If you want to sell your home in Bristol, RI…Matt at Home Tree is local to area and has a wide range of connections which can be of great advantage to you no matter what your real estate needs!
Our team can also help you stage your home to make it look its best for showings and open houses. We’ll work with you to declutter your home, rearrange furniture, and add some decorative touches to make your home show its best in the Rhode Island real estate market.
When it comes to selling your home in Bristol, RI… trust the experts at Home Tree to help you achieve the best possible results. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you sell your home in Bristol with ease. 401.684.3937