10 lighting tips that will help sell your house
1) People are often unaware that their lighting preferences can be offensive to a potential buyer. A kitchen rented solely by a large fluorescent troffer light fixture can diminish the size of the space, making the kitchen appear smaller than it is. If the accessory is dirty, it must be cleaned. If the diffuser plastic is discolored or cracked, it should be replaced. Painting the lamp frame the same color as the ceiling will give it a lower profile and visually reduce its size. The bottom line is that you don’t have to replace the accessory, just upgrade it.
2) If the cooktop light diffuser is greasy, dirty, and discolored, clean or replace it. Replace the bulb with the highest wattage recommended for that fixture.
3) Installing an under cabinet light improves illumination of work areas such as countertops. Under cabinet lights come in units of two and three halogen or xenon lights. There are also inexpensive low-profile fluorescents made for under-cabinet lighting. When a real estate agent shows your house, he will turn on all the lights. If you have under-cabinet lights, ask the real estate agent who shows you around to turn those on, too. They are great task lighting and the buyer will be impressed!
4) Take a critical look at your window treatments. Those deep red, fully lined curtains that match the floral wallpaper in the dining room can envelop the room in darkness and shadows, even when open. Buying cheap light colored curtains will considerably brighten a room and make it appear larger. And yes, clean the windows and throw away the broken and discolored blinds.
5) Replace any cracked or discolored switch plates or outlets. If they are dirty, remove them and clean them by hand or in the dishwasher.
6) If, in any room, the top center ceiling light is discolored or cracked, replace it. Attractive flush and semi-flush ceiling mount accessories don’t have to be expensive. They are easy to replace and will definitely enhance the look of your bedroom, hallway, foyer, or living room. If the center light fixture is in good condition, but full of bugs or cobwebs, clean the glass shade and make sure the highest wattage recommended bulbs are in place.
7) I have heard real estate agents complain about taking prospective buyers to a house at night and because the front exterior lights were not working, the buyers had to enter the house in the dark and that gave them a negative impression. It’s a sign of neglect if exterior fixtures don’t work, are corroded, have broken parts or glass, or need to replace light bulbs. Buyers who walk into a home and see neglected exterior fixtures will automatically ask, “What else has been neglected in this home?” And while everything else may be beautiful and well-maintained, this first impression will influence your judgments. Don’t overlook the importance of exterior accessories. Make sure they all work and have the highest recommended wattage bulbs. If they need to be replaced, inexpensive exterior accessories available at home improvement stores will make a good first impression.
8) The best lighting in a house will not be effective if the walls are paneled with dark wood or painted a dark color. You may like the studio-like feel and warmth of dark paneling, but understand that the effect of this darkness will make rooms look much smaller than they are and have a negative, depressing effect on the buyer. Covering those dark walls with a light, neutral color like off-white or light beige will increase the effectiveness of the lighting and make the room appear larger. It will also give leverage to your lighting effect!
9) Some additional inexpensive decorating tips that will help sell your home are: Replace all faded, dark, or dirty lampshades. Homeowners who have had lampshades for years don’t realize that their shades are deteriorating and darkening from exposure to electric light. It’s a gradual process, and many times the homeowner keeps buying higher wattage bulbs to compensate for darkening lampshades that should have been replaced years ago. Ironically, higher wattage bulbs only deteriorate the lampshade faster. Most large chain and home improvement stores carry inexpensive lampshades. Take your old lampshades with you when you go shopping, so you can get the right size.
10) Small solar lights along the path to the front door add a welcome touch. Packs of six or eight amber or white lights are inexpensive and easy to install. Simply stick them in the ground along your path or garden. They won’t make up for the exterior lighting you need to light a buyer’s path to your home. Its little welcome glow will send a positive message: this is a beautiful house, a cozy house that radiates the magic of light…
With little expense and a little effort, your home will shine!