When you decide to sell your home, getting top dollar and a quick sale is usually the goal. To do this, getting your home to stand up above the rest is key, especially when it comes to the Langley real estate market.

A fresh coat of paint can help your place stand out and do several things for a room. Not only can it help make it appear cleaner and newer, but it can also help with any odors that may be in the home, such as those from smoke, pets, cooking or just living in general. A fresh coat of paint can help to lively-up a room or tone down and neutralize one for a more general appeal.

Choosing Your Color Palette

With so many other homes for sale in Langley, choosing the right colors to paint your house for a faster sale is important. Opting for a neutral palette is advised, but this doesn’t mean that spraying every room in builder’s white is the way to go! Use these pointers to help you choose your paint colors for a faster sale.

• Think of the first impression your color palette will make. You want potential buyers to walk in and be able to immediately envision themselves living in the house with their own things. A color palette that is specific to a certain style will only appeal to those who share your specific taste, so opt for colors that could work with a wide range of styles.

• Avoid colors that will require multiple coats to cover. Most buyers don’t want to walk into a house and immediately see the work that is ahead of them if they buy it. Dark or bold colors are harder to cover, which to potential buyers equals more money and more work.

• You can freshen up more than just walls with paint. If your kitchen cabinets, window trims and baseboards, or even bathroom vanities are looking a little tired or beat up, a fresh coat of paint can breathe new life into them and even update them with the right color. Look to magazines or talk to your Langley real estate agent for suggestions and ideas.

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If you’re living in a home with floors that have seen better days, then the following is very important as your flooring, when in good shape, can add tremendous value to your home. It’s no surprise that potential buyers are more likely to be dazzled by brilliant floors that look new as opposed to those that are outdated or scratched. The reason isn’t just aesthetics, but also the fact that floors in rough shape or outdated usually translate to extra work and expense to potential homebuyers.

Increasing Value with Your Existing Floor

Depending on the condition of your current floor, you may not need a complete overhaul. Carpets can be professionally cleaned and floors can be spiffed up with a good cleaning as well. If you have hardwood that is worn or has obvious scratches, then stripping & sanding the floors and having them re-stained is cheaper than installing new floors while giving you the look of practically new floors. In the case of laminate that may have gaps or some water damage; repairs are fairly easy as long as you are able to get your hands on pieces in the same color and style for an exact match. Tile can be made to look new again with a good grout scrub or even by using one of the many grout stain pens on the market.

When You Should Invest in New Floors

Any floors with very obvious damage or stains are going to result in lost sales or low-ball offers and the same goes for obviously outdated flooring. For instance, if you have broken boards or orange shag carpet, then you need new floors. Most buyers, unless looking for a fixer-upper, aren’t going to want to buy a home that requires new flooring. With older homes and townhomes, carpet and tile styles and colours can really date a home, so those should be replaced. Broken floor boards and tiles, as well as water damaged floors will also need replacing if you want to increase the value of your home.

Some Final Tips to Save You Money on Flooring

If you’ve decided to invest in new floors, consider the following to help you save money while increasing your home’s value:

• Check home improvement store flyers for sales and discounts
• Ask your contractor if he gets a discount on materials
• Check out flooring warehouses and clearance centers
• Check Craiglist and Kijiji listings for people and contractors selling extra stock