Tips
for Showing Your Condo, Townhouse
Condos and townhouses are selling like never before, with prices in various
parts of the country breaking records. If you're thinking of selling, now's a great time
to cash in and move up. In order to receive top dollar, you'll want to show your home to
look its best.
The National Association of Realtors recently reported that condo and co-op sales in
2002 rose 10.5 percent above what had been the record in 2001 - and they're appreciating
faster than single-family homes. The median price of an existing condo in 2002 was
$137,100.
So, if you've decided that now is the time to sell, you'll want to take the time to
properly prepare your condo to show to potential buyers.
When it comes to regular, detached houses, first impressions and curb appeal are
everything. With a condo or townhouse, first impressions are still important, but curb
appeal comes more with the overall look of the development and how well it's maintained -
something normally controlled by the homeowners' association.
And because you'll have less control over the curb appeal, it's even more important to
impress would-be buyers once they open the door to the condo or townhouse.
One of the first things to do is to light up the house, buying additional lamps if you
need to.
Because many townhouses and condos share walls, there are two walls without windows -
and less light, making many rooms seem dark.
Interior designer Rosemary Sadez Friedmann says that if a room is too small, visually
push one wall open by washing it with light; and if a room is too wide, illuminate the
narrow ends of the room. Conversely, if a room is too narrow, illuminate the wide sides of
the room.
Other things to do include:
Get rid of the clutter. Too much stuff suffocating the counters, dressers, and ledges
is a downfall for any house, but in a small house, the more clutter the potential buyer
sees, the less house he'll see. Keep the kitchen counters clear, eliminate all those
knickknacks scattered about the house, and keep your accessories and artwork simple.
- Keep the walls light. Dark-colored walls will make a room appear even smaller than it
is. You may want to consider sprucing up your walls with a fresh coat of paint anyway, so
stick to a light color. To create the effect of more light, paint the ceiling a color
lighter than the walls.
- Don't display too much furniture. If you have a lot of furniture, put some of it in
storage. Then, think about the layout and focal point of the room and decide whether
you're trying to accentuate roominess or coziness. If you're going for spaciousness, keep
the large pieces against the wall. Furniture color should be similar to the wall and floor
color. Too much will look cluttered and will subtract from the spacious feeling you're
trying to achieve. If you're striving for a cozy feel, select dark pieces, whether it's
fabric or wood. Go for big patterns on one or two pieces, placed away from the wall.
- Make the room's contents proportionate to the room size. Don't leave your pool table in
the tiny extra bedroom - potential buyers will just see a small room and will leave with
that impression.
- Add some mirrors. Strategically placed mirrors can help make a room appear larger.
- Highlight tall lines. Try to choose accessories that are long and narrow. Long, thin
lamps and plants can help you achieve a sense of height versus accessories that take up a
lot of horizontal space.
- Clear out some stuff from your closets. Too many clothes and shoes will make the closet
look small. Get rid of about half of your hanging clothes to make the closet - an
important amenity for homeowners - appear large and airy.
And finally, set a
competitive price without getting greedy. Even if condo sales are brisk in your area,
don't fix your price too high; if you do, offers probably won't come your way. An agent
can help you with a market analysis to establish a realistic price to help you yield every
penny your townhouse or condo is worth.
