16 Things Jonathan and Drew Want You To Do Before Listing Your Home

You may have a sentimental attachment to your preexisting couch or bedroom set, but when it comes to selling your home you want to set the stage for potential buyers to see themselves living in the space — not you.

Make sure your walls are clean (that means patching and painting) and decorated with simple pieces of art. Too bare and the house doesn’t feel homely. Too crowded and the space feels constricted and small.

They add colour and pizazz to every couch, chair and bench, and are a great way to make a room feel refreshed and updated. The real question is why wouldn’t you use them?

Have lots of great knickknacks? Wrap them up and put them in storage. It’s important to be super selective when figuring out how to decorate a space you’re trying to sell. A good rule of thumb is to keep it simple and to keep it neutral — this isn’t a time for a family photograph or a customized statue from your latest trip to the Caribbean.

Before Jonathan and Drew got their hands on this house, the centre “beam” was actually a piece of styrofoam. By replacing it with actual wood and giving it a colour treatment, the home’s high, vaulted ceilings became a key selling feature.

If the kitchen is outdated, odds are buyers will waltz right on by. One key feature to any kitchen is to make sure the sink is by the window wherever possible. That required some serious reconfiguring in this particular kitchen, but the efforts were well worth the reward. (The reward being top dollars!)

If the kitchen is too small for an eat-in area (or a dining room, as was the case in this home), integrate an island with storage and seating potential. They’re becoming a must-have in most homes, and they help achieve that coveted open-concept feel.

Speaking of open concept, try to have one. Use furniture to define the spaces rather than walls; it will create a smooth flow that attracts buyers much more quickly. After all, who doesn’t want a bright and open living space?

If you only have the budget to put towards one bedroom, make it the master. That’s where the main purchasers will be sleeping, so it’s in their best interest to make sure that room is in move-in condition.

Again, this is not the time for personal knickknacks, dog-eared books or family photos. Neutral designs and clean lines is a motto to live by.

This table might not seem like much, but it helps give a finishing touch to the wall without seeming crowded. A key thing to remember is to select furniture that fits your space and go from there.

Corners — especially bedroom corners — are often left bare as a way to make the space seem bigger. But in reality that actually has the opposite effect. If you can’t find a chair that’s small enough to fit in the space, opt for a large vase and an interesting plant or floral arrangement instead. If you find there’s just no room, it could be that your other furniture is just too big.

This applies to the whole house. Hues of white and grey are especially popular right now. Creams can also work depending on the situation. Whatever you do, stay away from bright colour schemes (this room was originally purple!). You may love a particular colour, but that doesn’t mean your buyer will.

Depending on the structure, giving the bathroom a quick update isn’t always a money suck. White is always best, so be sure everything is clean, sparkling and relatively new. (Or at least gives the appearance of being new.) No pastel-coloured tubs or shag rugs around the toilet, please.

Whether it’s a couple of framed photos or a shelf with some bubble bath in a pretty jar, try not to leave that wall blank. It will only take away from the spa-like ambience you want to create.

Another easy fix — most home stores sell relatively inexpensive faucets, so if the ones in your bathrooms look like they’re from another decade it could be time to upgrade. It’s those kinds of finishing touches that will bag you top dollars and have your home sold in no time.