It’s not hyperbole to say that it pays to present your home in the best light – and lighting. When selling a home, it can make a big impact on your bottom line.
If you want to get top dollar for your home, you want to show off it’s potential. Changing the lighting is one of the simplest – and cheapest – things you can do. It’s part of the process of staging a home.
We’ve been talking about ways you can Stage Your Home to Sell. Changing your lighting is one of our favorite ways to do so for so many different reasons.
Home staging—the practice of arranging furnishings and decor in a house so buyers can envision living there—is becoming an ever-more important tool for home sellers. In fact, studies show that staged homes sell 88% faster and for 20% more money than those that aren’t staged.
Show Your Home in the Best Light
Think about it. Lighting is one of the first things you “see” when a buyer is arriving at your home for the first time. The lighting will color a potential customer’s impression of the home.
If the lighting is good, they’ll see the home as bright and cheerful. Dark spaces look scary, creepy and uninviting… Think all the best (or worst) parts of horror films when the lights go out and the person is in the basement.
Good lighting can be broken down into three categories. The light quality, the quantity, and the fixtures.
Light Quality is Important
Today we have numerous options for lighting – down to bulb color, energy efficiency and lumens (brightness).
You want to make sure that the light filling your rooms casts a warm glow. Dimmers can add to that feeling of warmth and can create “golden hour” lighting.
Avoid those harsh, blueish LED light bulbs. Opt instead for the warm-light bulbs. You want to show that an apartment is bright, but doesn’t look like a hospital, with super-bright lights.
In that regard, get rid of the curly fries looking CFL bulbs. The light is too blue and unnatural, and they give a cheap impression. They also take a few minutes to warm up – leaving a buyer’s first impression of a space as dark.
There are too many good options out there to go with ugly or inefficient bulbs. Today’s LED (light emitting diode) bulbs are energy efficient and can be a real selling feature. Some of those bulbs can last for 10 years! You might want to note your upgrades in your sales materials. Some buyers may appreciate the upgrade.
There are new Edison LED bulbs out there, and numerous attractive options that look exactly like a typical or “classic” lightbulbs.
Once you’ve got your primary lighting set, you can add in a subtle glow. Literal warmth, like candles, or if possible, the fireplace if it’s winter, go a long way.
Just be cautious about candles that smell too much. They may appear you’re trying to cover up something. There are many great electric candles out there today that look great.
Light Quantity – That Fills Your Space
I’ve walked into large Master bedrooms where the only light in the space was a clip-on kids desk lamp. Needless to say it did not show well, and the room felt dark.
Consider your directional lighting, such as spotlights or track lighting, which can create shadowy corners. What you want instead are rooms that are evenly lit throughout.
Bright and consistent lighting is especially important in the front entryway and in kitchens.
It doesn’t hurt to look at your home’s lighting at night and in the daytime. For example a buyer views your home on a cloudy day, lighting is just as important.
It’s also worth mentioning that if your blinds can block out daylight, then you might want to open them a bit before showings to let the light pour in.
A Welcome Fixture in Your Home
Don’t just consider the lightbulbs. The fixtures should look updated and in keeping with the home’s style. Nothing reminds a buyer that home is older than when they see a mock-brass exterior light fixture that is rusted and corroded.
I’ve had clients hate a home, but keep it as a serious consideration because they loved the light fixtures. They can have that much of an impact on a home.
Fans, dining room chandeliers, bathroom lights, exterior flood lights and porch lights, hall lights, recessed lighting and more need to be a consideration.
If you have the inclination and a space that needs it, consider having an electrician add recessed lighting in a space.
One of the other points to remember is that your fixtures need to be cohesive. Your lighting fixtures don’t all have to match, but they need to match your home. Keep it consistent.
Lighting fixtures are inexpensive and can go a long way to brightening up a buyer’s impression of a house – inside and out.
To close, we can’t say enough about lighting. It can truly make or break a space.
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The professionals at Wissel Homes know the Central Maryland market because it’s our home too. We live and breathe the local neighborhoods in Howard County, Carroll County, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County and more. We understand what it takes to get the job done right. Contact us today to set up an appointment to list your home or to start the home buying process. Let our experience help move you into your dream home.
