How to get your house ready to sell

I recently received a number of inquiries regarding what I like to call "interior curb appeal."

Question: I'm about to put my home on the market. It's 2,400 square feet with three bedrooms and two full bathrooms. I have been told to list it for $400,000 in this buyer's market. Baring the need for major repairs, it has been suggested that I spend $7,000 to $10,000 to prepare the interior for sale.

In general, where can I best spend my resources to get the impact I am looking for?

Answer: You should keep in mind that first impressions always begin with the outside. Your query, however, is inside specific.

Obviously cracks in walls, outrageous colors, broken tiles, dirty grout and freshly-cleaned carpets, etc., should be the first place to start.

Within your stated budget your next choice should be lighting. Correct fixture placement, proper levels of illumination and flattering hues can improve buyer's perception and ultimately the sale price of your home.

You should consider hiring an interior designer; they would be able to get a detailed set of specific recommendations. This should include a listing of where you can obtain the best prices to put the cost of recommended upgrades or replacements into effect.

I am a believer in new appliances, there is nothing that keeps me from envisioning myself in a prospective home more than looking at the detritus of someone else's dishwasher. New window treatments are helpful, providing they are appealing to a wide set of acceptable tastes.

Additionally, furniture placement, accessories and area rugs are all key elements that you can harmonize to improve the entire appeal of your house. It is well documented that the budget you are willing to spend on interior curb appeal will come back to you, both as a faster sale and as higher selling price.

Question: I recently moved here to Ahwatukee. My previous residence was a custom home built in Minnesota in 2005. My Ahwatukee home was built in 1994. Can you explain why the design of my bathrooms seem so different?

Answer: What you are probably noticing is a shift in trends. In 1994 the bathrooms, especially in track homes, were designed with lower height bathroom cabinetry, usually 27 inches. This was not a fashion but a cost-saving device used by builders. This trend even extended to toilets, as exhibited by 1994's lower seat heights with round seats.

Often bathroom lighting was not very complementary to design, it tended to be utilitarian. The single piece molded look of shower and tub surrounds then in vogue created a less than artful look I for one associate with certain economical hotel chains.

When the housing market rapidly expanded from 1994 to 2005 builders began to make larger homes with more upscale features to meet new consumer demand. For example, your home in Minnesota probably had a standard vanity height of 35 inches and the toilets were likely to be taller with elongated seats.

Today, many of the bathrooms from the ‘80s and early ‘90s are replacing the vinyl then with tile and natural stone. The more stylish plumbing and lighting fixtures now available make it is easier than ever to create a new designer look.

Claudia Dabdoub is a resident of Ahwatukee Foothills and owner of D'amore Interior Design Studio. To ask a question for an upcoming column, reach her at claudia@damoreinteriordesignstudio.com or (480) 751-9938.