Barry Magee
Other
With land at such a premium in the Lower Mainland, a lot of first-time buyers are spending their time shopping online for condominiums these days. Lifestyle is of the utmost importance to the younger generation, so walking to work, having easy access to restaurants and bars and being able to live without a car will often be more important than square footage. The older generation is often attracted to condos, too, because of the lack of maintenance and the convenience of having so many amenities nearby.
But the following question is being asked when viewing potential condos: just how small is too small? And if you’re selling your small condo, how do you make buyers feel like they are purchasing a home bigger than it really is?
Getting people to buy into a smaller unit can seem pretty daunting, so you need to put on your creative cap because there are lots of different ways to maximize the amount of space you have to offer.
Entertaining is often not much of a concern, with (hopefully) so many great options being available nearby, but it’s still important to show buyers they will be able to create a comfortable environment that they will be able to relax in with their down time.
Let’s look at some simple renovations you can do to make your small condo unit stand out from the crowd.
Use Neutral, Light Colours
If you were to conduct an experiment and take two rooms that were exactly the same size, paint one a dark shade of brown and paint the other one a softer shade of beige, which do you think visitors would think is larger? A lot of studies have looked at this subject, and more often than not people pick the lighter room. Anytime you enter a room with a softer shade on the walls it gives the impression of being brighter, more inviting and bigger. Even keeping the colour a simple white will provide the illusion that the space is larger. Make sure to keep use the same colour throughout your unit, as using contrasting colours can fool the brain giving it the impression that there are divisions in the room, even if there aren’t any.
What To Do In The Kitchen
Now let’s switch focus over to the most important room in your condo – the kitchen. Again, follow the rule of having a uniform look to everything, from the backsplash to the countertops, as well as keeping everything looking bright. If going all white just doesn’t tickle you the right way, feel free to switch some of the colours up but remember to keep everything in neutral tones. Why not give a hushed marble of white and grey over the countertops? Or many some unique drawer and cabinet handles will provide the creative look you are looking for? Whatever you do, don’t ever consider painting the ceiling a darker shade than you use on the walls. Again this tricks the mind, giving the impression that the ceiling is lower than it actually is.
Less is Always Best
Keep the clutter to a minimum in your unit, including the furniture. This might be a little challenging in the short term, but if it helps you find the right buyer for your unit, the short-term pain will turn into long-term gain. When you clutter your condo with lots of furniture, it might make for a comfortable evening in front of the TV, but it makes every room seem smaller than it actually is. A great idea is to have coffee and end tables that are able to store items out of view. Getting rid of that L-shaped sectional by putting it in storage is always helpful – it’s going to cost you more money than it’s worth. Using a staging company is definitely a good idea, as they can provide you with some furniture that will be the perfect size for your unit and give a positive impression.
Artwork Is Personal – Keep It That Way
Photos and artwork on the walls need to be put into storage. It takes away from the space of a room, again making it feel more cramped than it actually is. Keep some tasteful art and a few pictures, but overall most people will want to look at trimming this down to a minimum. Think about it this way, when you go to a museum or art gallery have you ever noticed how much white space there is separating each piece? Two great pieces of art sitting side by side is just too much for our brains to handle. Avoid this potential clash of styles and the ensuing chaos that it can bring to a buyer’s mind.
© 2014 Real Estate Weekly