TOP PAINT COMPANIES THAT OFFER ECO-FRIENDLY OPTIONS

 

You have already cleaned and decluttered your house. Now you are ready to neutralize the décor. If you are like most people, selecting paint colors is very confusing and overwhelming, even when not selling a home. Here are a few of the more popular paint manufacturers and some suggestions for collections from that company.

There are way too many colors to list here. Just keep in mind that darker, richer colors are best used as accents, while lighter or medium-toned colors can be used in larger amounts. Remember too that light doesn’t mean just white or beige. There are plenty of shades of blue, green, gold, orange, and brown that work great for staging.

I selected paints that are low or zero-VOC. Most of these manufacturers may offer other lines that are also low or zero-VOC. With any paint, it’s important to note that certain colors in a zero-VOC paint line may not be zero-VOC. Always ask first.

1. Sherwin-Williams: I love the HGTV Home Collection from Sherwin-Williams. You can pick a theme and all the colors in that category work well together, so you can mix and match with confidence. Good choices for staging are the Neutral Nuance and Coastal Cool themes. Most of the colors in the HGTV Home Collection are zero-VOC.


2. Valspar: Valspar Ultra is a great choice because this is paint and primer in one. It is zero-VOC, and stain and mildew-resistant.


3. Behr (from Home Depot): Behr Premium Plus Ultra is also paint and primer in one. It’s mildew-resistant and has a stain-blocking formula. Many are zero or low-VOC.


 
Behr offers many low or no-VOC paint lines.
Copyright 2010 by Anne Hornyak 




4. Olympic: Olympic Premium is a zero-VOC formula that’s available in any color. It’s stain resistant.


5. Benjamin Moore: Benjamin Moore Natura is a no-VOC line of paint. There are an unlimited number of colors available. It’s 100% acrylic.


6. Glidden: Glidden’s Brilliance Collection 2N1 is paint and primer in one. The paint is mildew-resistant and either low or zero-VOC.


 
 This paint and primer in one makes painting easier.
Copyright 2011 by Dawn Camp




7. Yolo Colorhouse: All paints made by this manufacturer are zero-VOC. They are available online, as well as at certain retail stores. Check their website to find local retailers.


8. Mythic: Mythic Paints are also all zero-VOC. They are stain-resistant. Paint can be purchased online or at select retailers. To find a local store, visit their website.


 
All Mythic paints are zero-VOC.
Copyright 2008 by Reader of the Pack


9. Dutch Boy: Dutch Boy Platinum and Dutch Boy Refresh are both zero-VOC paints. Platinum is paint and primer in one. Refresh is mildew-resistant.


10. Pratt & Lambert: Pro-Hide Green Interior Latex is zero-VOC. Visit their website to find a local retailer.

All of these companies offer a wide range of colors that work great for staging your home. Also, many retailers will match colors, either from another manufacturer, a paint chip, or an object you bring in, such as a blanket. Painting is one of those inexpensive staging tips that can give you a great return on your investment.

HELPFUL STAGING PRODUCTS

Selling a home can be time-consuming and stressful. Here are some helpful product suggestions. Some are practical, while others are fun extras.

• Battery-Powered Candles
  I highly recommend these for home staging. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, both scented and unscented. Most come with timers, and some even come with a remote control.
  I use these all the time, even though I’m not selling my home. I find them safer to use than real candles, especially if you have pets or kids. I have birds. They are fascinated with the flame, and love to throw things on the floor. These candles are much safer. The ones I have purchased look very realistic. Candles are also especially useful when staging during colder months. They look great in the entry to welcome buyers, especially during colder months.
  
  
   
  Flame-less or battery-powered candles are safer when staging a home.
  Copyright 2010 by BarbaraLN
  
  
  
  
  
  Here are just a few examples.
  • Gerson Company Everlasting Glow Flameless Ivory Wax Candles with Drip Effect, Set of 3
  • Flameless Candles -- Ivory Pillar Candles with Timer Remote Control, Gift Set
  • Orange Distressed Pumpkin Set of3 with Timer
  • Helsinki Outdoor/Indoor Flameless Candle Lantern with Auto Timer Option 
  
  
• Cleaning Wipes
  There are great for quick cleanings before showings. The first one is a set, but you can also buy them individually. The second is an eco-friendly option.
• Clorox Cleaning Wipes
• Seventh Generation Wipes


• Wicker Basket with Handle  
  
   
  Wicker baskets are easy to find and come in so many styles and sizes.
  Copyright 2009 by Peter J. Bellis
   

Keep one of these in major rooms to allow for quick clean-ups each day. Simply use the basket to collect any wayward items that belong in other rooms. At the end of each day, pick up the basket, and return the items to their proper location.
This simple 5-minute technique is much quicker than waiting to do it once a week, or rushing to do it before a showing. Baskets come in all shapes, sizes, and materials. Most are decorative as well. I happen to prefer the wicker ones. Here is just one example.
Wald Imports 20-Inch Willow Basket with Handle

• Cleaning Caddy
  Keep all your cleaning supplies in one place by investing in one of these containers. They range from a basic caddy to versions with specialized compartments. I find I’m much more likely to clean if I have quick and easy access to my supplies. In addition, you can carry the caddy from room to room.
  
  • The Container Store Cleaning Caddy
  • The Container Store Cleaning Caddy with Lid

• Open House and Showing Bag
  To make leaving the house for showings and open houses easier, have a bag that’s ready to go with anything you might need. This can be just about any type of tote bag, backpack, or even a small suitcase with wheels. It depends on your preference and the size of your family.
  
   
  These are just one option for a grab-and-go bag. 
  Copyright 2012 by Wm J. Mills
  
  
  What you pack will also depend on your family’s needs. If you have kids, you may want to keep juice boxes, snacks, and a few toys or games in there. For adults, maybe all you need is books or magazines, bottled water, snacks, and anything else you need to make your time away less stressful.
  
  • Here’s one option, a simple tote bag. I own a couple of these and I love them. It is available in several colors.
    Zipper Travel Sports Bag
  • Here is a cross between a suitcase and a bag.
    Olympia Rolling Shopper Bag with Wheels
  • Finally, here’s a small suitcase on wheels.
    Travel Suitcase on Wheels with Extendable Handle

Candies
We all like getting things for free. And who doesn’t love sweets? Plus, anything that makes buyers linger in your home is great. For sanitary reasons, only use candies that are individually wrapped. An alternative is to make your own bags of non-wrapped candies, such as M&Ms. Avoid any setup where hands are touching the edible portions. Even a bowl of mints with a spoon is not recommended.
A few good candies to use are Starburst, Hershey’s Kisses, Hershey’s Mini Bars Assortment Pack, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups (miniatures), or individually wrapped packages of M&Ms or Skittles. Make sure to get some that you love too, just in case there happen to be “extras.”

 

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are a great option because they're individually wrapped.

Copyright 2008 by KEF08

A fun, but slightly pricier idea, is to get personalized labels for candies. These are common as favors at weddings or showers. Or, purchase personalized M&Ms and put them in little bags.
Personalized M&Ms
If you want to get personalized candy labels, there are many sites that offer this service, or you can make them yourself. Here’s one site that makes them.
iCandy

Personalized Water Bottles
Purchase inexpensive bottled water and add your own labels. You can include information about your home, such as the website of your listing, or your agent’s contact information. You can purchase pre-made labels or make your own, either on the computer using label sheets, or by purchasing blank labels and handwriting the information yourself.
Here’s one company that makes labels for just about anything.
Bottle Your Brand

These are just a few products that I find either useful and practical, or just fun when selling your home. Use these ideas to generate others that might work for you and your situation.

OPEN HOUSE CHECKLIST

 

You’ve spent all that time staging your home. Now open house day is here. Use this simple checklist to make sure your home is ready for show time! Home staging statistics illustrate that how you present your home not only impresses buyers, but increases your chance of a quick, successful sale.

• Turn on all the lights.
  This includes lamps, overhead fixtures, and even decorative lighting.


• Open all window treatments.
  You want to let in as much natural light as possible.

 

This well-lit kitchen will be appealing to buyers.

Copyright 2009 by Sitka Projects, LLC

• Make all the beds.
  Straighten the pillows and blankets too.


• Empty garbage cans.
  Have one bag and go around and empty cans in the bathrooms, bedrooms, and especially the kitchen.


• Play soft music.
  This is something extra and not essential if you don’t have the necessary equipment.


• Put away laundry.
  Make sure dirty clothes are in the hamper and not on the floor.

Laundry rooms should not have dirty laundry on display.

Copyright 2010 by Maegan Tintari

• Take pets with you, if possible.
  This is mostly for larger animals, such as dogs. Cats usually hide anyway. Birds can stay in their cages. It might be a good idea to take reptiles or other exotic pets with you because they can scare or turn off some buyers.  

 Ellie loves to go for walks during open houses!

Copyright 2012 by Sarah Hudak Davis

• Put out fresh flowers or fruit.
  Another option is plants. These are easier because they last longer and don’t need to be replaced.

Fresh flowers always add a nice touch.

Copyright 2009 by Amie Fedora

• Wipe down sinks.
  Keep a box of cleaning wipes in the kitchen and each bathroom for quick clean-ups in between major cleanings.


• Sweep and/or vacuum floors.
  Once you do a major cleaning during the staging process, you won’t need to spend too much time on this.


• Give bathrooms a quick cleaning.
  Again, use cleaning wipes for the sink and shower/tub. Buy a disposable toilet wand to clean the toilet bowl. And always keep the toilet seat down!


• Straighten blankets, throws, pillows, and towels.
  If you have them, put out a decorative set of towels reserved for showings.


• Make sure the temperature is comfortable.
  A good average temperature is 68-70°F.


• Open the windows, if possible.
  There is nothing better than the smell of fresh air.


• Light the fireplace.
  Only do this once your agent arrives. Never leave candles or fires unattended, even for a short time.

Everyone loves the warmth of a fireplace -- even this cat.

Copyright 2008 by Cyrus Bulsara

• Turn on candles if you have them.
  Notice I said “turn on.” I recommend using the battery-powered candles only. It is very easy for a flame to catch a buyer’s clothing, or for someone to accidentally knock the candle over. Most flameless candles come with timers too.


• Leave the house.
  Buyers feel uncomfortable when the sellers are there. They feel like they are intruding and may not look at the house as carefully as they would if the owners weren’t around. Would you want to open cabinets and closets if the owners were there? Buyers will also be hesitant to speak freely because they don't want the owners to overhear them.

Use these tips not only for open houses, but for all showings. The only exception would be lighting the fireplace. Again, only do this if you or the agent will be present the entire time. If you want to test your knowledge about how much you know about staging, take the quiz at Home Staging Quiz: How Much Do You Know?

GRAB BUYERS’ ATTENTION AT THE FRONT DOOR: WHY CURB APPEAL MATTERS

Many people mistakenly assume that even if their home’s exterior could use some updates, buyers will fall in love once they get inside. The problem with this thinking is that most times buyers won’t make it inside the home. Some will refuse to go enter the home, while others will spend the time inside looking for things that confirm what their initial impression was, based on the exterior of the home.

     However, this works both ways. If buyers like what they see on the outside they will find reasons inside to confirm that initial positive impression they got from the home’s exterior. Some buyers find homes by driving around neighborhoods where they would like to live, and look for homes for sale. If they see one with great curb appeal, they may be the one to bring it to their agent’s attention and ask to see it.

     On the other hand, agents will send batches of listings to their clients, who will drive by each of them before they decide whether or not they want to actually make an appointment to see the interior. The way a home looks on the exterior sends a message to buyers about how well the sellers maintain the entire home -- whether or not this is actually true or not.

     As you can see, there are many valid reasons for giving a home’s exterior the attention it deserves. The actual techniques you use to improve a home’s curb appeal will vary, depending on each individual home. But remember, home staging always includes a home's exterior. Specific examples, ideas and suggestions are given in Curb Appeal: An Important Step for Staging a Home. And remember, as with any home staging technique, it does not necessarily have to cost a lot of money and you will see the results in your home’s selling price and time on the market.

Both of these pictures are examples of homes with great curb appeal.

Copyright 2009, 2008 (respectively) by one2c900d (from Flickr.com)

STAGING STATISTICS: PROOF THAT STAGING DOES INDEED WORK

There a still plenty of skeptics that still need to be convinced that home staging is effective and worth the time and effort required. While I can show you all the pictures in the world of the best staged homes, the real proof is in the numbers –- more specifically the amount of time the home is on the market and the selling price. There are just some of the most common.

• Staged homes spend 73% less time on the market than non-staged homes. (RESA, Real Estate Staging Association) 
• The average cost of home staging is about 1-3% of the asking price, but the rate of return is 8-10%. (NAR, National Association of Realtors) 
• The cost of staging your home is almost always less than the amount of the first price reduction. (Multiple sources) A staged home will sell, on average, 17% higher than an unstaged home. (U.S. Housing and Urban Development) 
• Sellers who spent $500 on staging recovered over 343% of the cost when they sold their home. (Homegain) 
• In controlled tests selling identical homes professionally staged vs. those not staged, the unstaged houses sold in 102 days, while the staged houses sold in 45 days! (Real Estate Staging Association) 
• It is estimated that only 10% of home buyers can visualize the potential of a home.(Multiple sources)
• In a 2009 Home Gain Survey of over 2000 Realtors, it was discovered that home staging typically provides a 586% return on investment! (Homegain) 

     In addition to the belief that staging does not work, there are other myths about staging and common mistakes that are made, often based on these misconceptions. As you can see from the above statistics, when done correctly, home staging clearly works.

This staged kitchen will attract buyers with it's clean, crisp appearance. Copyright 2010 by Percita

Use staging to show buyers how to use all the spaces in your home. Copyright 2010 by Maegan Tintari

INEXPENSIVE HEADBOARD IDEAS

When selling a home, things as simple as making sure each bed, especially the one in the master bedroom, has a headboard can make a big difference. This gives the room a more finished look and can often be the focal point in a room. 

Don’t worry! I’m not going to suggest you go out and buy a headboard. There are many simple, inexpensive ways to add one (or even the appearance of having one). Headboards are also great places to add color and texture. Here are just a few suggestions. 

 

Curtains: Hang a curtain rod behind the bed, as close to the ceiling as possible, and add curtains that coordinate with the other colors in the room. 

This is an example that uses both curtains and shades. 

Copyright 2012 by Kristen DiNobile 

Molding: You can purchase inexpensive molding and trim pieces at home improvement stores. Pre-primed pieces make the project go faster. Hang them horizontally and vertically to create the appearance of custom paneling. 

 This homeowner went a step further and used molding as an outline for another material. Fabric, wallpaper, or paint would all work here.

Copyright 2010 by It's Great to be Home

Wainscoting: You can buy pre-primed pieces of wainscoting. Simply hang them behind the bed. The number of panels you need will of course vary based on the size of your bed. The height is really a matter of personal preference. Just make sure the size fits the proportions of that particular room. 

Doors: Find an old wood door and mount it horizontally behind the bed. It might look great “as is” or it may need a good sanding and a coat of paint or stain. If you have 2 doors you can do the same thing, but hang them vertically, side by side. This technique also works with shutters or room divider screens.

Paint the entire door one color, paint the inserts a different color, or just hang "as is" for a rustic look.

Copyright 2010 by David Jaquin 

Fabric: This idea requires very basic DIY skills. Cut a piece of plywood or MDF to the dimensions of a headboard for your bed size (such as queen or king). Many home improvement stores will do this for you. Add some batting or stuffing. Finally, cover the entire piece with inexpensive fabric or even a leftover sheet, blanket or quilt. The fabric can be attached with a heavy duty staple gun, which can be found at home improvement stores for as low as $20. 
     An alternative to this idea is to use 12” square pieces of plywood, MDF, or even cork board. Cover each piece with batting and fabric in the same way described above. Hang them in a checkerboard pattern. You can use the same fabric or mix and match to create a pattern. 
     The squares work great if you have leftover fabric that is not enough to cover an entire headboard, but could be cut to fit smaller squares and then mixed with other leftover fabric pieces. Making your own fabric headboard leaves lots of room for creativity in the choice of fabric, You can vary the material, pattern and/or color. 

This headboard uses just a simple, single color fabric. 

Copyright 2010 by Iriskh

Paint: Use paint to create a checkerboard pattern on the wall behind the bed. Use painters' tape to create squares or any other design pattern. You can even outline the the finished painted area with strips of molding. Stripes work as well but make sure they either go from floor to ceiling or you use molding to outline the pattern. One color option is to use tone on tone squares, which are neutral and sophisticated. 

Bookcases: Place 2 bookcases behind your bed. They can double as nightstands. Just make sure not to add too much clutter on the shelves. You could also turn them around if the backs are finished and look appealing (or you could even paint the backs.) Visit furniture retailers and design sites and use the photos there as inspiration for creating your own inexpensive versions. These are really just a few ideas to get you brainstorming on your own. 

     Look through your garage, basement, or attic and hit yard sales. Look for something that can be turned into a headboard. Don't forget that there are many inexpensive tools that can help you transform these items. Headboards are just one of the many finishing touches you can add to a staged home that only give the appearance that you spent a fortune.

STAGING TIPS FOR THE FALL SEASON

With autumn quickly approaching, many home sellers are wondering what décor items are acceptable to use when their home is on the market. I generally recommend using seasonal items, as opposed to those that refer to a specific, such as Thanksgiving or Halloween. For example, putting a few pumpkins at the front door is a great way to dress up the front entry for the fall season. However, a jack-o-lantern, which is more specific to Halloween, is probably not the best choice. Here are a few other quick ideas for adding seasonal interest to your home.

• Put out some plants that either bloom at this time or provide color with their leaves. These are just a few attractive fall bloomers: asters, Russian sage, perennial sunflower, Helenium, sedum, Japanese anemone & crocus. My blog post from last year at this time gives quite a few examples, along with pictures and more detailed information on each plant.

Autumn Joy Sedum
 Copyright 2006 by Peter Stevens

• Add warm-colored towels, throws, pillows & entry mats. Think about fall colors such as browns, yellows & golds, oranges, & reds. 
•  Group mini pumpkins, gourds, or dried corn cobs in decorative bowls or baskets.

Mini pumpkins in basket
Copyright 2007 by Pete Markham. 

• Replace faded summer flowers in your vases with branches bearing fall leaves in colors that complement your home’s décor. Luckily, fall leaf colors work with just about any style or color palette.  
• Think about candles in scents like apple, cinnamon, or pumpkin. Natural scents are appealing to buyers. Just make sure they aren’t too strong. Candles still give off a light scent, even when they aren’t lit -- and candles should never be lit when you aren’t at home. 
• Consider replacing bowls of lemons and limes with apples or small squash varieties. 

Mini gourds in basket 
Copyright 2008 by Bastion

   
 These few tips should be a good starting point for you. Learn more about what you should do when staging a home, as well as those things you should avoid.