According to Merriam-Webster, “remodel” is “to alter the structure of; to remake.” Whereas “renovate” is “to restore to a former better state (as by cleaning, repairing or rebuilding).”

So, I hear they aren’t making any more land. Maybe that’s why it’s so expensive. It must also be why some people find themselves looking to remodel or renovate an “improvement.” Did you know that’s what a building structure, like a house, is? If you look at your tax record, there is a reference for tax on the land and one for tax on the improvement. That improvement is your house. And, let’s face it, some “improvements” are in serious need of a remodel or renovation!

Not sure you want to buy, or can’t afford to buy the kind of home you want now? Consider remodeling or renovating. It can be a good strategy and longer-term plan particularly well suited if you love where you currently live or if there is a particular area you like but you can’t find a home that meets your needs. Buy one that COULD suit your needs later – and plan to remodel or renovate. Create the home you want – tailor it to fit your needs. Buy the rambler and in five years “pop the top” to create a colonial! Add a new roofline to that Cape Cod making true, usable rooms in the attic… You get the idea.

I recently visited a client named Jill and was reminded what a great strategy this can be. Jill and her husband love their neighborhood and don’t want to leave but are out of space and tired of the style of their home with its dated features and what seems to be an unusable hillside yard. Moving to a bigger and more contemporary home is cost-prohibitive. So, we strategized and discussed staying and remodeling, adding, and maximizing that hillside. If this sounds familiar, you’re probably wondering, what should I consider?

1. Make sure you really like what the home could be and the overall location.

2. Make sure that the neighborhood can support a big remodel or renovation.

Realtors always think future resale! Will your planned updates make sense?

3. If there is a homeowners association, will the project you’re considering be allowed?

You’ll need to check the community by-laws carefully.

4. Set a budget.

While often not as expensive as buying, renovating is not cheap – especially since the recent pandemic has disrupted supply chains.

5. Consult smart, experienced professionals.

Do you need an architect? Builder? Class A contractor? Landscape architect? Interior designer / space planner? Yes, you will spend some money, but I have learned, first-hand, that you will make up for it in errors you would have made without the assistance of these qualified professionals. They can save you costly mistakes and time, not to mention stress! Another bonus is they often get discounts on materials, furniture, finishes, or services that you would not get as a member of the general public. Professionals can help you realize goals that are important to you. Do you want to build green or use recycled or reclaimed material? Carry along a certain style or theme throughout? Maybe you want designated spaces for your hobbies? They can help you achieve all of this. As a Realtor, I can’t tell you how often I’ve heard, “I wish I would have consulted with someone…” about some perceived mistake. You will have a better product and more enjoyable space in the end, if you consult with quality professionals.

6. Come up with a game plan and be specific and realistic

What can you do when? How long will it take?

7. Consider unforeseen costs.

Will you have to move out of the house for a while and will you need movers to help? What about storage costs for your belongings?

8. Make sure you have the appropriate insurance on your property if you will have people there working.

9. Don’t spend all of your money on the inside and leave no funds for the outside.

We have all seen the giant castle on a barren piece of land! Landscaping sets the stage, frames the home, invites and welcomes, and softens hard edges… These days, our outside spaces have proven to be more important than ever. They are our escape from home school, Zoom meetings, and a safer space to visit with friends.

10. When it is done… ENJOY your improved “improvement”.

As we have learned this year – there may come a time when you spend more time in your home than you would have ever imagined!

Ann McClure is a licensed real estate agent in Virginia and Maryland with McEnearney Associates, Inc. in McLean, VA. If you would like more information on selling or buying in today’s complex market, contact Ann at 301-367-5098 or visit her website AnnMcClure.com.

Take a look at our website for all of our listings available throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

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Question: I am getting my house ready to put on the market and wanted to ask if everything really needs to be all beige or gray?

Answer: The best way to answer this question is…it depends upon the type of property, the target buyer pool, if you are using your furniture and accessories, or if it will be staged.

When I am working with a seller, my first step is to have them give me a tour of their home to discuss what they are planning to keep, move, give away or sell. We also review the paint colors, artwork, accessories and bedding. I then come back on my own and walk through the house making a list of suggested repairs, painting, modifications, items to keep in the same room, items to move elsewhere, items to put into storage, and options for staging. Then we get together to review and make decisions on how to move forward.

I generally suggest a neutral wall color throughout the house. It does not have to be the same color in every room, but a pallet that keeps the home light and bright and flows nicely from room to room. In cases where each room is a different bold color, it can be a distraction to the potential buyer and an expense that they prefer not to incur before moving into their new home.

I personally have a lime green kitchen and a hot pink master bathroom and would definitely need to make some changes before putting my own house on the market.

With neutral paint, bedding, shower curtains and towels, carpet, or in most cases furniture, you can always add color and personality with your artwork and accessories. I just sold a home in Old Town Alexandria with creamy white walls, light hardwood and tile floors, and white blinds. We used grey and white linens and white towels, and brought in large colorful contemporary art and fun accessories to make it pop! The photos and feedback were fabulous and it sold in a few days.

In another listing, the contemporary townhome had dark hardwoods, white cabinets and countertops, light grey walls and beautiful neutral tile. The furniture, artwork, and accessories were bright greens and oranges. It was gorgeous!

In other situations, however, I have worked with sellers that, like me, love colorful walls and bold artwork and accessories, and were not open to making changes. The feedback I received from potential buyers was that they could not picture themselves or their furniture in the house, and the listing lingered on the market until the price or condition was modified.

Another thing to keep in mind is that most buyers keep up with TV shows, social media, and magazines about flipping houses, before and after makeovers, and how to decorate a new home. They will feel a neutral background offers them more options.

Whether you decided to go with a completely neutral look, or one with colorful accents, keep in mind that in order to get top dollar, your home should be move-in ready.

If you would like a professional, confidential evaluation of your home, please give me a call. I am happy to meet with you, tour your home, and offer suggestions for updates, repairs, or staging prior to listing your home.

Good luck!

Lisa Groover is a licensed real estate agent with McEnearney Associates, Inc. in Old Town Alexandria, VA. Having had seven golden retrievers since moving to Alexandria in 1989, she is dedicated to helping other dog owners through the challenges of renting, buying and selling their home..

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At some point in every listing appointment the topic of staging comes up. Should I stage? Is it worth the money? In a word: absolutely!

There are countless articles and statistics that speak to the return on investment for every staging dollar spent. Professional stagers know how to optimize the home’s layout and visual impact, both in photographs that attract more buyers, and in the “wow factor” you experience when you walk into the home. A well-staged home is often sold before the buyer leaves the main floor. First impressions can mean everything!

What is staging?

Staging is the process of preparing a home for sale, and it can be as simple as decluttering, or full-service professional staging. Staging can also include painting and remodeling – from a little touch-up paint to a new kitchen – it’s all staging! An investment in staging depends on the home’s condition and the means and goals of the sellers.

As a Realtor, bringing up the need for staging can be tricky. In some cases, this is likely the most uncomfortable conversation we will have with you! While we know from past experience that homes staged with fresh paint, neutral furnishings and carefully arranged accessories tend to sell faster and for more money, we know it can feel personal to be told to make these changes to your personal space. (It’s not personal!)

There are many levels and elements to staging.

Often stagers are brought in for a consult when the ink is still wet on the listing agreement to determine if painting, updating, purging, or adding furniture would be recommended. The stagers will walk through your home and make recommendations on colors, furniture placement and what needs to be removed or potentially added.

Sometimes the home furnishings will be used, but stagers might bring in accessories including pillows, lighting, art, or seasonal enhancements like pumpkins in the fall to enhance the home.

A full stage means that the stagers will bring everything into an empty home and stage the rooms that will offer the greatest impact to the sale of the home.

The first two options are relatively inexpensive. The third quickly gets more expensive and it’s easy to understand why – the stagers are decorating and moving a houseful of goods in and then out again.

Can I do my own staging?

Certainly! Agents will always recommend that you remove all personal, religious, and political items from the home. The main idea is to allow the buyer to imagine how they will live in the home (not to showcase how the seller currently lives in the home), and you don’t want to turn off a potential buyer. (Once I unknowingly showed a vegan couple a home with countless animal heads mounted on the wall! No surprise, they didn’t buy it.)

Does the home need any updating?

While new kitchens and baths help to sell houses quickly, that’s not always in the budget. Simple things like paint, fresh towels, clean filters, working light bulbs, weeded gardens can have a big impact. Maybe the bathrooms are very dated, but in good condition. Can the vanity be painted? New faucets? Sometimes a little bit of effort and creativity can improve a space without a large investment.

Time to declutter!

It’s incredible how much we can collect after living in a home for a few years or more. If you’re looking to sell your home, you’ll want to tidy up and declutter! Movers will store your things for you for a small sum or sometimes even for free if you use them to move. Purging extra furniture, seasonal items and trinkets to open up the rooms is very beneficial. Half-full closets look a lot more spacious than one crammed from top to bottom. (This may be the hardest part of the process. But by the time you have finished purging, packing, and storing, the next part of the move will be easy!)

It’s all about the photos!

When it comes down to it, much of the work of staging is to create fantastic photographs. This is especially true in today’s increasingly virtual world where buyers are doing a lot of their searching online. How a home shows online often determines if a buyer chooses to schedule a showing.

It is important to ensure the photographs are capturing what you want to buyer to look at. We want them to see the wainscoting, the moldings, the beautiful windows in the home. If the eye is being drawn to table decor or window treatments, we are “selling” the wrong thing. However, the reverse is true as well: if we want to distract the viewer from a flaw – a dated tile countertop, for example – more pieces will go onto the counter to draw your eye away.

Staging is a honed skill that takes time, experience, and talent to execute.

By professionally staging a home, the seller is creating a picture of what living in the home could look like. Good staging is not decorating, it’s actually marketing. You want the decor to enhance, but not distract. Good staging shows your home in the best possible light and will often get your home sold faster!

Rebecca McCullough has built a successful real estate business in Alexandria and Northern Virginia by providing excellent service to her clients. If you would like more information on selling or buying in today’s complex market, contact Rebecca today at 571-384-0941 or visit her website RebeccaMcCullough.com.

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