9 Ah-Ha Hacks the Pros Use to Max Out Bathroom Space!

September 23, 2017

By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon

Bathroom storage can be awfully tight. Bust it out with these ideas.

You fantasize about a bathroom big enough for hot yoga after a steamy shower — a space that can be your personal refuge from the hurly-burly of your house (your life!).

Instead, you’ve got a bath cluttered with all your toiletries right out there in plain view for all your guests to judge, umm, see. It’s like a metaphor for your life; so cramped, you dread trying to blow out your hair tomorrow.

You need space. Here’s how to gain some in your packed space (collected from the pros who do it for a living).

#1 Hang Shelves in Unusual Places:

Being savvy about the type of shelf you choose (think picture ledge instead of bookshelf) and where you hang it (like in that dead wall space between your sink and mirror) can make all the difference in a teeny bathroom (now you’ve got a toothbrushing station — and more sink space!).

Or go big. And UP. A wide shelf above your bathroom door is instant storage for your vacation beach towels.

#2 Go Into the Walls for Even More Shelves:

Feeling cramped often leads to daydreams of taking a mallet to those close-together walls, “Fixer Upper”-style. So do it, really. You’d be amazed how much storage space hides behind bathroom walls between studs that stand 16 inches apart.

Knock out some drywall (just be sure to check for electrical and plumbing lines first!), then throw in some shelves between the studs.

Keep it open if you’re storing towels or nice-looking bottles of lotion there, or add a door for a little more discretion.

#3 Add Storage to Your Pedestal Sink:

Just because your pedestal sink came with the same amount of storage as your yoga pants doesn’t mean there’s no potential there.

You can buy (or build, if you’ve got the DIY bug) cabinets that wrap around the base and, literally, create storage out of thin air. There are lots of options, like Hammacher Schlemmer’s fancy pedestal cabinet that’s priced at $130 and comes with two shelves, tilt-out drawer, and even a magazine rack.

Another DIY solution: Dress your pedestal with a skirt that hides whatever you stuff behind it. It can even be a no-needle, no-sew project. Just use heavy, double-sided tape to attach and hem it.

#4 Put Part of Your Toilet in the Wall (for Real!):

Unless you’re raising sea creatures in your toilet tank (just kidding! Don’t do that!), your large, porcelain cube is eating up valuable space.

Consider a wall-hung toilet (starting at $400). It’s minimalist-chic, and frees up floor space because the whole thing sits closer to the wall.

Since the tank and plumbing hide behind the wall, be sure to leave an access panel to save yourself grief down the road.

Tip: A towel bar, or even some light shelving, can be mounted on the access panel for added storage where your toilet tank used to be.

#5 Get the Most Streamlined Faucet You Can:

Itty-bitty bathrooms are perfect for simple, single-handle faucets that save space on your sink surround.

Sure, it’s just a few square inches you’ll save, but that’s valuable bathroom real estate when you’re in the middle of trying that new updo, brushing your teeth, and doing some self-maintenance.

#6 Hide Toiletries in Hanging Baskets:

These hangables give even ugly bottles and brushes some style, as well as a home. Most baskets are light enough to mount to the wall using a 75-pound picture hook hammered into a stud (we love those studs!). Or, install an extra towel bar — or the infamous Ikea storage rails — and attach baskets and buckets via S-hooks.

#7 Get a Spacious Feeling With a Window:

If your dark, dank bathroom has no window, and it’s on an exterior wall, add one! It’ll reboot your mornings like nothing else.

It’s not the cheapest option (about $2,100 installed). But it’s sooooo worth it to get those sunny rays.

Because your bathroom will just feel bigger. And it’ll let fresh air in, which puts the brakes on mold and mildew. Pick a vinyl window, which won’t rot like wood will (plus vinyl is usually cheaper).

#8 Mount a Second Shower Rod (or Double Rod):

If your shower surround is minimalist in all the wrong ways, you know the misery of stashing bottles and razors and soap in tiny, wet, slippery corners.

But no law says a shower can only have one rod. If you hang a second tension rod inside the shower and add some S-hooks, you can turn your shower into a hanging storage jungle with buckets and caddies.

Tip: You can also buy a double shower rod to do the same thing — or, put the shower curtain on the inside rod and use the outside one to hang towels.

#9 Hack Some Suction Cup Hooks:

For something super easy, super quick that’ll give you some instant relief in your cramped bathroom, try suction hooks, which you can hack with elastic hair ties and mount to shower walls.

Slip razors, shampoo, conditioner through the ties, which will corral the usual shower mess.

81 Staging Tips That Help Buyers Fall in Love!

September 21, 2017

By: Natalie Burg

Their agent won’t have to say, “Picture this.” Buyers will see your home at its best.

Staging your house can make you money. Seventy-one percent of sellers’ agents believe a well-staged environment increases the dollar value buyers are willing to offer, according to the National Association of REALTORS® “2015 Profile of Home Staging.”

Just take this real world tale of two condo listings from Terrylynn Fisher, a REALTOR® with Dudum Real Estate Group in Walnut Creek, Calif., who also stages:

Both units were in the same complex. One hadn’t been staged or updated since it was built; the other was staged and had been slightly refreshed (a little paint here and there and one redone bath). Otherwise, both units were the same size and layout. The staged condo sold for about $30,000 more than the unstaged unit, she says. “People couldn’t believe it was the same model.”

Before your eyes turn into dollar signs, keep in mind staging isn’t guaranteed to get you more money. But it’s an important marketing tool to help you compete at the right price, which means you can sell faster. (A study from the Real Estate Staging Association bears this out.)

Helping buyers fall in love with your property takes more than running the vacuum and fluffing the pillows: It’s all about decluttering, repairing, updating, and depersonalizing, say real estate agents and stagers.

With help from Fisher and other sources, we’ve compiled the ultimate home staging checklist.

Jump to a specific room or area of the house:

Living Room:

•When placing anything from accent pillows and table lamps, go for symmetry, which is pleasing to the eye.

•Light it up with lamps. Chic lamps provide both added lighting and appealing decor.

•Make that fireplace glow. Scrub away soot stains and replace the old screen.

•If you’re using staging furniture or buying slip covers, choose light colors for an airy, inviting feel.

•Whatever amount of furniture you have in your living room, remove a few pieces to make the room feel spacious.

•Use bright, coordinated accessories like accent pillows and throw blankets for a chic splash of color.

•Help buyers imagine their life in your home. Set the scene by displaying a board game or tea service on the coffee table, and arrange furniture in conversational groups.

•Let a slideshow of beautiful images play on your television like a screensaver.

Kitchen:

•Clear everything from countertops except one or two decorative items, like a vase of flowers or bowl of fresh fruit.

•Pack up all the dishes except one attractive, matching set. Do the same with glassware, flatware, and cookware, and pare down all other cupboard and drawer items down to the minimum.

•Freshen up and modernize those cabinets with a fresh coat of paint or stain and new hardware.

•Seriously evaluate your appliances. Can they look new again with a good scrubbing? Give it the old college try or consider replacing with new models. The Real Estate Staging Association strongly recommends stainless steel. Tip: You can get the look of stainless for the cost of a cheap dinner with stainless films.

•Remove those fridge magnets and give the door and handles a good cleaning.

•Scrub dirt, grime, and stains from walls, cabinets, and backsplashes.

•Clean cabinet interiors, especially under the sink.

•Clean and organize the pantry, leaving some empty space to make it look bigger. Store items in decorative baskets and display a few jars of fancy jam and other upscale condiments.

•Empty all trash cans and move them out of sight.

Bedrooms:

•Go gender neutral in the master bedroom. Ditch those dainty, floral pillow shams or NASCAR posters.

•Pack up all but the clothes you’re wearing this season to make you closets look larger.

•Swap out the motley crew of mismatched hangers in your closet for a set of wooden ones to create a classy, boutique look.

•Put jewelry and other valuables in a safe spot.

•Consider giving extra bedrooms a new identity as a home office, sewing room, or another interesting function.

•Remove televisions or video game consoles from bedrooms to depersonalize and create a serene setting.

Dining Room:

•Let buyers entertain the idea of entertaining. Set out some chic place settings around the table, or a few wine glasses and a decanter on the buffet.

•Strike a balance between overly formal and too casual with an attractive runner and a few fun, decorative elements — think small floral vases or short candle holders.

Bathroom:

•It’s de-grime time: Scrub and sanitize the walls, floor, shower door — virtually every surface that comes in contact with steam.

•Spend extra time scrubbing that tile grout and re-caulk around the tub if necessary.

•If your bathroom tile is dated, try paint instead of replacing it. Start with a high-adhesion primer and either epoxy or latex paint.

•Remove clutter from the countertop, tub, and top of toilet. Clean surfaces until they gleam.

•Pack up and hide all your personal products — from medicine to razors.

•Create a luxury spa look with a fancy soap dispenser, fluffy white towels, decorative baskets, candles, plants, a white shower curtain, and a new bath mat.

•Fix leaky or running toilets and replace toilet seats.

•Remove hard water stains on faucets and shower heads. (Try vinegar!)

•Take a daring sniff of the drains. Odorous? Clean them out, and deodorize with baking soda, boiling water, or vinegar.

•Time for a new sink anyway? Try a pedestal sink to optimize precious bathroom space.

Walls, Windows & More:

•Have a dark corner or hallway? Brighten it up with a decorative mirror.

•Neutralize the walls. If any rooms are painted in dark colors, repaint white or beige.

•Paint adjacent rooms the same color to make the whole space feel larger.

•Fill nicks and holes in walls, and touch up with paint.

•Sorry, wood paneling. It’s time. Paint over paneling with a neutral color. To really cover your tracks, use wood filler between panels and paint over the entire thing.

•Make sure every switch plate and outlet cover matches and looks brand new.

•Wash the windows, inside and out. Repair any holes or tears in screens.

•Replace those family portraits with interesting art placed strategically throughout the house. Avoid leaving dead space on walls.

Throughout the House:

•Declutter! Consider it pre-packing for your move. Box up books, clothes, and personal items and place them (neatly!) in the garage or — better yet — a rented storage unit.

•Don’t forget to include memorabilia in those decluttering bins. Family photos, diplomas, and the kids’ artwork should all go.

•Keep closets, basements, and attics as empty as possible to maximize the appearance of storage space.

•Transform underused areas of the house — the alcove under the stairs or the end of a hallway — into functional spots. Add a desk to create a mini office, or a chair and small bookshelf for a reading nook.

•Swap dim lights for high-wattage bulbs.

•Check every door, drawer, and cabinet to ensure they open and close easily. Swap out any faulty — or dingy — hardware.

•Damaged or aging hardwood floors? Replace damaged boards with new wood, sand down the entire floor, and re-stain.

•Do a deep (deep, deep) clean. Hire a professional cleaning service to clean your home from top to bottom — including carpets — before viewings.

Exterior:

•Hang attractive house numbers that are legible from the road.

•Brighten up your porch with fresh paint or stain.

•Add a fresh coat of paint to the front door, preferably red, black, blue, or wood stain, so long as it complements the trim and doesn’t blend, says The Real Estate Staging Association. Steer clear of unconventional colors like purple.

•Buy a new doormat to welcome home buyers.

•Power-wash the house exterior, walkway, steps, driveway, and porch until everything sparkles.

•Make sure the locks and doorbell function.

•Make that mailbox look clean and welcoming, or get a new one.

•Plant lots of colorful blooms in attractive pots and planter beds.

•Trim back trees and shrubs from the approach to the front door.

•Whip that yard into shape with fresh sod or new seed

•Store yard equipment and children’s toys out of sight.

•Repair shaky banisters.

•Get a hammock (or bocce ball game or raised fire pit) to show off how fun your yard can be.

•Dress up any imperfect planting area with mulch.

•Make sure entryway lights function and are free of cobwebs and insects.

•Hide trash cans, recycle bins, and garden hoses.

•Don’t forget your outdoor living space. Stage your patio like a second living room, with fashionable furniture, accent pillows, an outdoor rug, and other patio-friendly decor.

For Pet Owners:

•Scrub those pet stains on the carpets and rugs until totally gone or replace them if necessary. Try cleaning formulas made especially for pet odors.

•Pet odors soak into your best friend’s favorite things. Completely remove pet beds (or Fido’s most-loved couch), blankets, toys, play structures, food bowls, and the like.

•Use air fresheners that eliminate odors, rather than simply mask them. There’s nothing worse than the smell of artificial pine with kitty litter undertones.

•Repair or remove any furniture that’s been scratched or gnawed on.

•Clean all pet “presents” from the yard.

•Keep cat boxes immaculate and hidden away, or — better yet — see how your feline-loving friends feel about a temporary houseguest and remove litter boxes altogether.

•Remove any dog or cat doors. Pets? What pets?

•When you leave the house for a viewing, take all the furry (or feathery or scaly) residents along with you.

•Make a pet hair sweep the last thing you do before you leave the house.

Day of Showing:

•Add a seasonal touch. Simmer cinnamon sticks in the fall and set out fresh cut lilacs in the spring.

•Tidy like you’ve never tidied before.

•Avoid cooking any food for your own meals, but do bake some cookies or other baked goods to leave a welcoming aroma behind.

•Take off. After all that staging work, you deserve a trip to the spa while potential home buyers are busy falling in love with your house.