the stage for the home’s other features, including furnishings, decorations, and architecture. If a bold color is applied to the exterior, like a light pink, potential buyers that like to blend in may be put off. If a room is too dark, such as dark red, or too bright, such as chromatic yellow, the features of the home may be muted or obscured as they compete for visual attention. Neutralizing your home is the best option (see “Neutral Colors” below), as buyers can project their own color palette to their tastes without being influenced by your preferences. Converted Spaces It is a modern notion to have our spaces fit our personalities, lifestyles, quirks, and interests. That works just fine when you’re living there, but you may want to reconsider the current usage of each space that you have repurposed when it comes time to sell. Having a garage converted for another purpose besides storage and parking a vehicle may be fine for your needs, but home buyers may just want a garage for what it was originally intended. If you’ve converted your garage into a place to run your small business, exercise room, or music practice room, be sure to bring it back to its normal garage-only state to appeal to the largest number of home buyers. This is especially true for cities that have limited parking. Similarly, a bedroom converted into a small office or storage space can be off-putting. This happens because it puts the intended purpose of the room into the mind of a home buyer and that’s not your goal when selling your home. Carpeting Most home buyers prefer hardwood floors when purchasing a home, even if you have recently taken the trouble of installing new carpet. People may assume that the germs, pet dander, and
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