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Homes

Front Porch: Upgrades can mean big sales

Splashy shows like HGTV's Designed to Sell - in which a team of hard-nosed experts make over a frowzy house presale - make a valid point: spend a few bucks and reap big rewards. "It works whether it's an 800-square-foot condo or a mansion," says Wendy Dilda, a real estate enhancement specialist. "And it's a lot more than just decluttering. I recently had a client who had a gorgeous round window and put an antique chest in front of it. We replaced it with a round coffee table and it looked much better and played off the architecture."

By ELIZABETH BETTENDORF
Published November 4, 2005

California-based Dilda has been helping people beautify their homes for about a decade. She will head a panel discussion on the matter from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Monday at the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors' office, 2918 W Kennedy Blvd. The cost is $10.

Other panelists will include experts from around Florida as well as area real estate enhancers Roma Starkey, Jane Xiques and Paige Pearson.

The next day, the group will help make over a home that's about to go on the market.

For free.

"I'm still looking for the perfect house," explains Starkey, who helped organize the event in the hopes of encouraging Realtors to recommend such services to their clients. "We're hoping Realtors everywhere - from Sun City Center to St. Pete - will think of using our services."

Starkey advises prospective sellers to improve their homes before they ever hang a "For Sale" sign in the front yard.

"Don't wait until its been sitting on the market 30 or 60 days, which can mean a $10,000 lower sales price. The time to enhance is on the front end, before the home is vacant."

She warns against taking the TV versions of home makeovers too seriously. Such shows provide free crews and make it look like a do-it-yourself project.

"Don't kid yourself," said Starkey, who charges $250 for an extensive consultation. "This is not a free service. You need somebody who is trained to come in and correct things visually."

Starkey can walk through a house - inside and out - and spot sticky issues immediately.

The most common interior problems?

Too much furniture, too many plants and family photos, artwork that may appeal to the owner but scare off potential buyers.

Ultimately, she says, the goal is to highlight the positive and broaden the appeal of a home, making it interesting to a wide swath of people with varying tastes. Paint hides a lot of sins.

"A lot of houses in Tampa Bay are selling for between $650,000 and $850,000," Starkey says. "So why should someone pick yours over the next one?"

Simple, she says. It looks good and turns heads.

[Last modified November 3, 2005, 08:47:07]