Property

DIY a difference

BY PAM GEORGE

IT WAS A SPACE that would make any interior designer stop in his or her tracks—and not in a good way. The basement condo, inhabited by a college student, had a musty smell that was a cross between “eau de dog” and a gym locker packed with old sneakers. The fireplace was overshadowed by a giant television, listing shelves and a makeshift bar.

“It was a disaster,” recalls interior designer Taniya (pronounced Tan-ya) Nayak. Preparing the condo for sale would take a big budget, but Nayak had just $2,000. A professional carpet steaming did wonders. So did contemporary black shelves, which framed the freshly painted fireplace, and new, sleek accessories.

The difference was dramatic, and it was all in a day’s work for Nayak, the designer on HGTV’s popular program “Designed to Sell.”

Interior designer and HGTV show host Taniya Nayak reveals tips on adding value to your home— before it’s time to sell it.

Before & After

Nayak receives $2,000 to make properties more marketable. Fortunately, she is accustomed to using her ingenuity. She is president of Design Digs, the Boston firm she founded in 2005 after her first designon- cue program, ABC Family’s “Knock First,” ended. Although clients have included famous celebrities, the company specializes in affordable designs for everyday people. Before joining “Designed to Sell,” Nayak was on HGTV’s “FreeStyle,” where designers rearrange rooms to create updated spaces with no budget.

With her good looks and signature dangling earrings, Nayak is both hip and personable. She is full of quick, effective ways to boost a home’s value.

“When people start to sell their house, that’s when they fix it up—and it’s a shame,” she says. “Fix it up now. It will add value and you can enjoy it.”

What is the most inexpensive way to add value?
De-clutter. If you have a lot of stuff, those POD storage units that go outside your house are awesome.

Where do you start?
Budget 25% more than what you initially planned. We forget about supplies, cleaning up, disposal. Try not to have the bathroom, kitchen and basement going on at the same time. One room at a time is the way to go. Remember, you have to live there.

What kind of value can you add to your home?
It depends on how much you invest. If you stage your house, it will sell 40% to 50% faster. My advice to people who want to fix up their place is to figure out the budget and then pick and choose your battles. Any improvement is a good improvement.

Is playing up a marketable feature a secret of good design?
If you have a bay window, show it off. If you have a fireplace, show it off. A common mistake: People put a huge TV next to their fireplace. All you see is the television. It is one thing if you put a plasma TV over the fireplace, but you don’t want them to compete with one another.

How important is paint?
A fresh coat of paint is not that expensive— especially if you do it yourself—and it is the biggest payoff you can get. It’s a fresh, clean look, and the smell of paint captures the attention of buyers without them realizing it. It subconsciously says that this person is taking care of their house. When you’re selling, stay away from “crayon colors.” I’m all for people being creative when they’re [staying] in the home, but when you put it on the market, you want to appeal to everyone.

What is the advantage of neutrals?
The nice thing about neutrals is you can punch them up with accents: Throw a funky rug out, install some cool window treatments. You can do a beige wall and add oranges and hot pinks, or soft blues and chocolates. You can even change the look seasonally if you want by switching out your accents.

What about hardware?
This is another thing you can do that will reap benefits. Just change the hardware on your cabinets. Change out your faucets, your light fixtures. It’s like when you put on an outfit, it’s just an outfit. But when you put on your jewelry and your accessories, the outfit comes together. The same is true of fixtures.

What is the best way to find an inexpensive countertop?
You can ask a wholesaler for “over-stocked” granite, something a contractor returned. It’s not a remnant. If you ask for a granite remnant for your whole kitchen, they’ll just laugh at you. They won’t be as willing to work with you. Say, “Here’s my budget. Is there anything you want to get out of your warehouse?”

There are diff erent stone cuts. A threecentimeter is the thick cut that most people have. You can go with a thinner one, usually three-quarters of an inch thick. It’s easier to crack, but the benefit is that you can say you have granite countertops.

Do people ever get accustomed to eyesores?
It becomes invisible. A lot of houses I go into have light switches with loose wires hanging out. Or we see scuff ed-up baseboards. I recommend taking digital photos and bringing them up on the computer. It’s shocking to see what you’ve overlooked.