Lighting counts when Buyers are looking

10 Steps to Making Buyers Bite
Step 8 - Light Up

"Floor lamps just don't cut it these days," says real estate agent Rhonda Kohn. If your home doesn't get a lot of natural light, consider installing recessed lighting or new sconces, or both, so the buyer won't struggle to figure out how to brighten up the space.

"Lighting is probably the most overlooked, yet the most important aspect of interior decoration," designer Simon Temprell says, adding, "In newer construction, you don't have sufficient lighting. The reality is that everyone needs three types - task, ambient and decorative lighting - which allow you to change the mood of the room."

When it comes to recessed lighting, know that the smaller the fixture, the more updated it is. "We used to have six-inch apertures, now we have four-inch openings. And using halogen bulbs gives a cleaner, more modern look," says designer Sue Adams.

Pre-Organized Closets

10 Things That Make Buyers Bite
Step 7. Pre-Organized Closets

Just as stainless appliances convince buyers that they are better cooks, closet organizers make buyers believe that they are better homemakers. If your closets are unadorned, don't underestimate the importance of this easy addition.

"They make you feel secure and calm and people need that," notes designer Sue Adams. And while you don't need to use high-end organizers, make sure that the materials are up-to-date. "Twenty years ago, closet organizers meant wire shelves. You can't slide anything over a wire shelf. You can't even put a hanger in some of them," she says. Today's ideal would be "melamine shelves, in bone or white, with some drawers and metal rods to maximize storage," she says.

This organization shouldn't stop in the closet - make sure your kitchen cabinets are orderly, too. "If they open up a door and see a big pantry, but it's not organized properly, it won't be as exciting as something already organized with a place for everything," says real estate agent Theresa Evans.

Stainless-steel appliances

6. Steel This Idea

Why do buyers go bananas for stainless-steel appliances? It's the power of suggestion. "A kitchen with stainless appliances looks like a commercial kitchen. It makes people think that they're great [more] cooks," observes designer Sue Adams, "but because the finish shows fingerprints, it's not for everyone."

As far as other alternatives go, the designers agree that in general, black fixtures can look dated, while white is okay for a country kitchen. And some people are making appliances blend in beautifully by ordering front panels to match their cabinetry.