A few suggestions:
Kitchen:
Remove valance over window & replace blinds with woven wood blinds - more contemporary
Change out cabinet & door hardware to brushed chrome - very popular today
Replace backsplash with inexpensive, neutral but contemporary tile - checkout Lowes or Home Depot
Paint walls in warmer tone - pick a color from the backsplash tile
Add some color with ready made seat cushions and flowers or fruit (especially during a showing)
Living room:
Move coffee table to right end of sofa & add lamp - make room appear more spacious
Again, some color - add a throw to the sofa and/or pillows - more welcoming, looks cold right now
Large plant on hearth
Foyer:
Paint out red accent wall to a neutral color

Hope this helps.

remove the two skimpy vases on the mantel. get a larger piece of art above the mantel and look for blue and white pottery pieces for the mantel. two blue and white ginger jars flanking the ends ( not small ones), perhaps a large blue and white bowl in the center and blue and white rectangle plates on small easels on either side of the center bowl.

I would add a round "decorators' table to the side of the sofa. a decorators table is fake wood table that you cover with a round cover that reaches the floor, they often come with glass tops. Then add a lamp on that table.

Your overall color scheme is too "vanilla".

The clock over the TV is the wrong proportion.

It might be worthwhile to hire a "stager" to help you. with a few changes, you're home would seem more welcoming.

For the hardware see if your local area has a BMC we have them in Texas. They have everything from hardware, crown moulding, and bathroom fixtures.

You want to wow prospective owners and trigger images of them in the space - your space needs some pop - PHI is right - take the two skinny vases off mantel - put them side by side on coffee table - and a large bowl platter on other side. The Metal art above fireplace is too high and doesn't work there - perhaps you can pair it with the clock which should not be the only thing on that huge wall - regardless it is too high and throws room off. Pillows, rugs. vases, lamps, color in kitchen . . .

You know, believe a stager would be best idea for you too - they breeze in and quickly make your space amazing to sell - then once you are down the road in new home - ask advise on your new rooms!

You've already removed your personality from most of the rooms in your pics, and that is good, but I see nothing warm and nothing that says "home." I also find the light fixture in the foyer to be dated. The black and white living room is cold and the fireplace front needs cleaning. People are looking for a place to call home, and you must have vignettes in place that say "you're home!" The clock might work in the kitchen, as that is where people are preppng to leave for work/school and need to keep an eye on it. A great piece of art over the FP is all you need there and an armchair, table and lamp beside it with a book laid open like someone just put it down to answer the door. Simple linen drapeery panels at the windows would soften and warm it up and you could take them with you when you move. Biggest project I think would give the best first impression is the foyer - a larger, more trendy new chandy, hardwood stairs to match flooring, a warm neutral color all around and a great piece of art above a table with fresh flowers.

Great suggestions - moved the coffee table...it's a strange size, so it looks a little funny to the right of the couch, but it does look better. Definitely looking into new throw pillows and a lamp, new blinds for the kitchen. As for the "bland" or "vanilla" look - it's famously known as "Johnson County taupe" around here - every realtor I've ever met in JC tells the seller to paint their walls this color. I'm really confused as to what color scheme a house on the market should follow at this point. I was always told neutrals and taupe/cream colors.

I should also note that I stupidly left all of the blinds closed when I took these pictures and it was already cloudy - these rooms get great natural light, if that makes any difference. As for crown moulding, a stager, etc., I literally have a budget of almost nothing to work with. I lost my job last year and went back to school full-time and am working 15 hours a week for minimum wage, and am commuting an hour and a half each way every day to get to school and work. We just barely are scraping by on what we have - one of the reasons we had hoped to sell much more quickly. We are perfectly happy just to break even, not looking to make anything.

Yes, I second changing out the kitchen hardware to brushed chrome. Your cabinets, counter-tops and floor are light colored, so I think you could go bold with some great darker glass tile for the back splash. Plus it would look good with your bar stools and tie thing together. I would also suggest de-cluttering some of the items on the counter-tops before showing (just leave one thing like your coffee maker).

The living room looks a bit idk, drab? Seems monochromatic from the picture. Maybe a rug and some colorful throw pillows. And some artwork that fits the space better. The pieces you have are too small scale for the room. Check out Burlington Coat Factory, Next Tuesday, HOBO, etc for some discount stuff (pillows, rug, and art). Would it be possible to re-arranging furniture to focus more on the great fireplace? Maybe get rid if the TV... just until you sell if that's possible?

And for the foyer, change out the gold light fixture... go gold free in the house if possible it makes the entire home look dated. So get rid of anything gold including any doorknobs, hardware, facets, etc. Agree again with above poster to paint the wall something more neutral.

Thank you for the recommendation on the gold - I HATE the gold, always have (we are the 2nd owners of the house). As PHI suggested brushed bronze for the kitchen cabinetry, would that work in the rest of the house as well, considering the white/neutral scheme? I hate white wood (main thing I hate about this house) and I get very confused as to what colors the hardware can be.

I think she mentioned brushed nickel. I would also suggest since there are many more options in brushed nickel for all fixtures (from your hardware to the light fixtures) and usually less expensive than bronze. Bronze would look nice too, but you'll have more selection in the nickel finish

Here's what we just did in our kitchen.

Hi tmoose0988, a glass mosaic backsplash is a wonderful idea. It will help to update the look and make the kitchen feel more homey. I would go with a rich chocolatey tile, something maybe with some texture but not too much variation because you want it to be neutral enough that the next homeowner would be able to change out counters or cabinets and have it match still. A chocolate color will warm up the space, give it some more depth, and also tie in with your table so the whole space will look more cohesive.

Just to clarify - I suggested brushed chrome, not nickel which is more expensive.

From the photo the backsplash looks to be a simple white square tile...I don't think that is the problem here. Also have to consider the appliances are all white, so any contrast on the wall will emphasize the white appliances. I once did this, and it caused a chain reaction of problems... Better put any money into the brushed chrome/steel/nickel/bronze cabinet hardware idea. Make sure you measure where the screws are so the new ones match, you don't want to fill holes in natural wood... I agree the wood blinds would be a good inexpensive upgrade -- modern and warm. Also add warmth by moving the clock in here and a LARGE bowl/platter of brightly polished apples on the end of the peninsula. Granny smiths in a wooden bowl or basket would look great and give the room a focal point.

The living room -- the metal artwork over the fireplace would work fine if it was lowered...could group a half dozen candles of different heights in glass and iron holders on the mantle in front of it to make a stronger statement. Pier 1 has lots of choices. And definitely clean off the soot!

Then add some colour as suggested -- cushions and a throw would do it, with perhaps a bright coloured print or painting (will need some of the wall colour in it for balance) hung at eye level on the big wall to balance the tv and sofa. And move the clock to the kitchen!

Finally, I do agree that the entry lamp would be worth changing. Should be a bit bigger. Also, can't see from the photo, but under the lamp set into the corner of the stairs, a glove table (could be like the decorator's table shown by another poster, or an old ikea plant stand) covered with a saturated-colour cloth -- plum or chocolate velvet, for example, or a jewel toned Indian silk, with a vase of fresh flowers or evergreen cuttings from the garden to give some balance to the lamp and life to the entry.

The red wall I like, but too controversial for some, especially since the rest of the house is so neutral, so that would be worth changing. Again, a chocolate brown or an earthy, warm grey would work. Hang a decorative mirror there. (check out the local Sally Ann for an interesting mirror, then paint it gloss black for impact).
The carpet on the stairs is neutral enough, not worth the expense to change to hardwood.

Good luck!

Here's a great site, where I've ordered the bar pulls from in the past for the best price I could find. $3.99 each. I think at Home Depot they have a 4 pack for $19.99.

http://www.woodworkershdwe.net/servlet/the-40/Amerock-BP19010-dsh-SS-Kitchen-Cabinet/Detail?zmam=24851134&zmas=1&zmac=5&zmap=A19010-SS

If anyone knows of other sources, let me know! I'll be buying pulls myself soon.
Good Luck!

Also regarding the backsplash, which others mentioned. If you are handy and looking to spice it up, maybe you could take out a row of the white tiles horizontially and find a glass tile that looks good as a accent. There are some "thinner" ones at the big box stores, if thickness is an issue. I personally just picked this up from Lowe's and am going to cut each sheet into 1/3 's, they have these same ones in a few color styles.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_354397-93840-20-620_4294730930__?productId=3477527&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1

Here are a few free ideas I have:
- Define your target customer, is it someone with a small family? If so, they are probably looking at a home built in 2002 because of the newer amenities like updated electrical, HVAC, larger bedrooms and deep basements. An updated kitchen and bathrooms are are a bonus, but it may not be worth putting a lot of money into it since the next owner may absolutely despise the design or have plans of ripping it out anyways. Maybe you can drop the price and save the hassle of having to do the renovations.
- What do your MLS photos look like? Find a Realtor that will hire a professional photographer that will take photos and create a floorplan. This cost my Realtor $300 when marketing my home and was worth every penny. It gave the potential home buyer a great idea of what to expect before they even stepped foot into the home. This ensures that they are a qualified lead and that you don't waste time cleaning your home for someone that isn't qualified and already in love with your home.
- Do you have a link to the MLS listing?
- How is the price on the house (again be honest)? Do you need to drop the price to get the foot traffic into the door? What is your competition like? Are there new developments in your area that are selling a new home for nearly the same price you are asking?
- Fire your Realtor and hire a new one with a 3 month contract at a higher commission. Give them incentive to sell your place, not lock you up in a contract and sit on it in case it sells. If you live in the Chicago area, I can recommend a killer Realtor that sold my condo in 2 days! You need a Realtor that will actually "SELL" your home. When buying my home, I ran into too many Realtors that wouldn't even show up to the showing allowing me to make snap decisions about a place without even having a chance to correct or persuade my opinion or point out spectacular features of a place.
- Walk through some other homes for sale in the neighborhood and scope out the competition. See how their Realtors are Selling the home. It might be a great opportunity to find your next agent as well.
- PURGE! Remove nearly everything from the counters, closets and bathrooms and put it in storage. Then, when you are done purging, purge again! Also, color coordinate your clothes in the closets. You want them to look like the closets at the Container Store. :-)
- After you are done purging, clean the heck out of the place. Place a fresh coat of grout on the tile, re-caulk the showers and make sure your towels are clean and freshly folded in the bathrooms. These details make a difference.

If you need to spend money, here are some other ideas:
- What is the paint scheme like in the entire house? I strongly recommend going with neutrals. Though it may be a bit bland for many to live in, if you have a red room, most people can't look past it.
- How is the carpet in the house (be honest)? Is it bunching up, matted and stained? Definitely get it cleaned and strongly consider having it replaced or at least re-stretched in the rough areas.
- Are their hardwood floors under your carpet? If so, market this point since hardwood is very popular now.
- Depending on the price of the house and the market, you may want to get granite countertops and stainless steel appliances installed. Unfortunately, you will barely get to take advantage of them, but it allows your Realtor to place those key words in the MLS listing. Check Black Friday deals at Sears and Home Depot to score some appliances at a savings. Kenmore offers a clean line of high-quality appliances at a reasonable price. Here is a pricing guide I put together and use often to help estimate the cost of replacement items: http://designinsidechicago.com/budgeting-for-materials-in-your-home-renovation/
- Definitely remove the valances and consider updating the backsplash. Find something that is under $10/sq. ft. and made of a natural stone or at least a natural color. Your kitchen is full of Oak cabinets with a traditional arched inlay. Glass tile mosaics are way too modern for this. Look at a white ceramic subway tile (super cheap) or a travertine in a brick pattern.
- Avoid replacing door hinges and hardware. At ~$10/handle + $7/hinge it adds up quickly. Also, if you put upgraded hardware on a hollow-core door, it's putting good money after bad in my opinion.

Hope this helps you out.

I agree a kitchen sells the home.

I would paint your cabinets a white or off white. It will look fresh and blend better with your appliances. Also, definately change out the hardware. This is our kitchen before and after :)

Several factors affect the sale of a home: Location (too far out? must compare your pricing to homes in your neighborhood); Inventory (the competition and anticipated timeline to sell in your market); Condition (many valuable structural/mechanical updates which is great. unfortunately, buyers tend to take these for granted until a property doesn't have them); Presentation (model home, move-in ready, oh-my-golly-this-is it! feel); Price (the bottom line is you must be priced appropriately/competitively, not optimistically or where the seller needs to be); Marketing (stunning graphics, complete information, wide advertising reach, salesmanship). Your agent should be able to advise you on all these factors. If not, I'm happy to refer you to an excellent agent to interview to make a change. lbrown@marthaturner.com.

Hello tmoose,
As a current prospect buyer myself, I can give you other perspective and I can tell you if a person likes a house its not an outdated kitchen or the color of a wall that will put them of, talking from experience.
You house seems lovely and one of the things I have noticed in almost12 months of house visiting is that we were most drawn to houses with natural light and conventional kitchens ( as in not red or pink or purple) while i can appreciate it being our taste it also show cast better the possibilities of what to do with the house ourselves as in a blank canvas but not too blank. So if I were you think of yourself when you were the one searching for the house and what the owners had to convince you and you maybe lacking now.

I would start with decorating the living room with some color and that beautiful mantel piece. Add a mantra to a chalk board to add on your mantel, to keep you smiling and you can make one yourself.

http://homestoriesatoz.com/halloween-decor/how-to-make-a-chalkboard.html

Staircase ideas if you want to change the wood color

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/how-to-update-a-traditional-staircase-stsetivw-vs~515869

What did you do with the kitchen? Did you paint the cabinets or add a backsplash. Would really appreciate the list of items that you did.


Congrats!!!

In the kitchen, I took those terrible curtains down, replaced the backsplash with an earthy neutral color, put some new lighting in, rearranged the counters a good deal, and repainted the wall on the left hand side to a light, spent very little on Craigslist for some simple lamps, vases and artwork to bring some life into the place, painted the entryway and placed a little stand there, and painted the rail on the staircase black. The staging and decoration alone made a world of difference - the stager and I really went wild on the mantel and living room. It completely changed the look and really made the whole place pop. Here are a couple of pictures of the updates - the backsplash hadn't been done yet, and the rail hadn't been painted, but the rest was completed when these were taken.

You have a very pretty kitchen. It just lacks some color. I would definitely Change the countertops to a darker color like a gray maybe and the backsplash to a darker mix of grays and blues. Add some drop down lighting to the peninsula and if your budget allows, consider getting stainless steel appliances. I think a little change here will go a long way. Good luck.

Sorry, I did not see your changes. Great job

Very nice!

Awesome-congrats! What a difference.

great.very nice!

We sold the place two weeks after the changes - thanks everyone!