Bright Ideas to Sell Your Home Faster

Want to make your home more appealing with the simple flick of a switch? Install bulbs with the maximum wattage your fixtures will safely allow and turn on all the lights. With the right interior and exterior lighting, your home will become more appealing and easier to sell.

1. Outdoors

Make your home sparkle with bright exterior lighting. Dust off and clean the covers of outdoor light fixtures to let as much light shine through as possible. Also, add some low-wattage accent lights along your driveway or around your garden to show off your property’s best features.

2. Front entrance

Make a great first impression with a well-lit front entrance and hallway. Install high-wattage bulbs and keep light fixtures clean and cobweb-free. If you have pot lights or recessed lights (which can make a hall seem roomier), perhaps you can tilt them to highlight artwork. Another way to create a bright, open entryway is to paint walls a light neutral color and add mirrors.

3. Kitchen

The kitchen is the most popular room in the home, so make sure yours shines. Put the spotlight on your kitchen’s best features with a mix of recessed lights in the ceiling, task lighting around work areas (i.e. hidden fluorescent lights over the stove and countertops) and accent lights over your table.

4. Living room

The more light that fills the room, the bigger it will appear. So, keep the window shades and curtains open and let the sun shine in. Turn on all the lights during showings, trying not to cast any shadows. Ensure table lamps have 40- or 60-watt bulbs with attractive, translucent shades that cast a nice glow for entertaining or reading. Add a couple of non-scented candles for extra ambience.

5. Bathroom

There’s nothing worse than a dingy looking bathroom, so make sure the room has sufficient lighting -- especially over the tub, shower and vanity mirror. Use fluorescent bulbs with a color rendering index (CRI) of 80 or more to enhance skin tones and other colors. A night-light is also an inexpensive way to add a nice warm glow.