This spring, Inman is obsessing over helping you to tune-up your listings business, with actionable insights, the best advice from top agents and hundreds of helpful stories from all over the world. Interested in sharing your advice and insights with us? Reach out to me at matthew@inman.com.
Don’t forget that we’ll also be focusing on how agents and brokerages can all move Faster, Better, Together this July at Inman Connect San Francisco. Not got your ticket yet? Buy it here, and remember that Select members get a $100 discount. Thinking of bringing your team? There are special onsite perks and discounts when you buy those tickets together too. Just contact us to find out more.
There are tons of benefits to bringing some natural light into a home. As real estate agents, we know that not much resonates better than a home where sunshine streams into the windows.
This likely has to do with the fact that natural light benefits us in a variety of different ways, including giving us needed Vitamin D and making us calmer, more productive and happier.
Allowing natural light into a home is better for a homeowner’s health and wallet, as paying less in energy bills likely leads to increased happiness. Take a peek at the spring cleaning tactics listed below to increase the amount of natural light in the homes you’re listing this spring.
1. Remove or trim trees near windows
Trees are a fantastic addition to any yard and add aesthetic value. They also supply much-needed shade on hot days.
However, it’s that shade that also keeps natural light from getting into a home. It’s totally fine to leave some trees in the yard, but if they are close to windows, you may consider trimming them or removing them so sunlight can get in the home.
2. Get rid of heavy curtains
Placing sheer or light-colored curtains over windows will help sunlight filter into the home. You could go completely curtain-free, but that option doesn’t suit most homebuyers.
As Scandinavian Home Designs points out, adding light colors and light fabrics will help bring in natural light and still provide privacy.
3. Clean the windows
One of the best ways to ensure natural light filters into a home is to make sure the windows are clean. Dirt, grime and condensation can block light and decrease the sunshine entering a home.
If sellers are wary of the effort and time commitment of doing the cleaning themselves, they can hire a window-cleaning company to help out.
Some services, like Thai Cleaning Service, use something called a water-fed pole system, which allows technicians to clean 30-foot-tall windows without the cost of building scaffolding or using ladders.
There will be more natural light radiating into the home before you know it!
4. Use reflective surfaces
Staging a home with reflective materials, including mirrors, picture frames, glass tables and furniture with metallic finishes, gives light the opportunity to bounce around the space.
Position these cautiously so the glare doesn’t impact your sight while working or walking around the home.
5. Choose paint colors wisely
Painting a ceiling white or a light color will help reflect light down into a room. Lighter colors on the walls will also help light bounce around the home, while dark colors absorb natural light.
Using glossy paints for dark colors could help reflect light throughout the home, so you have options to increase the natural light!
According to the folks at Ace Paints and Furniture, “Painted in a room without much natural light, saturated colors will usually distract from the lack of light by creating a source of warmth and depth.”
So it’s a good idea to go with colors like apple reds or mustard yellows in a room with little natural light. You want the home you’re listing to reflect popular trends in the market, so make sure to consult popular design websites and magazines before talking to the seller about painting.
6. Keep the house clean and uncluttered
Furniture near windows can block light from getting into the home. Dirt and clutter throughout the house can also absorb any light that streams into the area.
In addition, a dirty, cluttered home is unappealing and makes people uncomfortable. Keeping the house clean and bright will make homebuyers feel welcome and relaxed.
Letting natural light into your client’s home makes the space more inviting and comfortable. It looks great, and it reduces the amount of energy the home uses. Isn’t it about time you let the sunshine in?
Megan Wild is the editor of Your Wild Home in Philadelphia. Follow her on Twitter or Facebook.
