Faux Your Pre-Sale Remodel?

Sprucing up the house when preparing to sell can garner a higher price, but you don’t want to spend a lot of money you won’t get back. In many instances (depending on the sale price of the house), fabulous faux materials can be substituted for items that really needs to be replaced or updated, and provide better return on your remodel investment. These are not the fake looking vinyl products of past decades. Many of the materials are DIY friendly, and some can even be considered decor pieces that you can take with you when you leave. Check out these amazing remodels for a high end look on a budget.

Vinyl flooring is often hard to distinguish from laminate wood floors, is a fraction of the price and is easy to install. The material holds its temperature better than other surfaces, so you won’t have cold toes during the winter. It also performs well with spills and scuffs, making it great for families with pets. The resilient surface is good in areas that may be higher in humidity, like a basement.

Faux Panels are a great solution to add loads of character on a large surface on a limited budget. According to FauxPanels.com, their panels and sidings “are made of a high-density polyurethane” and are “molded from actual rock, stone, and brick, so they are lightweight, durable, realistic and easy to install.” There are helpful videos so you can install the panels yourself. There are numerous style and colors to choose from. Having seen the river rock panels in person, we couldn’t tell they were not actual stone. The company also makes faux wood beams and pillars.

An Electric Fireplace can add coziness to a space, that you can pick up and take with you to your next home. If you’re home did not come with a chimney or gas hookup, an electric fireplace is an inexpensive way to get the same look for a fraction of the cost. Installation is as easy as plugging them in.

As an alternative, we like this Realflame model (from Sears.com), which can burn alcohol canisters with real flames without venting. Or you can install a candlescape or use an electric insert. Very versatile!

Need more refresh or home staging ideas? Call Tom Verhelst at 218-205-2604 | Karen Zell at 218-731-6836 to learn more about what you can do to put a new face on your home prior to selling for not a lot of money.