Quotations by Robert Irwin

Look for art from painters such as Monet, Renoir, or Degas. The works of Van Gogh, while colorful, can be disturbing and should probably be avoided. Good quality prints of the masters are available in art supply stores as well as in almost all museums. You can purchase a frame for another $25. Usually one hanging per wall is maximum (assuming they are fairly good sized). In smaller rooms, one or two per room is plenty. Most department stores have interior decorators on call and either for free, or a small fee (they're hoping you'll buy from them) will send them to your home to suggest floor coverings, furniture, and in this case, wall hangings. [2003] - Robert Irwin

In areas that have graffiti, property values tend to be depressed and even to go down. If you have a fence or a wall that seems to attract graffiti on a regular basis, it may be worthwhile to pay a little more for one of the several types of paint that are graffiti resistant. These paints, available at your local paint store, are constituted in such a way that the paint from many spray cans simply won't adhere well, but will run. [2003] - Robert Irwin

The single most important influence on a neighborhood's house values is the quality of its schools. [2003] - Robert Irwin

A "fancy" chandelier speaks volumes about the class of your property. It tells potential buyers that this is a home to be considered. [2003] - Robert Irwin

If your wall-to-wall carpet is more than a year old, cleaning may not be enough. You can carpet a 2,000 square foot home with nylon carpeting that will look great for $3,000 or less. [2003] - Robert Irwin

If it's been three or more years since the wood flooring was last finished, chances are it's due for a new refinishing. The downside is that all of your furniture usually must be removed for a few days. And the odor of the chemicals used can be quite strong and can linger for several weeks. The result, however, is usually spectacular. The cost is usually not as much as for new carpeting. [2003] - Robert Irwin

"Decor" light switches have top and bottom pressure plates. Simply press the top to turn on the lights, the bottom to turn them off. There are even dimmers that operate on touch--just press and hold the surface and the light will dim or brighten. Tap the surface to make the light go off and on. Decor switches are widely available in white, almond, ivory, and sometimes brown. You can buy the new decor switches for around four dollars each or less (Dimmer switches are far more expensive, costing around $25 apiece). You should also investigate to see if your local building department requires a permit. [2003] - Robert Irwin

Unless your home is almost brand new, or you're just recently had it painted, you should seriously consider repainting the entire interior before putting it up for sale. The typical home needs to be repainted every four to seven years. You can probably get your entire house painted for around $2,000. Use light colors. White used to be the most popular interior color. Today, many new homes feature a kind of light yellow or mustard color. Many upscale home use a variety of harmonious colors including yellows, grays, browns, blues, and many other deep colors. [2003] - Robert Irwin

My recommendation in bathrooms is that you use a high luster paint that contains an antifungal agent. However, the best antifungal paint is typically oil-based, which means it smells bad and is tough to clean up. For kitchens, a high gloss paint is usually recommended because it can be cleaned. Again, an oil-based paint (as opposed to latex) usually works best here. [2003] - Robert Irwin

If there's one area of the house that the experts agree about when it comes to improving the value of your home, it is the kitchen. If your home is more than seven years old, chances are that your kitchen is at least partially obsolete. Take a look at the likely sales price of your home and try to spend no more than 10 percent on a kitchen makeover. The two areas of the kitchen that receive the most attention are the floor and the countertops (The sink and stove are also important.) Many new models for upscale homes will include traditional tile countertops around the periphery of the kitchen with a granite island in the center. Today, most people prefer the offset sink with a small higher side for the garbage disposer and a deep, wide side for soaking. [2003] - Robert Irwin

Most experts agree that second to a kitchen, a bathroom is where you can dramatically improve the value of your home. The amount you spend on the bathroom should not be more than 5 percent of the home's value. Replace the countertop and flooring with inexpensive tile. [2003] - Robert Irwin

Most designers suggest that you use at least one fluorescent fixture in the bathroom. Use a fluorescent overhead. Then use make-up or similar lighting near the main mirror. My suggestion for the kitchen is recessed lighting. [2003] - Robert Irwin

Paint your closets white. White makes anything seem larger. Be sure the closet smells fresh. Use products such as Febreze to absorb odors and give the closet a fresh smell. [2003] - Robert Irwin

You can often replace your interior doors for as little as $100 apiece. Installation can run as high as $100 a door. [2003] - Robert Irwin