That is indeed the problem of trying to get advice about color on the web....monitors often do not show the true color...then, depending upon the flooring, furnishings, lighting, window treatments, etc the color can look very different from one room to the next. Even those room painting kiosks and/or manufacturer's programs/apps do not show the true colors...just compare the color sample to the screen and it is usually off. That is why one needs to buy little pots of colors that they like and try them out in the room in which they will be used...or hire a professional color consultant to help them decide.

quote[I'm buying and I can tell you that price is all the matters right now./ So make sure that you are pricing your house to compete with other houses in your area and make sure you know what it will cost to update / Most of the people I know that are out there shopping are not needing to move, they're looking for deals.] Hello everyone. I'm just new to this forum and all I can say is that I am learning a lot. I am a manufacturing engineer by profession so I really dont know much about real estate, but I try to help out some friends by writing some stuff for them. As for the post above, I agree that PRICE is the name of the game. I've read somewhere that buyers are in it not for moving in but as an investment. With median prices going way, way down, they are taking advantage of the opportunity. Another thing, I believe LOOKS can be a big factor. Add value (not pricing) by getting the house checked through home inspection and other stuff like molds, etc. (check the link below for some resources; note: I'm not connected with them). Anyways, good luck in your home sale, and I hope everything will be well with the home industry this year and the next. Best Regards, Peter Allan Mariano Here is a link that might be useful: home inspection resources.

Option 2 with converting the small study would be the best return on paper. However without knowing anything about your layout etc. it is hard to tell what would appeal more to buyers. What are your options for adding a powder room on the main floor? Doesn't take nearly as much space, or do you need the extra shower? I personally would like to have a toilet on the main floor and not have to run up the stairs etc. Especially if having friends or family over that may not be able to navigate stairs easily.

NatalieG: Speaking with a realtor is good advice, but I'd suggest touring some new homes also. Builders build what buyers want to buy so the more you emulate the latest in houses, the more you can compete when you go to sell. Despite the claims of retrofit window salesmen, the payback on windows is something like 40 years and probably longer now that energy prices are coming down. People expect the home they buy to have windows and a roof that doesn't leak. I told my sister-in-law that she was going to put a roof on the house she inherited from her mother, either out-of-pocket now or let the buyer take it out of her hide on the sale. She chose the latter.