What are the trends for 2013 in housing? What people are looking for is always changing, one day shag carpeting is in, the next day it is totally out. Are you thinking of doing some renovating? You may want to take note of this list of what people are going to be looking for.  According to the Neil Kelly Co, the following are the top 10 trends for 2013.

1. Healthy homes – green is in, energy efficient, chemical free homes.
2. Multigenerational living – making space for parents or a parent in your home either with more space in your home or a mother-in-law apartment.
3. Texture and sparkle – gold or silver accents, glossy or glass tiles, anything that sparkles.
4. Stone finish – Calcutta marble is the trend, especially in bathrooms.
5. Color of the kitchen – charcoal grey is in and is replacing stainless steel.
6. Simple sinks – in the kitchen, the double sink is being replace by one large sink.
7. Glass backsplash – especially in contemporary kitchens, the glass backsplash (sometimes painted) is replacing the tiled ones.
8. Hardwood floors – these have been in for some time but are still making the top 10 list.
9. Quartz countertops – granite is going out and Quartz is the new choice for no-maintenance finish in the kitchen.
10. Kitchen – contemporary, clean and simple style is in.

Is your home on the market or are you getting ready to put it on the market?  One big thing that you can do to help sell your home is free and is simply declutter!   No matter how tidy and wonderful your home is, if your countertops are covered in your stuff or opening a closet is a hazard because of items falling out, buyers are turned off and it makes your home appear too small.

Do you have bookcases? Make sure that the shelves are not crammed full of stuff.  Have some books on the shelves, but have plenty of space as well. Put things you are not using in storage.

How are your countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms? Three to four appliances are all that should be seen on your kitchen counters.  Pack away appliances you don’t need or put them in cupboards.  Clean your bathroom counters off except for soap and a towel, put everything in the cabinets. The kitchen and bathrooms are also areas where people are looking for cleanliness and clutter suggests the opposite.

Are there landslides when you open your closets?  Put half your clothes in storage to make your closets appear larger, also storage closets should be weeded out and not appear over stuffed.

If you have too much stuff, rent a storage container.  They can be delivered to your home, you fill it up and it is picked up and taken to storage.  Whatever you do, don’t pile all your excess stuff in the garage, the garage needs to appear spacious as well!