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Thinking about putting your home on the market or doing some home improvements after a cash-out refinance? Before you pick up a paint brush or rearrange a room, check out these sites and apps that can help you get your projects done faster.
Stage a room
Staging a home professionally may help it sell, but it comes at a cost—typically $570–$2,122, according to Home Advisor. Enter virtual stagers. These companies redesign rooms digitally for a fraction of the cost, and their contactless approach has had added appeal in the pandemic. Pricing often runs between $20–$40 per photo, with some stagers charging even less. Depending on the vendor, you can also bring a range of projects to life, from reimagining fixer uppers and unfinished basements to adding landscaping or a pool.
Some top picks around the web include:
- roOomy: roOomy specializes in interior designs and has a number of well-known partners. Try their app to test furniture from retailers like Pottery Barn and Wayfair virtually before you buy it.
- BoxBrownie: This virtual stager provides a range of services including basic photo enhancements starting at $1.60, and interior and exterior virtual renovations.
- PadStyler: Marketed as the “leader in virtual staging,” PadStyler offers a “price match promise” and services including architectural renderings.
Note that if you’re selling a home, there’s the potential to disappoint or mislead buyers with virtually staged photos. Sources recommend posting before and afters of rooms; clearly labeling altered images; and getting legal advice before sharing retouched pictures.
Sample paint colors
If painting is on your to-do list, you’re not alone. Sixty-three percent of real estate agents surveyed in a recent poll recommend painting interior walls ahead of a sale, and painting goes hand-in-hand with remodels. Try these apps to settle on the right color faster or visit your favorite brand’s website. Many offer visualizers online.
- ColorSnap® Visualizer by Sherwin-Williams: Test brand colors or select colors in photos to find their closest match. In addition to their app, a web version is available here.
- Color Portfolio™ by Benjamin Moore: Use the “video visualizer” feature to see a room’s color instantly.
- Paint Tester: Adjust paint colors to lighting automatically in this app. They also recommend taping a color you have in mind to a wall and using their color picker to visualize it throughout.
Try different flooring
Thinking about replacing that old carpet? Expect to pay $1,660–$4,620 to update flooring in mid-sized living rooms, according to Homeguide. These online tools can help you preview options before paying a dime.
- Floor & Decor Visualizer: Upload photos to test flooring in your rooms. Use pre-loaded photos to test paint colors, cabinet colors, backsplashes, and countertops in addition to flooring, as each picture allows.
- Picture It! by LL Flooring: Produced by the company that was formerly Lumber Liquidators, Picture It! includes an augmented reality feature when used on smartphones. Simply choose your flooring then hold up your phone to see the flooring in your room on your screen. You can also order four free samples to try at home.
- Room Visualizer by Carpet One: Test flooring from Carpet One’s inventory in three steps, including wood and tile looks.
By taking advantage of these tools, you can take some of the guesswork out of your next project and potentially shorten its timeline. For even more assurance, check the design sites above for options including professional consultations. And if you’re ready for a consultation on your next mortgage to finance your dream home or upgrades, learn more about our loan options here.
Tradenames and trademarks used in this blog post are the property of their respective owners. Nationstar Mortgage LLC d/b/a Mr. Cooper is not affiliated, associated, or sponsored by any of these owners. Use of these names and trademarks is not intended to and does not imply endorsement, but is for identification purposes only. Information provided does not necessarily represent the views of Mr. Cooper. Information is subject to change without notice.
