The following is a guest post from Patti Stern of PJ & Company Staging and Interior Decorating.

Not sure which update to tackle first when preparing to list your home for sale? When we walk into a client’s home, almost always the first suggestion we make is a fresh coat of paint in the most important living areas. Paint provides an instant “boost” to a room and offers a universal appeal to buyers who want to envision living in the space. In general the home improvements that offer the greatest payback are the ones that are most obvious to buyers when they first view a house in person or online. When selling, always remember the saying, “you will never get a second chance to make a good first impression.”

According to a HomeGain 2012 National Survey, both interior and exterior painting are among the top ten low cost, do-it-yourself improvements for sellers with the greatest return on investment. HomeGain says, “In a buyers market, sellers need to dress their homes for success before putting them on the market and these kinds of projects are cost effective ways of increasing your chances of selling faster and closing closer to the asking price.”

The following are some before and after examples showcasing the difference between a home that will go unnoticed and one that will sell quickly.

Remove Dated Wallpaper
One of the simplest and most affordable updates is to remove dated wallpaper and add a neutral wall color to bring out the room’s best features. This kitchen island area also had a wallpaper border which is unappealing to buyers. We chose a soft grey tone paired with modern accessories and furniture to give it fresh appeal.

Opt for Lighter Colors
Dark paint colors can sometimes make a space appear smaller, like in this spacious master bedroom. Also multiple colored walls can divide a room and make it less attractive, especially in photos. We updated and brightened this room with a neutral, warm taupe color throughout to enhance the architectural details and allow buyers to envision spending time in this beautiful master bedroom retreat.

Consider Painting Cabinets
We gave this dated kitchen a much-needed facelift by updating dark wood cabinets with white paint and painting the island a rich, dark espresso to contrast with the neutral granite countertop. Without replacing table and chairs, the result was a bright, updated kitchen that looked move-in ready.

For more examples of interior decorating and home staging, visit www.pjstagingdecorating.com.

Patti Stern, principal, interior decorator and professional stager of PJ & Company Staging and Interior Decorating, has been decorating and staging homes since 2005. She and her team provide turnkey, full service home-staging and interior decorating to clients across Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts. She also developed an award winning staging program for luxury homebuilder, Toll Brothers.

Patti has been featured in Connecticut Magazine, the Hartford Courant, Danbury News-Times and on NBC Connecticut and FOX TV.  She is a regular contributor to the National Association of Realtor’s Blog, “Style, Staged and Sold.”