HGTV's Jenn Todryk Says This Common Mistake Is Hurting Your Home's Resale Value

When it comes to turning your home into a sanctuary, decorating it yourself only makes sense — especially if you can turn it into a group activity with family and friends. However, as Jenn Todryk explained in an interview with The Dallas Morning News, decorating while trying to sell your home could actually do more harm than good. For that reason, instead of a super-personalized decor style, the HGTV star recommended going for something a little more universal. 

If you've ever come across a real estate listing and skipped past it because it featured your least favorite paint color splashed all over the kitchen walls, there's a good chance you already agree with Todryk's sentiments. Buyers need to feel as though they can see themselves in a space, and that becomes really tough when the design choices in a home are too closely aligned with the current owner. As Todryk explained, even when we know that it's possible to change something (paint, for instance), envisioning ourselves in a place that feels off-putting to us is a difficult prospect. "Some people just see it as a negative and can't let it go," Todryk told the outlet. 

In light of that, anything too eclectic is likely to see a ton of would-be buyers looking the other way. That increases the likelihood of needing to drop the price to entice the market, which is obviously not ideal. Luckily, that's avoidable. All you need to do is heed Todryk's advice and make the home look less, well ... you. 

It can be tough for a buyer to envision themselves in a space with boldly painted walls, but as a potential seller, you have the power to change that. Simply re-paint in a more neutral color and voila — you've already removed one sticking point. Stuck for which color to use? In 2023, a study by Zillow found that variations of dark gray throughout the home led to buyers who were willing to pay more.

Once your paint is more on the neutral side, Jenn Todyrk recommends playing it safe with the rest of the decor, too. As she told The Dallas Morning News, doing so is the best way to ensure you don't hurt your chances of selling for the highest price possible. And don't be too discouraged if the space no longer feels like your own sans brightly-colored furnishings. If anything, it may mean you're on the right path. As Todryk explained, if she knew she was working on a home meant to be sold, she wouldn't be worrying about personal touches. "I would design very differently for resale, let's put it that way," she said. 

So when staging your home, if you have any particularly eclectic decor, pop those things into storage. The last thing you want is for a potential buyer to remember your collection of porcelain dolls rather than the property itself. You can always reintroduce your favorite things to your next home once you've sold up.

Another thing to keep in mind when putting your home on the market is that certain rooms of your home hold a lot more value to buyers than others. Speaking to The Dallas Morning News, Jenn Todryk explained that, psychologically, buyers are drawn to great bathrooms and kitchens. "That's, for whatever reason, what we as a society are really, really impressed by," she told the outlet. As such, Todryk suggested renovating these rooms before anything else. Her top suggestions? Bigger bathrooms with natural lighting and a kitchen that flows well with the rest of the home's design. 

If you don't think your kitchen and bathrooms are in need of a total renovation, color can once again go a long way. According to Zillow's research, a dark gray kitchen could help a home fetch $2,500 more than a house with a similar kitchen in a different color. As for bathrooms, terracotta brown was said to help sellers earn more than $1,600 than something in a lighter hue. 

Selling a home is an emotional experience, to be sure. Because of that, removing the elements that made the space feel uniquely yours can feel like a double loss. However, by taking Todryk's tips to heart, you may just push up your home's resale value. It may even help you move on when you see the space as no longer your own.