Waterfront Shopping Center asked me for some quick decor tips. 


If real estate décor expert Herman Chan looks familiar, you’ve probably spotted him on HGTV’s shows “My House is Worth What?” and “House Hunters.” When not helping clients find their dream homes, he’s helping them stage their space for sale. We snagged this busy realtor for a Q&A on how to design your own “Habitat for Hermanity:”

What are the most common mistakes people making when staging their home to go on the market?

Herman: Staging on their own! Some people think they have impeccable taste and will try to decorate solo, but decorating for yourself is different than staging a house to sell. I realize times are tough and not everyone can afford a stager, so instead of shelling out thousands of dollars, consider doing a one-time consultation—that way, you’ll have a guideline as to what colors to use and what furniture needs to be added/removed.

What are some easy improvements that can make a home more attractive to potential buyers?

Herman: Instead of painting all the walls, which can get costly, sometimes an accent wall is all you need for a pop of color. Also, bathroom and kitchen remodels historically have the highest return on investment. They can be expensive, so a quicker and more affordable facelift is a fresh paint job and/or new fixtures. It is amazing what a new coat of paint and some shiny knobs will do.

If you could tell your clients one important thing, it would be?

Herman: Be careful not to get too trendy. Fads come and go quickly and there is nothing worse then spending a fortune on decking out your home only for it to look dated shortly after.