Except in rare cases, when you purchase a house here in Vancouver, the previous owners will take the furniture with them when they move out. They'll also take the mirrors, the paintings, the area rugs, and those beautiful potted plants.

So while these decorating touches give appeal to the house and suggest what you can do when it belongs to you, you should be careful not to let them be the deciding factor.

Smart homeowners do stage their homes before putting them on the market. The purpose is to showcase the home's best features and create a positive first impression. Homeowners and their agents want visitors to think "Oh…this is nice" when they see the home for the first time.

And that's good. It makes potential buyers stick around long enough to really look at the house and its attributes.

But if the house 3 doors down has a floor plan that suits you better, you should choose that house even if you think the present furniture and décor is ugly.

The same goes for paint colors. Never dismiss a house because of a hot pink bedroom or a lime green bathroom.

When choosing your new home, focus on the things you can't change – like the location and the room sizes. Then plan to make the home uniquely your own by adding your own décor.

When you're ready to find your new home, call me! I'll help you find the one that exactly suits you.