Meryl & Miller

Do you have a home in San Francisco, Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley or Emeryville that need a little love before it goes to market? Give us a call! We’re happy to serve San Francisco, the East Bay and Marin County to give your listing a wonderful refresh before it’s listed for sale. 

We are a General Contractor and Designer team, and with that amazing marriage comes the ability to help you prepare homes for sale. Our range of services run from performing bathroom or kitchen remodels to simply repainting and replacing light fixtures. And when the work is done, we bring in our furniture and art and stage your home with our colorful whimsey. 

Sometimes it can be hard to see the value in paying thousands of dollars to put a home on the market, but making strategic home improvements before listing your property can significantly enhance its market appeal and value. Buyers are often drawn to homes that are move-in ready and well-maintained, as it eliminates the need for them to invest in immediate repairs or updates. By investing in strategic upgrades and professional staging, you can create a strong first impression, attract more potential buyers, and potentially command a higher sale price.

Here are some effective and budget-friendly upgrades to consider as staging improvements before listing your home for sale:

Fresh Paint: Repainting walls in neutral colors can create a clean, updated look that appeals to a wide range of buyers. It’s a relatively inexpensive way to brighten up spaces and make them feel new, fresh, and inviting.

Updated Light Fixtures: Replacing outdated or worn light fixtures with a curate collection of modern, stylish options that complement each other can instantly refresh and elevate the look of a home. Additionally, good lighting enhances the ambiance and highlights the home’s features.

New Hardware: Swapping out old cabinet handles, knobs, and faucet fixtures for new, contemporary finishes and designs can give kitchens and bathrooms a quick and stylish update.

Landscaping Enhancements: Improving curb appeal through simple landscaping changes—such as planting flowers, trimming bushes or overgrown plants, and adding fresh mulch—can make a strong first impression and increase the home’s attractiveness from the street.

Clean and Repair: Ensure that the home is thoroughly cleaned and that any minor repairs are addressed, such as fixing leaky faucets, repairing drywall, or replacing broken tiles. A well-maintained home appears more move-in ready and shows potential buyers that a home has been cared for by the prior homeowners.

Smart Home Features: Installing cost-effective smart home devices, like programmable thermostats or smart locks, can add a modern touch and appeal to tech-savvy buyers.

Power Washing: Power washing driveways, sidewalks, and the exterior of the home can remove dirt and grime, making the property look cleaner and more inviting.

Updated Window Treatments: Replacing old blinds or curtains with new, neutral window treatments can brighten up rooms and provide a more polished look.

Staging: Professionally staging the home with rented or borrowed furniture and decor can help potential buyers envision themselves in the space. Even minimal staging can make a significant difference.

Minor Kitchen and Bathroom Updates: Simple updates, such as replacing outdated countertops with budget-friendly options, adding a fresh backsplash, or updating cabinet doors, can improve these high-impact areas without requiring a full renovation.

Check out our gallery below to see examples of the transformations we’ve achieved and how our touch can make a difference in your home’s marketability.

Kitchen staging improvement
We selected colors, painted the cabinets, replaced the counters and hardware and the homeowners received 9 offers and closed with a sale $400,000 over asking. The homeowners were a little reluctant because replacing all those counters was not a small cost, but we think it paid off. (Eureka Valley, San Francisco)
Bathroom renovation
These homeowners were eager to perform a bathroom renovation prior to listing their home. So we designed the space and got to work completing this renovation in just 4 weeks before staging their home for sale. (Fillmore, San Francisco)
Powder room improvement
These homeowners were afraid their bathroom needed to be fully renovated before it went on the market and didn’t want to spend the money for it. We replaced the floor tile, repainted and replaced the counter and it made a big impact! (Noe Valley, San Francisco)
Living room staging improvement
We love when agents let us go for drama. This living room felt a little boring and bland, but once we injected some bold personality and replaced the ceiling light, it was ready to sell! (Marina, San Francisco)
Dining nook
This small condo was in need of some excitement, so we selected bold light fixtures and created a dining nook with a little personality. (Dogpatch, San Francisco)
Before and After Rousseau
For this home we were happy to select colors, perform an interior repaint and select and replace light fixtures in addition to staging. (Glen Park, San Francisco)
Bathroom tile improvements
This single family home had a shower system that was no longer functional despite multiple plumber visits the homeowner scheduled. So we were asked to retile only the shower. Because we weren’t remodeling the entire bathroom we selected tile that was neutral, but also tied into the aesthetics throughout the rest of the space. We were even able to reuse the glass shower enclosure to help save the homeowner some extra dollars. Last on the list was repainting and staging to get this home ready for the market! (Noe Valley, San Francisco)
Bathroom staging improvements
Prior to this home being listed the real estate agent asked that we replace the blue tile with something clean and neutral. Because this bathroom was off of the primary bedroom, we also pointed out that we could install a slightly larger vanity that could fit two faucets to make this bathroom more comfortably accommodate two. The homeowners and real estate agent were thrilled with the result! (Mission, San Francisco)
Dolores kitchen project
This kitchen was feeling a bit dated, but it was nothing that paint, counter and backsplash replacement couldn’t quickly fix! (Mission, San Francisco) 
Kitchen counter replacement
The white cabinets in this home were in good shape, so they got some touch ups, but the counter replacement we performed is the real showstopper. (Inner Richmond, San Francisco)
Kitchen cabinets and floor replacement
Before this home went back on the rental market for this property owner the entire home was in desperate need of being cleaned up. We replaced the kitchen cabinets, painted throughout, replaced the flooring and furnished it as well. (Mission, San Francisco)
Basement staging improvements
This lower level basement needed some warming up. Simply painting the plywood to tie into the existing white and adding LVP flooring helped this home sell after just 3 days on the market. (Potrero Hill, San Francisco)
Bedroom hardwood floors
It was time for the white shag carpet to go. And instead, in went engineered hardwood to match the existing hardwood throughout the home. (Pacific Heights, San Francisco)

Color Consultations

For real estate agents and homeowners who have a painter in place they are already using, we happily provide color consultations. We select colors, provide painters with a key of color, sheen and location information and if desired, provide simple mock ups as well. 

Living room painting color update
This living room suffered from many renovations throughout the years adding trim and built-ins here and there without using consistent trim or thinking about how they interacted with each other. Additionally, the room had a beautiful, seamless curve from wall to ceiling, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to paint the entire space one color. And it looked like a beautiful jewel box. (Laurel Heights, San Francisco)
Before After color consultation
These homeowners had always wanted to paint the room a moody color, but were a little intimidated to while they lived there. Sign us up! We were happy to pick a deep blue and paint the built-ins and fireplace the same tone as well. We loved it when it was done, and so did they – so much so she wished she had done it years ago! It’s never too late. (Glen Park, San Francisco)
Clipper before/after color consultation
Despite soaring ceilings and plentiful windows, this living space felt dark and heavy. We were happy to paint it all a bright color and it really helped make the space feel wide open. (Noe Valley, San Francisco)
Living room painted and new light fixture
Red can be a fairly polarizing color, so when this home was ready to hit the market we suggested a moody blue for the dining room to make the space feel dramatic. (Marina, San Francisco)
Kitchen painting color update
These veneer cabinets were showing their wear and tear and paired with the dark granite counters, this kitchen was feeling too builder basic. We gave advice on a counter material swap and also picked a light blue/green paint color for the cabinets and this kitchen felt brand new. (Dog Patch, San Francisco)
Kitchen painting color update
Even though these homeowners were moving, they wanted drama for their kitchen when it went on the market and we were game for it. A deep, saturated blue did just the trick to make this kitchen really stand out! (Noe Valley, San Francisco) 
Exterior painting update
Our own house is painted black, so when this real estate agent asked for an exterior paint color that made the house feel one of a kind, we apprehensively suggested a dark color, and to our surprise the homeowners and real estate agent jumped at the chance. We paired the deep color with a bright front door and everyone loved it. (Excelsior, San Francisco) 
Living room painting update
With a wall of windows we were happy to paint this living room a deep peacock teal. Throw in our blush curved sofa and this living room was unforgettable. (Cole Valley, San Francisco)
25th project
This home was ready to be updated after it hadn’t been on a market in several decades. The homeowners wanted to make sure the wood trim remained unpainted which we were happy to accommodate. So we picked a light neutral color that tied into the trim and made the home feel fresh and new. (Sunnyside, San Francisco)
Exterior painting update
When this family home was going on the market, the homeowner’s daughter didn’t want to stray too far from the home’s original color when it was getting repainted. We selected a slightly darker version of the same color to help the landscaping pop and we love how it turned out. (Kensington)
Kitchen painting update
These deep cabinets were in need of some love. And because the kitchen was small and away from any natural light, we wanted to keep it light but still not “plain white.” We think this periwinkle shade did just the trick! (SoMa, San Francisco) 
Kitchen painting update
With homeowners who didn’t have it in the budget to swap out counters, we were tasked with selecting colors that felt fresh, but tied into the deep brown granite. Selecting a two tone color scheme allowed us to make the base cabinets feel cohesive with the counters, while the white helped open the space up. (Potrero Hill, San Francisco)