Camouflage that panel to tidy your home’s decor
Savvy homeowners use artwork, mirrors to cover up circuit boxes
Just thinking about selling your home raises myriad questions about what to fix and what not to. If you have a question about prepping your home for resale, email us at primedproperty@gmail.com and we’ll find an expert to help you out!
Q Because we live in a townhouse, our electrical panel is in an awkward place: our bedroom. Though the door hides it, we’re wondering if we should conceal it in some way so it’s less exposed to buyers. Is that a good idea? If so, do you have any thoughts on how we can conceal it?
A Having an eyesore can cause a seller to worry about whether it will deter a buyer from purchasing their place, but Chris Allen, a Toronto real estate agent and author of The Book on Toronto Real Estate, points out it’s really not a big deal.
It’s rare that someone would forgo buying a house solely because something is in an awkward location.
“Having said that, you do want to give potential buyers as few reasons as possible not to buy your home,” Allen says.
Instead of rewiring a house to relocate an electrical panel, an expensive renovation with a low return on investment, try to conceal it. “If you can keep the unit out of mind with some simple and inexpensive ‘cam and concealment’ (as we used to say in the army) tactics, then go for it,” Allen says.
He recommends people get creative. “I’m a fan of using artwork to cover up everything from thermostats to electrical panels,” Allen says. “And if you think removing and hanging a painting is a hassle every time you need access to something, simply buy an inexpensive canvas and screw hinges into the wooden frame then attach it to the wall.
“You’ll end up with a painting which easily swings sideways to give access to your secret wires.”
Regardless of which decor option you reach for, take a step back to analyze your handiwork before wrapping up the task.
“You’ll know right away if the (work you’ve done) succeeds in concealing the panel strategically or if it draws undue attention to the area,” says Allen. If the latter is true, I would simply leave the object exposed and as is.”