Netflix's Selling Sunset realtor Emma Hernan says this 'inexpensive fix' will increase your home's value
'It will make a house seem brand new, and it’s an easy and inexpensive fix': the Oppenheim Group agent shares her unexpected tip – in an exclusive interview with H&G


When it comes to the real estate industry, few figures rival Emma Hernan. The star of Netflix's Selling Sunset is behind the most powerful sales in Los Angeles – responsible for million-dollar properties between West Hollywood to Newport Beach and beyond. So, when it comes to adding value to your home, you could do far worse than follow her advice.
'Honestly, I can’t tell you how many houses I walk through at any given price point. From a million dollars to over twenty million dollars,' Emma says in an exclusive interview with H&G. Whatever the price point, however, the answer to boosting your house value remains the same. And the best part? The process is unexpectedly simple. 'I tell both buyers and sellers to invest in screwless switch plates,' the Oppenheim Group agent says.
'Replacing the old outlet and just adding those adds so much to a house. They’re very easy and inexpensive. I like to give people advice that is not a huge fix. You don’t need to rearrange your whole house.'
Mastering your lighting ideas is always important, but as Emma says, its impact when selling a home is unrivaled. It is perhaps no surprise, therefore, that her advice doesn't end there.
'I tell any client that’s selling a house (and when they’re buying as well) to swap out any old incandescent light bulbs and put in warm 3000 LED lights,' Emma says. 'It will change the entire feeling of the home.' The agent explains that adding 3000 LED lights – even if you're not selling – will make your home feel 'brand new' – and help create the ambiance you want to omit to your guests or buyers.
'It’s an easy and inexpensive fix. You can order all of them from Amazon [we found a deal below], and it’s super simple to install them yourself,' Emma says. 'I like to give people advice that is not only easy but inexpensive but will add so much value.'
LED Light Bulb, 3000 Lumens | $22.95 on Amazon
This highly efficient light bulb provides 3000 lumens using only 20 watts of power – equivalent to 200W incandescent bulbs. It offers the glow that is so sought-after among buyers – and saves up to 95% of electricity per day (based on 3 hours per day usage). Great if you're saving money at home.
'Put in a couple of hundred dollars versus thousands of dollars, and it just makes all the difference in the world,' Emma adds. Of course, we're making the change asap.
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Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens, where she leads the celebrity/ news team. She has a history in interior design, travel, and news journalism, having lived and worked in New York, Paris, and, currently, London. Megan has bylines in Livingetc, The Telegraph, and IRK Magazine, and has interviewed the likes of Drew Barrymore, Ayesha Curry, Michelle Keegan, and Tan France, among others. She lives in a London apartment with her antique typewriter and an eclectic espresso cup collection, and dreams of a Kelly Wearstler-designed home.
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