One of the most common questions we get asked by people preparing their homes for sale, is where do I start? Below are a few of the basics that can get you started. If you have something specific that you want to know, don't be afraid to ask - after all, selling your home is generally the largest financial transaction you will ever make. It pays to get the right advice, upfront!
1. Declutter and depersonalise -
This one is so important. You want prospective buyers to come into your open home and be able to picture themselves and their family in the home. Being able to envisage their life in the home gets them excited about the property.
2. Highlight the best features of the house -
Do you have amazing views? High ceilings? Amazing natural light?
These are all big ticket items in a buyers checklist. Take advantage of these features by creating a seating area where the best outlook is, or place a feature piece of art on the walls that will lead the eye upwards to show off those high ceilings.
3. Enhance space and light -
If your house is on the smaller side that doesn't mean it can't be functional and look great! Make sure the furniture is to scale for the size of the room, get rid of any superfluous furniture. Use light coloured furniture as dark furniture can feel imposing and make the space feel smaller and hang a mirror to create the feeling of more space and light.
4. Neutralise -
This is to take away any distinctive style in your home that may polarise buyers. We do this in staging by using organic colours in tones you would find in nature and simple contemporary furniture. This gives our staging a sleek look that appeals to the biggest market range.
5. Improvements -
A fresh coat of paint in a light and neutral colour (white, grey, or beige) is a great way to instantly improve the overall look and feel of the property. It creates a clean canvas for prospective buyers to be able to put their own stamp on the property.
If painting isn’t an option, focus on giving your home a deep clean. A clean home suggests that you’ve taken good care of the property. So make sure every surface sparkles from the floor to the ceilings, curtains and carpets and don’t forget those kitchen appliances. While we suggest decluttering the kitchen, if you are leaving out a few appliances make sure these are spotless too.
6. Street Appeal
First Impressions count and creating street appeal is an important step, one that should not be overlooked. After spending time making the inside look great, you want the outside of your property to reflect this. Try replacing the old broken letter box, painting the exterior or water blasting the driveway. Focusing on landscaping will help give your home an instant lift. Plant some flowers, prune the trees and most importantly make sure the lawns are mowed. Creating outdoor living spaces is another important part of staging. Add some outdoor furniture to the front and back of your house. It’s important to show how these outdoor spaces can be used at different times of the day, so mix it up. Add a little cafe setting at the front of your house and dining table at the back for outdoor entertaining.
