If you’re thinking of selling your home soon, you want to make sure you give yourself every opportunity to achieve the absolute highest and best price. First impressions are extremely important for every potential buyer who walks through your door. With more properties coming onto the market every week, you’ll have more competition so finding ways to make your home stand out is a must.
Fortunately, many of the best staging tips don’t require spending a lot of money. Whether you’re just getting ready to sell or are trying to add new life to a stagnant listing, here are our top 10 home styling tips to help your home sell faster and for more money.
1. De-personalize
Buyers need to be able to envision themselves in your home, so remove all the family photos, trinkets, and refrigerator art. Style for your buyer, not for yourself. The style and accessories you choose to style your home should reflect your target buyer, not your own personal tastes.
2. Declutter & Clean
We all collect ‘stuff’ over the years and more often than not, it’s stuff we don’t actually need. This stuff can make our home feel cluttered. Clutter takes up space, and space is what sells. Make your home look bigger and more desirable by editing down to just the basics. Don’t forget the wardrobes and linen cupboards. If these are overflowing, it gives the impression there is not enough storage space. A really thorough clean is also a good way to show the property has been well maintained. Ideally, you should clean every part of the house, from the floors to the ceilings—and everything in between.
3. Patch and repair
Now is the time to fix that hole in the wall, peeling paint or leaking taps. If the home shows signs of neglect, then buyers will be wary of what else might be wrong with the property. Cracks in walls or ceiling are definite red flags to buyers as they may indicate foundation problems. So it’s best to attend to these repairs upfront to avoid any haggling about price at the eleventh hour.
4. Go neutral
When it comes to colour, be mindful of the shades you use if you want to achieve that high-end look. White is always a safe choice as it’s crisp and fresh and everything goes well with it. If a buyer wants to add their own personality with a splash of colour, a neutral home gives them the opportunity to make it their own.
5. Furniture
Make sure the furniture is the right size for the room. Furniture that’s too bulky will make a room look small, while too little or too small furniture can make a space feel cold. Accessorise with soft textures such as cushions, throws and rugs to create a cosy & inviting atmosphere. Also remove any knick knacks that could break or get damaged as children do love to explore during open homes!
6. Flooring
If your carpet is worn and stained, consider replacing it. If you have original floorboards you could sand and varnish them or lay some hybrid planks. Carpet in the bedrooms will keep the cost down and also creates a cosy environment. New paint and flooring are the most cost effective ways to transform a space into a home.
7. Lighting
Take advantage of your home’s natural light. Open all curtains and blinds when showing your home. Add fixtures where necessary, and turn on all the lights for showings. This really showcases your home by making it brighter and more inviting. If you have the budget, hang light sheer curtains to the living/dining room and primary bedroom for that extra touch of luxury.
8. Don’t forget outside
The kerb appeal of your home can heavily impact a buyer’s first impression and therefore their decision on whether or not to inspect. Make sure the letterbox is clear of cobwebs, the driveway pressure cleaned, and the front door inviting with a potted plant and welcome mat as a minimum.
9. Add greenery
By far the easiest addition you can make to help your home feel more inviting at sale time is flowers and greenery. A few potted plants can do wonders, but be careful not to over do it.
10. Final Touches
Before each open house, maximise your staging efforts by adding a few last minute touches such as fresh flowers, scented candles, opening the windows and allow fresh air to flow and place some new white plush towels in the bathrooms.
If you’re thinking of selling and would like to know how to add considerable value to the sale price of your home, book in a time with us here for a complimentary chat. As your Vendor Advocate, we will help your maximise your sale price, reduce your stress and all at no extra cost to you! Click here to find out more.