Most homeowners decorate to suit their personal preference and lifestyle (we're guilty of using our dining room table to double down as a laundry folding zone or home office!). And this makes sense - your home should be a place where you feel completely comfortable and at ease. However, if you’re trying to sell your home, it may be time to step up your game with professional-level staging and styling. Not sure where to begin? Here’s our quick guide.
Selling your home? First impressions are everything
When house hunters enter your property, they want to look past your belongings and imagine their own. In each room they tour, they’ll be looking past your life and seeing how they’d rearrange the space to accommodate themselves. This will be tricky if the property is cluttered with your belongings.
That’s why it’s essential to do a big clear-out before taking any professional photographs or holding inspections. Go through each room of your property and determine what can be packed up, donated to charity or thrown away. This will help you attract buyers and enjoy an easier moving day down the line.
Now is also the time for a deep clean with a major focus on:
- Windows – clean windows look bigger and brighter,
- Walls – scuff marks can make your home look dirty and worn,
- Carpets – vacuum and steam clean them to get out any set-in stains,
- Hard flooring – consider refinishing timber flooring and polishing vinyl.
Stage like a professional with these 3 tips:
1) Give each room a focus
When people view your property, they will stop in each room, forming an opinion before moving on. Ensure that each and every room in your home makes an impression by including a signature, standout piece.
This can be anything from a stunning piece of vintage furniture to a unique lamp or floral centrepiece.
2) Remember, it’s not a hotel
Making your home more appealing doesn’t mean making it generic. When restyling, it’s okay to add personal touches – in fact, it’s a great way to make an inspection of your home more memorable. While the property shouldn’t look too cluttered, it should still have some character - you don't have to be a complete minimalist - add some greenery with indoor plants and open up the space as much as possible!
3) Hire a professional property stylist
If your interior design knowledge is limited and you're feeling overwhelmed, consider contacting a professional. You can hire furniture from them to give your property a look you may struggle to create on your own. This is, of course, an extra cost, but the right look will not only get more eyes on your online property listing but could even lead to a faster sale and a higher price.
If you're thinking about making your move this Spring, make it with Nelson Alexander. We’d love to hear from you. Contact the team at Nelson Alexander today.
