Tips for Preparing your Home for Sale

Preparing your home for sale is usually not as simple as just giving it a quick vacuum. Our Property Styling jobs often involve a range of different requirements specific to the home in order to make it presentable for open day. However, there are a few general things that we’ve picked up on that can be applied to pretty much every home and it can be a great starting point for anyone wishing to style on their own.

1. Remove personal items – No matter how long you have owned your home for, there is bound to be a collection of pieces on display that are very specific to you/your family. This can include photo frames, a sentimental cushion embroidered by grandma, wedding photos, collections from your travels, etc. Understandably, these personal items have enabled your house to feel like your own. However, a big part of Property Styling is being able to create a space that the buyer can visualise themselves living in. For this reason, I would highly recommend that these items be kept in a safe storage space out of the house during your campaign.

2. Stick to neutrals – Different colours evoke different moods, and you’ll often find people that are very passionate about certain colours that they dislike. In order to appeal to as many buyers as possible, you’ll want to stick to quite a neutral palette. This doesn’t mean that the property has to be completely white and minimal. However, you can play around with different materials, textures and tones to create interest – even adding pops of colour here and there is great, as long as you are using colours that complement features within the home. A fresh coat of paint in an off-white, grey or light beige will not only make the home appear fresh and updated, but will also make it appear bright, clean, and often a lot larger than it is.

3. Declutter – When buyers are coming through your property they want to see the space. Having your house cluttered with furniture not only inhibits the buyers from seeing the space, but it also gives off the impression that the house has not been taken care of. Keeping the essential furniture items to show space and concept is extremely important, but in a Property Styling perspective, in particularly with smaller properties, less is always more!

4. Improve curb appeal – As this is the very first thing that buyers will see, it is highly important that you make sure that the exterior of your house presents just as nicely as the interiors. It is important to keep the landscaping neat and tidy, remove of any weeds/dead plants and make sure that the driveway and front patio has been swept and is clean and presentable. Adding a small outdoor set to go on the front verandah is also a great way to make the property instantly feel homey and inviting before even stepping inside.

5. Consider all senses – We often style purely to make it visually appealing but it kind of becomes a waste if there is an odour, commonly from a fresh coat of paint. Make sure to light some candles and put out some fresh flowers on open day to help set the mood you want to create. Open homes are all about first impressions and you will want your property to put on its best face for buyers in any and every way that you can.