Home Staging Tips | Priming Your Property for Sale

First impressions are vitally important when selling your property. As noted by renowned American businesswoman and property mogul, Barbara Corcoran, “Buyers decide in the first eight seconds of seeing a home, if they’re interested in buying it.”

While individual decorating tastes vary, there are a number of steps you can take to make your property appeal to the broadest range of potential buyers. The process of curating your home décor for the purpose of selling, is known as home staging, and can significantly reduce the period of time your home spends on the market.

Ensure that the home is neat and tidy

Starting off with the basics, make sure that your property is clean and presentable for viewings. Remove any clutter, and make sure that doorways and passages in particular are unobstructed. Be sure to clean the floors thoroughly, especially in all those out-of-the-way spots such as behind furniture where the dust bunnies tend to gather.

Try to keep everything looking as new as possible. If necessary, consider replacing any outdated light fittings or door handles.

Depersonalise your space

Remove photos and any other sentimental treasures you may have on display which will remind potential buyers that the house was previously occupied. This will help them to begin to envision the space as their own. Also try to set a neutral tone in any decorations that you keep on display.

Curate a welcoming environment

Get rid of any smells which may be off-putting to potential buyers, such as from cigarette smoke or pet odour. This may require replacing carpets and upholstery if they carry any lingering unpleasant odours. A very popular, and highly effective tactic is to brew a fresh pot of coffee to fill the house with a welcoming aroma.

Having a vase with fresh flowers near the entrance to your home and keeping the house light and airy by opening curtains and windows, as well as turning on lights where necessary, all help to create a welcoming atmosphere.

Don’t forget about outside

Maintaining a neat garden and keeping the entryway to your home tidy, goes a long way to building “curb appeal”, which is an important factor to bear in mind, as this is the very first impression viewers will get of the house. Ensure that windows are washed, gutters are cleared and that the yard is kept as tidy as possible.

From a buyer’s perspective, a well-maintained garden indicates a well looked after home. Make sure that your lawn, hedges, and shrubs are neatly trimmed and pruned, and flowerbeds are free from weeds.

For more advice, contact our team of Property Specialists who will be able to advise you on how to make your property stand out from the crowd, and what in particular most buyers in your area are looking for. Get in touch with us at info@homeandhectare.com or call 041 581 1744.