Whether you’ve done it before and you’re crazy enough to do it again, or this is your first time experiencing being the seller of a house, there’s no denying it – it’s a stressful and extremely busy time! Of course, we all hope for it to go as smoothly as possible, and for the sale of our own houses to coincide wonderfully with our offer being accepted on a new property – however, it’s not always the case. Although there are some things that are beyond our own control in the property selling world, there are things we can do to help it on its way. Decorating and upgrading your home prior to putting it on the market is a great way of attracting interest from potential buyers, so here are some tips and tricks on how you can do just that.
Optimise the Space
It doesn’t matter whether you’re selling on Zoopla, or you have an estate agent who’s doing a lot of the work for you, there are some things that are important regardless, and optimising the space that you have available.
Unfortunately not everyone is blessed with high ceilings and an abundance of space in every room – but that’s okay. There are some clever ways you can optimise all of the room you have available.
Not only will this make your property more appealing, but it’s likely to help it to increase in value in the eyes of the buyer too. One of the key things that sell a property is having space to play with, and even if your square footage number isn’t amazing, the illusion of space is likely to have the same effect.
It’s all about not overcrowding rooms, and using the space effectively. For example, if you have too much furniture in one space, consider decluttering or at the very least rearranging in order to make it appear bigger. You’d be surprised at how it works!
Another clever way of doing this, is through colour and mirrors. Painting the room a lighter shade will of course brighten the space, and make it look more open, and if you opt for a neutral colour this will also provide the potential buyer with a blank canvas too. This gives them a chance to see the space for what it is, and enables them to picture what it would look like once they’ve gotten their own decorating mits on it too! Furthermore, adding a mirror strategically into the equation will reflect the light within the room, and ultimately make it look bigger. It’s not about having the space to work with, it’s about working with the space that you have!
Stage Your Home
Despite the fact you live in your home, when people come to view it, it shouldn’t look lived in. that basically means, stage your home.
Think of the last time you visited a home décor shop, for example, let us say an IKEA. What products do you think feigned the most interest – those on the shelf, or those incorporated into beautiful and immaculate rooms, lit up for consumers to appreciate? Of the course, the latter is the correct answer.
Well, selling your house isn’t all that different – you’re the designer, and your potential buyers are the consumer – so give them something to consume!
Think about the function of each room. For example, the dining room. Take the time to set your dining room table, as if you were about to host a classy evening dinner party. This will give viewers the chance to see the room being used to its full potential – even if in reality, it’s not actually being “used”.
Another great staging accessory, is fresh flowers. Nothing brightens up a space or makes it look more inviting than a bouquet of fresh flowers sitting on display. The pro of this is you get to enjoy them afterwards too – result!
Lighting
Last but not least, we come to lighting.
This links intrinsically with the staging aspect of selling your home as the ultimate finishing touch.
Think about it, when you go and see a show, if it’s not well lit, you won’t get to appreciate it to its full beauty will you? Well in this case, your home is the show, so light it up, and give your audience something to see!
Replacing overhead lighting with better quality bulbs is a good start, as is ensuring all of the lights are on if it’s a darker day. If you are lucky enough to have a viewing on a bright sunny day though – make the most of it! Open the blinds and curtains, and let the natural light fill the space – you’d be surprised at the difference it truly does make.