Why styling your home to sell is well worth the effort – whatever the market conditions.
Home styling doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive and adding the ‘wow’ factor to your home could be simple and fast to do.
If you’re feeling inspired and keen to get started here’s our top 10 tips to present your property to sell.
1. Kerb appeal
Often, prospective buyers will do a drive-by before even booking a viewing – and they’ll certainly take a good look outside before stepping over your threshold.
Cut the grass, weed the path and consider painting your front door.
Plain styles tend to work best for contemporary homes, whereas if you have a period home, a red or navy front door can look classically smart. Adding bay trees or shaped conifers completes the look to wow prospective buyers.
2. Stage where it counts
Not all rooms are considered equal when it comes to home staging. Focus your efforts on the rooms that have the biggest potential to ‘wow’ your buyer and spend less time on the rooms that won’t make much of a difference. Kitchen, living room and master bedroom trump most other rooms in the house.
3. Let there be light
Natural light will help show your property to best effect but good use of lighting in
general can make an enormous difference. Sparkling windows and good use of mirrors – often the larger the better – all combine to make a home feel more spacious and exciting.
4. Employ a £100 an hour cleaner!
Not literally, of course! But investing time and money making every square inch of
your home squeaky-clean – smelling fresh and shiny as a new pin – will pay
dividends when it comes to realising the best sale price.
5. Make a big, bold statement
To create a ‘wow’ feature, add a special piece to the entrance hallway of your home. A large photographic print, striking original artwork or statement furniture will instantly capture attention and make potential buyers want to see more.
6. Less is more
To make a room feel spacious and open, de-cluttering personal items and moving (or even removing) unnecessary furniture can make a huge difference for the better.
By simplifying the space it will help buyers imagine how it will look with their own furniture and accessories.
7. Play it safe in the bedroom!
Unless you’re a professional interior designer, bedrooms are no place for strong and vibrant colours. Even if you love bold colours, when it comes to selling your home, you need to play it safe and pander to a buyer’s tastes. So, keep bedrooms light and simple. Crisp white bedding with plump pillows, dressed with a throw and some cushions in a subtle shade will give your bedrooms that luxury hotel feel.
8. Use mirrors to make rooms feel bigger and brighter
Mirrors are a great way to bounce that light around your home and banish dark corners. Try a mirror instead of a picture over a fireplace or above a sideboard.
Mirrors can make narrow spaces, such as hallways and landings, look wider
and help open-up the space – and they can also transform a tiny bathroom.
9. Make the fireplace a focal point
If you have a working fireplace, make sure the hearth is clean, the fire is always laid and you have a lovely store of logs beside it, ready to light for viewings. And if you can’t or don’t want to light a real fire, why not fill the recess with a selection of pillar candles? Even if there’s no actual heat, the flames will give the illusion of warmth.
10. Don’t forget the Dining Room
Often a room only used for Sunday lunch or the occasional dinner party but it’s
also a room that can feel a touch bland when it’s not being used. Try a stunning
centrepiece to give a sense of occasion or perhaps a tall vase of flowers or an
arrangement of pillar candles to make a striking impression.
If you’d like to speak with a member of the team about selling your home and why styling is so important, please get in touch
exeter@wilkinsongrant.co.uk
01392 427500
