When you want
sell your home, your have to view your home as a product. Your aim is to sell
at the highest price and in the least amount of time. Viewers look at
many houses in a row, your priority is to make them remember your house above
all others. This is where home staging helps, you can make the buyer
believe that buying your home will buy them that life style. For example a
garden with sofa seating and a book on the garden table will give the vision of
the viewer sitting and relaxing.
A viewers first
impression of your home will stay with them once they have left, hence the
importance of a well presented front. An untidy front will give viewers
negative thoughts before they even step inside your home.
Always ensure
front door is welcoming. Plants give the appearance of a well maintained
home. Door hardware should always be clean and well presented, if necessary buy new.
Prior to
home staging it is vital to de-clutter your home and get rid of any unused or
unwanted items. This will make displaying your home at its best easier and your
move much less stressful. Any excess items store away, as clutter will make
your house feel smaller.
As a home
staging service our agent will go through your home with the eyes of a viewer.
Here are some general tips:
Look at the
skirting and paint work throughout your home, is it clean and tidy? Scuffed
paintwork will give the impression of a poorly maintained home.
Paint and
if necessary replace damaged skirting board.
This also
applies to wooden window frames, ensure they are well presented. If there is
any condensation in the window area, ensure it is wiped and dried prior to
viewing.
Walk
through your home with a camera and take pictures of each area. Ask yourself
what is the focal point of each room? The focal point should be something
that the buyer will benefit from, a feature of the house not personal
possessions. For example a large window, allowing light to flow into the room, or a beautiful view into the garden.
Enhance any
positive features - for example ensure a large window isn't covered in
curtains, have curtains draped well enough back to show the window at its
best.
Hall: The
hall should feel welcoming and is the entrance to other areas of your home. All coats and shoes should stored away.
Living
area: Ensure the room is fit for purpose. Arrange furniture to show the room at its best. If the room is large The seating does not need to be against wall as this can make the room feel uninviting. If the room is small you may want to store some furniture away to create the feeling of space.
Kitchen:Kitchens are expensive to replace - you want yours to look as good as possible to your viewers. Ensure all appliances are sparkly clean and taps in good working order. If work tops are poor it might be worth investing in new work tops.Try and keep surfaces clear of dishes etc. It is a good idea to stage the kitchen to look like it is in use but easy to use and keep tidy (although we know this is often not the case).
See example - this was staged rental property.
Bedrooms: Keep bedrooms as neutral as possible to allow the viewer to envisage there own style. Ensure all clothes and accessories are tidied away. Cushions well displayed always look appealing on a bed.
In children's bedroom tidy as many toys away as possible and maybe stage a toy on the floor, to emphasise playing space.
Toilets/Bathrooms: Bathroom are an expensive purchase, you want to make yours as appealing as possible. All taps should be leak free and in good condition. If required replace taps in sink and bath. Just replacing taps and faucets can give a bathroom an immediate uplift. Ensure all sealant is mould free, otherwise remove and replace. Bathrooms are easy to update with towels and bathmats. Keep all toiletries out of sight.
Garden: This can sometimes be the deal clincher. A garden can be seen as added living space. Keep the garden well maintained and if possible stage an eating and sitting area. Potted plants and colour are always an attractive garden feature.
The above are basic tips and each home would require slightly different home staging strategies. Remember you are selling the house not the things in it!
When showing the viewer round you should keep upbeat and positive, highlighting any positive features, e.g original features etc. Also for example if your childs room has a vivid accent wall casually mention with a flick of paint the wall colour can be changed (although it would be better to tone it down beforehand).
No comments:
Post a Comment