The Covid-19 outbreak has seen unprecedented social distancing measures being taken by governments across the globe. Large numbers of the population have had to self-isolate or are placed in lockdown in their own homes to reduce the spread of the highly contagious virus.

Being stuck at home means people have lots of time to finally do those odd jobs around the house that have been put off to another time.

Get your home sale ready.

If you have been thinking about selling your home now is the perfect time to begin getting your home ready for sale.

Successful staging is key to selling your home quickly and at the best price. From cleaning to styling, follow these helpful tips to get your home show ready.

 

First impressions count.

Many people thinking of buying your home will do a quick drive-by first, often deciding on the spot if it is worth organising a viewing to see inside. Make sure your home is ready to excite:

Power wash driveway and walkways

Hang easy-to-read house numbers

Plant blooming flowers and trim hedges

Mow lawn, and reseed or add fresh sod as needed

Wash windows

Repaint or stain the front door as needed

Paint the exterior to freshen it up

Make your home welcoming.

Even if you have only a small porch, or doorstep make it say “welcome home” with a clean doormat, potted plants and if you have room, one or two pieces of neat porch furniture. Keep your porch or garden lights on in the evenings in case potential buyers drive by and especially if you have evening viewings.

Get rid of ALL clutter.

If you are serious about staging your home, all clutter must go. There are no half measures allowed on this point. Getting rid of clutter is not easy, and it may even require getting offsite storage (or use a relative’s garage). Clean and clear surfaces, floors, cupboards, cloakrooms or walk in wardrobes means more space in the eyes of potential buyers, so move anything unnecessary or unsightly out of the house.

 

Clean, clean, and clean some more.

From shining floors, gleaming windows to clean counters and scrubbed grout, every surface should sparkle. Do not forget bathrooms and especially showers and baths. This is the easiest (well, maybe not easiest,but certainly the cheapest) way to help your home be more appealing. You may want to hire professional cleaners to do some of the more difficult cleaning, especially if you have a large house.

Go the extra mile at this stage, it will pay dividends.

Strike a balance between clean and lived in.

Now you have got rid of all the clutter and everything is sparkling clean, bring back some well-placed items that will really make your home appealing. Think vases of flowers, a basket of fresh fruit on the kitchen counter or some strategically placed designer candles.

Style your dining table.

The dining room is often a blind spot in decorating the home. A large dining table can look bare and uninviting, so style it up with visitors in mind can increase the appeal. Don’t go too big, but a well placed centre piece, or number of small items in the centre of the table can work extremely well.

Start from the floor up.

Give all floors a thorough cleaning, steam clean carpets were possible and consider having wood floors refurbished if they are in poor condition. If you don’t want to invest in refurbishing floors, a strategically placed rug or piece of furniture can go a long way.

Consider furniture placement.

In the living room, symmetrical arrangements usually work well. Pull your furniture off the walls and use pairs (of sofas, chairs, lamps) to create an inviting conversation area. Consider bedroom layouts and placement of bedside tables and dressers also. Less is more often more.

Choose sophisticated neutral colours.

Now is not the time to experiment with that “fun” lime green. That doesn’t mean you need to go all white, but rich mid tone neutrals create a sophisticated backdrop that makes everything look in sync.

Create a gender-neutral master bedroom.

Appeal to all buyers with a clean, tailored master bedroom, free of personal items and clutter. Clean, crisp bed sheets (ironed), tasteful artwork and a blanket folded at the foot of the bed. Oh and plump those cushions.

 

Clear out those wardrobes!

Potential buyers will look inside your cupboards and wardrobes. Space can be a make it or break it selling point for buyers. Show off your space to their full advantage by giving excess items the heave-ho. Even if you need to store a few boxes elsewhere, it’s worth it. Aim to have 20 to 30 percent open space in each wardrobe or cupboard to create an impression of spaciousness.

 

Clean up after those kids.

Of course, there will be families with children looking at your home, but just because they have kids too doesn’t mean seeing toys everywhere entice them to buy. When people are house hunting, they are imagining a fresh start. Show them that in this house, it is possible to have a beautifully organised kids’ room, and they might be swayed.

Use “spare” rooms wisely.

If you have been using a spare bedroom as a dumping ground for odd pieces of furniture and boxes of ‘stuff’, it’s time to clean up your act. Each room should have a clearly defined purpose, so think about what potential buyers might like to see here. An office? A guest room? Another kids’ room? Whether you buy inexpensive furnishings, rent them, or borrow some from friends, making a real room out of a junk room will have a big payoff.

Use only perfect personal touch’s.

Especially in the bathroom, it is important that anything left out for visitors to see is pristine. If you have a gorgeous fluffy white bathrobe, hanging it on a decorative hook on the door can be an attractive accent —but if your robe is more of the pink floral variety, you might want to hide it away. Look at every detail with a visitor’s eye — bars of soap should be fresh and clean, towels spotless, toiletries hidden away and the rubbish always emptied (you get the idea).

Invite people to explore the whole house.

By placing something that draws the eye at the top of the stairs, in hallways or in corners, you can pique curiosity and keep potential buyers interested throughout a whole home tour. A piece of artwork, a painted feature wall, a window seat, a vase of flowers, a hanging light or even a small, colourful rug can all work to draw the eye.

Show how you can use awkward areas.

If you have any room beneath the stairs, or a nook or alcove anywhere in your home, try to find a unique way to show it off. By setting up a small work station, or built-in shelving, your awkward spot becomes another selling point.

Remove that Pet.

Really, this can be a big one! If you have pets, get all rugs steam cleaned and be extra vigilant about hoovering and washing surfaces. Also be sure to keep any extra-loved pet toys and doggie bones hidden when viewings are scheduled, and schedule for someone to look after your pet whilst viewings are ongoing.

Get Maintenance work finished.

If there is anything that has been waiting to be done, or half finished projects get them finished before showing your home. You may have a clear vision for a project, but potential buyers will just see a cost waiting for them.

Lighting sets the stage.

You will have seen movie set or stage lighting before. There is a reason its such a big business. The correct lighting can make anything look better. Your home is no different. Ensure you set the mood with either lamps, or down lighters, but please make sure that all lights have bulbs and they are all working. If a buyer flicks a switch and nothing happens, this can get them thinking, what else doesn’t work?

Stage the outside too.

Even if your house only has a small garden, play it up with patio table and chairs, a cheerful tablecloth and even a little tray of dishes or a vase of flowers. When people look at this scene, they won’t be thinking “small,” they will be thinking, “What a charming spot to have breakfast!”

 

Think seasons.

Make sure your garden is in beautiful shape in the summer, and that any extra features you have, are cleaned and ready to go. Take advantage of the cosy vibe of the season in autumn and winter, by building a fire in the fireplace and simmering hot apple cider on the stove.

 

If you would like more information on staging your home or would like a home staging report on what you can do to improve the appeal of your home get in touch to arrange a home visit.

We offer home staging reports as part of our premium sales listing alongside a host of other great services to help you achieve the best price for your home, you can which you can view here.