How To Present Your Home As Its Best

The combination of a million of small factors adds up to increase your property's saleability. It is this saleability that sees one home sell faster than another. Find out some of the simple things you can do to improve your house:

 

1.) Look at your house as a property that is up for sale and not just your home!

This is the first and most important step! Always try to look at your home as if you were a potential buyer. Adopting this perspective early on will help you in many ways when preparing your home for the market.

2.) The first impression counts! Spring clean your home!

Check interior walls and ceilings for signs of damp and mould and clean it off. Polish woodwork, clean curtains, steam clean carpets (especially if you have pets), wash wallpaper, clean bathroom walls, tiles and grouting, polish brass or silver fixtures, clean inside drawers and cupboards, get rid of scuff marks and clean major appliances. Clean all small appliances, vents, skylights, and insect screens. Give the house a thorough airing to rid it of smells, dust and mustiness. Wash down the outside of the house, clean out the gutters, remove oil spills and other stains in the garage or on the driveway, hose driveway and pathways clear of debris.

3.) Create a sense of space in your home!

Clean out wardrobes, drawers, bookcases, and linen cupboards. Be ruthless: send anything you haven't used to a charity. Neaten what remains: books flush to the edge of shelves, clothes on similar types of hangers, facing one way, games stacked, largest at the bottom, anything with a label facing forward. Store excess furniture. Clean out the refrigerator and freezer of excess foods. Dismantle collections: while some people will admire them, others will feel claustrophobic or may find them distasteful. Rearrange your furniture if need be to create a maximum feeling of space. Clear the street in front of your house of litter, organise tools, coil hoses neatly, trim plants and shrubs, weed out dying plants. !

4.) Repair, repaint and replace!

Patch cracks, replace broken glass, repair wood rot, and replace missing or loose tiles. Arrange for appliance and plumbing repairs. Replace dull or dated light fixtures, broken or mismatched switch plates or outlet covers. Repaint skirting boards, picture rails, and any areas where scuff marks cannot be removed by cleaning. Repair fences to make sure that gates work easily and noiselessly. Re-enamel a chipped bathtub. Repair broken or cracked steps. Check foundations for cracks and the condition of the roof, gutters and down pipes. Reseal deck if necessary, tighten railings for added safety.

5.) Put your house into neutral!

Neutral paintwork, carpets, curtains and decor can accommodate most decorating styles. Get rid of loud wallpaper and controversial artwork. Put away personal items. Neutralise any odours that may linger in your house. Cooking odours or musty smells can be alleviated by opening windows or masked with the sweet smell of a vase of flowers, or burning some essential oils.

6.) Add appeal with additional touches!

If your garden looks a bit boring, buy some potted plants and cluster them strategically. Fix house numbers, buy a new doormat and improve outdoor lighting. Places vases of fresh flowers throughout the house. Help buyers imagine their lifestyle by putting out your outdoor furniture. And - cliché though it sounds - the smell of brewing coffee or vanilla really boost the appeal of your home. Playing ambient, relaxing music in the background can also help.

7.) Light and small points add appeal!

Open the blinds and let as much natural light into the house as you can. Switch on all the lamps throughout the house and lights in kitchen and bathroom.

8.) Before open house!

Make all beds before leaving the house. Tidy cupboards, drawers and dressing tables. For best results wipe down shower or bath and sink with a towel. Put away personal care items. Clean up straight after meals and put utensils away, don't leave to dry on the kitchen sink. Tidy newspapers, magazines, toys, games, videos and sporting equipment. Empty wastebaskets, hide dirty clothes. Finish each room before moving on to the next. Vacuum or sweep as necessary. Make sure your house is a pleasant temperature. Tidy front and back yards. Sweep front path and rake up fallen leaves. Finally, take five! Allow yourself a few moments to take a breather and sneak one more look around the house. Positively greet the real estate agent with a smile and leave before advertised open for inspection time.

 

In a buyer's market, you will need every advantage you can get in order to sell your home for a decent sale price, so it's extra important to stage your home effectively. But even in a seller's market staging can help you achieve a quick sale for the maximum sale price.

 

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