Movingmole Moving Guide to Preparing Your House
- Preparing your house for sale
First Impressions! Do They Really Count When it Comes to Selling my House?
Well the simple answer is yes!
Studies suggest a buyer can decide whether they want to buy a property in less than a minute. First impressions can mean the difference between a sale or not. So how can you set your property apart from others on the market ? This can be achieved by following the simple steps of Home Staging. Home Staging is exactly what it says, your property is prepared for a show, in this case the audience is your potential buyer. This will enable you to maximise the value of your house and find a buyer quickly. Following this process will give your property instant appeal from the moment the viewer approaches, encouraging them to picture themselves living there. This can be done on a budget to suit you and a great result can be achieved even with a minimal outlay.
- Step 1: Curb appeal
What does the entrance to your home say about you? Something as simple as a door with chipped or peeling paint can give the wrong first impression. The first thing that your viewer should see is clean, fresh and inviting. It is more difficult when your property has a communal entrance, but do what you can to make your door look good. New ironmongery (number/ handle/ post-box) and a eye catching plant can make all the difference.
- Step 2: De personalize
The place we live holds many emotions for us. It is important that the person viewing your house can see it as their potential home. To improve your chances of selling or renting you must de personalize and de clutter, remove family photos, trophies, collectable items, knick knacks and souvenirs. Your storage space should also reflect the house, spacious, clean and well maintained. It is not just small things that can clutter a room, too much furniture can make a room feel cramped and small. Give the feeling of space by leaving only the necessary furniture.
- Step 3: Clean and Fresh
This may seem obvious but a clean home portrays an image of care. This is particularly important if the home is not lived in, it is so much harder to sell a property that is uninhabited. It may be worth employing a company to do a one off clean before you market your home and then before a viewing a quick clean (as we all know dead bugs and dust accumulate so quickly and do not look good) Remove musty smells and air your property frequently. The smell of smoke and pets can be very off putting, once the property is ready for viewing you may want to refrain from smoking inside.
- Step 4: Fixing up
Sometimes it is necessary to do some updating or repairs. The key with home staging is to be practical and stay with a sensible budget. If bathroom fixtures cannot be cleaned up to a good standard it may be worth investing in new, inexpensive ones which will instantly give the whole room a lift. The same applies to the kitchen, changing taps, work surfaces and even door and draw handles will make it look revitalised. A fresh coat of paint will be your best investment when selling your home. Choose a white or off white paint which will appeal to the widest number of buyers and make rooms feel spacious and light. If you want to add colour you can use paintings and soft furnishings. New rugs and towels can be a really good and cost effective way to inject some new freshness into a home. Windows, lights, doors, shutters and blinds should all be in good working order no creaks and bangs!
- Interior Design
At whatever stage of home buying or selling you are in having the advice and assistance of a qualified Interior Designer can prove invaluable. An Interior Designer can lead you through the simple but highly effective tools used for home staging to help you sell your property and maximise the value. This can be purely an advisory role where the Designer will visit your property and offer suggestions for you to follow through if you wish. If you require quotes for the work and materials that can be arranged and the project can be managed to what ever level you require. A good Interior Designer will always listen to your brief, working within your budget to create the best space for you and your family whether selling, renting or improving.