How to style up your home to get it ready to sell
If you are taking advantage of the stamp duty holiday and thinking of selling your home or are already in the market, you should know one thing: homes that don't sell fast will only end up having their listing price reduced.
No one wants to see their investment lose value, so if you want to sell your home within weeks of listing it, then there are 6 practical steps that you need to follow to make it happen.
One person who understands the intricacies of the real estate market and can give no-nonsense advice is property guru Sarah Beeny. Sarah is sharing her top tips for getting one step closer to a quick house sale so pay close attention!
Avoid overlooking these details, as mistakes in presentation can detract from the idyllic lifestyle you're trying to convey, making potential buyers less inclined to make an offer.
Sarah says:
"When you decide to sell your home, there’s so much to think about that making it look its absolute best often can often get overlooked. However, first impressions are key to a sale and by improving your interiors and exteriors ahead of putting your home on the market, you’ll get more viewings and really maximise its value. In the build up to the property market’s busiest period, here are my 6 top tips on how to style your property ahead of selling it.
1/ Get the decorators in (or do it yourself!)
Newly painted rooms can transform a house, so give any tired-looking rooms a fresh lick of paint and don’t be afraid to be bold. Neutral, light colours work well in small, dark rooms, but you can be more daring and playful in larger, lighter ones.
Dark greys, deep blues and moody greens are all huge at the moment, so use them to create a striking statement wall – chimney breasts look great in the darker Farrow and Ball colours and will add an element of luxury to a room that buyers will love.
Buy a couple of home interior magazines to get some inspiration and then let your imagination run wild but don't spend too much time thinking it! Act fast.
Magnolia vs Moles Breath by Farrow & Ball - which would you prefer to see going into this home?
Same room, different colours. Should we have kept the terracotta behind the bed ? Didn't think so !
2/ Dress your windows
Curtains and blinds can really make or break a room, so look at each of your windows in turn and ask yourself honestly if the blinds and curtains work well and make the most of the window and room itself.
Windows should let in as much light as possible, so getting rid of blinds, or giving them a good clean, can make a room look brighter and larger, which is what all buyers want.
And if you want to make a feature of a certain window, invest in some high-quality, statement curtains that bring it to life and show it off to its true potential. These little touches make a difference and can create a stunning centrepiece.
Image Credit: Seasonsincolour.com
3/ Make the most of natural light
No one wants to live in a gloomy, stuffy house, so making the most of the natural light that streams into your property is important.
Along with making sure you’ve dressed your windows well (as above), you can also strategically place mirrors in places that will reflect sunlight to make a room seem even brighter.
And by painting darker rooms in light, neutral shades you’ll also make them feel much lighter. I love how light these Round Rock homes for sale feel with their expertly curated interiors and light wall colours.
Give all your windows a good clean too and open them ahead of any viewings to let fresh air and light stream in. Always draw back curtains ahead of viewings. The more light in, the better.
Image Credit: Seasonsincolour.com
4/ Give your kitchen and bathroom(s) lots of TLC
Some minor updates around your home will help you enhance the look and feel of the space and leave potential buyers content that the place will not need a lot of work once they move in. When I embark on any small-size renovation project, I often like to think about how the change will help me determine fair market value for my house and influence an increase of the sale price.
Kitchens and bathrooms can make or break a sale, so make sure yours look their best before you put your home up for sale. In the kitchen, use these ideas to tidy up and de-clutter. Rather than buy new units, you can transform tired-looking doors with specialist paint, and replace worn worktops and flooring to create a brand new-looking kitchen for under £500.
In the bathroom, make sure your tiles are sparkling (bleach that grout!) and replace any broken ones. A new shower curtain and bright bathroom accessories will also bring it up-to-date, and replacing taps in both rooms will help create a more modern, polished look.
If your kitchen or bathroom needs a renovation before selling, use this free bathroom renovation guide (works for kitchens too). I always recommend going neutral, so think bright whites, creams and light greys, and then use brighter accessories to add a splash of colour.
5/ Create the dream
People buy into certain lifestyles, and perfect summer living is one of them. Everyone wants to see how they can enjoy long summer days at home, so help them do just that! If you’ve got French doors leading out to the garden, make a feature of them – frame them with stylish curtains and make sure they’re sparkling clean.
And turn your garden or yard into the ultimate summertime oasis with colourful garden furniture, a barbecue, outdoor fairy lights and funky potted plants. Buyers will be able to imagine themselves enjoying the space and be more inclined to buy.
6/ Declutter and clean
My final piece of advice is simple but vital! A clean, uncluttered house is so much more attractive to buyers than an untidy, dirty one, and by taking to time to make yours spotless, you will increase your chances of a sale.
If you don’t have time to do it yourself, then hire a cleaning company to give it a one-off deep clean and you’ll reap the benefits when viewings begin. And just ahead of viewings treat yourself to some beautiful flowers and place them in gorgeous vases throughout your home.
