When you’re selling your home, first impressions count. So, we have come up with our best tips for staging your home ready for the important home viewings. We are going to discuss in this blog what is home staging? What you should start doing in the weeks leading up to your viewings and what to do on the day of the viewings.
What is home staging?
Staging is the process of preparing your home for sale by making it look as attractive and welcoming as possible. From decluttering and deep cleaning to making small repairs and sprucing up your garden, there are a number of things you can do to make your home more appealing to buyers.
The Home Staging Association found that 77% of agents said that staging your home meant the buyers could visualise it as their dream future home and that staged homes only spent half the time a non-staged home did on the market.
What to do in the weeks leading up to viewings
Declutter
One of the most important things you can do to prepare your home for sale is to declutter. This means getting rid of any personal items, such as family photos and kid’s toys, as well as anything you don’t need, such as excessive furniture. By decluttering your home, you’re making it look more spacious and inviting, which will appeal to buyers.
Fix Anything Broken
Take a look around your home and make a list of any small repairs that need to be done, such as loose door handles, cracked tiles, broken gates and fences. By fixing these things, you’re making your home look more cared for and well-maintained, which will impress buyers.
Don’t Forget your Garden
First impressions count for a lot, so make sure your home’s exterior is looking its best. This means mowing your garden, trimming hedges and generally tidying up your garden. If you have a patio or decking area, make sure it’s clean and inviting by adding some outdoor furniture and potted plants.
Redecorate
If your decorating was done many years ago then you can give your home a fresh coat of paint before viewings begin. This will make everything look fresh and clean to the buyer. It is best to choose neutral colours that will appeal to a wide range of buyers. If it is possible you could also consider renovating key rooms, such as the kitchen or bathroom, to make them look more modern and appealing.
In our blog post “A guide to adding value to your home‘ we cover all the different ways you can improve your home to get it ready for viewings and selling your home.
Maximise your Rooms
You should try to maximise your rooms the best you can. For example, if you have a bedroom being used as a study you want to try and put a bed in the room to show potential buyers that the room can function as a bedroom if they wish to. This will appeal to buyers as they could have an extra bedroom and more bedrooms also can add value to your home.
On the Day
Once you’ve decluttered, fixed things and spruced up your home’s exterior, it’s time to focus on the little details. On the day of the viewing you should:
Tidy up
Have a quick tidy of your home, put away any toys, clothes, kitchen equipment or anything else out on the floor or sides. You can also give your kitchen sides and windows a wipe to make sure they are clean.
Hoover
Go around and give each room a hoover. Hoovering your home is a good way to make sure it is clean, fresh and there is no dirt or pet hair.
Fresh Flowers
You could also put some fresh flowers out to make the room look and smell nice.
Clothes
Put your washing away and don’t have any clothes hanging out to dry, this will make sure everything is neat and the buyers can see your garden properly without having clothes hanging in their face.
Cooking
Think about what food you cook on the day, try to avoid food like fish that will leave a strong smell. Baking bread or cookies is a good idea to create a homely smell.
Open Curtains
The curtains should be open to let as much light in as possible, you want the rooms to look bright and airy.
Turn Lights On
It is important to turn the lights on when buyers come round, as it makes the home look bright and welcoming. This will help create a good impression of your home.
Open a Window
Open a few windows when buyers come round as it will help to air the home and get rid of any smells.
Take the Bins Out
It is important to take out the bin on the day of home viewings as it will help to keep your home clean and tidy and reduces the chance of there being any smells coming from the bin and putting buyers off.
Think about Your Pets
You should also think about what you’re going to do with your pets on the day of the viewing. If you have a dog, for example, you might want to take them for a walk during the viewing so they’re out of the way. Alternatively, you could put them in a kennel or ask a friend or family member to look after them for the day.
Summary
By following our best tips for staging your home ready for viewings you can be sure that your home will be looking its best when potential buyers come to view it. Remember, first impressions count, so make sure your home is clean, tidy and inviting. With a little bit of effort, you can make your home more appealing to buyers and increase your chances of selling quickly and for the best possible price.
