Dressed to impress: How to stage your home for sale
Category Advice
They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Property professionals will tell you this is especially true when prospective buyers view a property, which is why it is important to ensure your property makes a great impression on show day.
This is where home staging comes in - it refers to the actions taken to "dress up" or "stage" a property to make it more attractive and more appealing to prospective buyers by paying attention to the cosmetic and aesthetic details.
"When you consider that buyers tend to mostly look at properties in their price range, it makes sense to employ elements of home staging to make the property stand out from the rest. The main reason you want it to stand out is to help it sell faster and at the highest possible price," says Silvana dos reis Marques, Franchisee at Leapfrog Pretoria East and Irene.
She says that more than the price, the condition of the property, the structure or the layout, the final decision for a buyer tends to be based on a feeling they have about the property - and that has a lot to do with what a property looks, feels and even smells like. Dos reis Marques, explains: "People need to be able to imagine themselves living in the space, which is what home staging helps to do."
Luckily this doesn't mean putting all your own things in storage, recruiting an interior designer or spending vast amounts of money. Rather, it is about a few minor moves, magic tricks and a touch of imagination to ensure the property is the best addressed.
Clear the clutter
Your own clutter is one thing. Somebody else's is a whole mess on its own! "Clutter can be very off-putting because it immediately says 'chaos', so something as simple as ensuring surfaces are clutter-free, particularly in the kitchen and bathroom, already goes a long way in the staging process," Dos reis Marques believes.
It is difficult for potential buyers to gauge the full potential of a property when they are squeezing past stuff and being visually overwhelmed by things that are all over the place. A property that is neat and clean just naturally appeals more to a buyer.
Sweet scents
Looking good is one thing, smelling great is another! Scent has a surprisingly strong effect on our emotions and as such goes a long way in making a space more appealing. "It's a good idea to have a pot of coffee brewing or something tasty baking in the oven. Similarly a scented candle or a mild, but refreshing, room spray can make a subtle difference." Also don't forget to take the rubbish out, wipe surfaces and clear the kitchen sink," Dos reis Marques recommends.
Let there be light
Very few people enjoy walking into a dark and drab property, rather we're drawn to light and airy spaces. "Make a point of opening curtains or blinds, and the windows to allow fresh air in, when prospective buyers come to view the property, to allow natural light in," Dos reis Marques advises.
Don't forget the outside
While buyers are mostly concerned with the inside of the property, it doesn't hurt to pay attention to the outside. "The outside is what is seen first, so ensure the exterior is also neat and tidy and that, at the very least, the walkway to the entrance is unobstructed,"
Emotion plays a key role in property purchases and home staging is making sure a property appeals to the emotions of the potential. Don't underestimate how far small things like a bit of order, natural light and a pleasant smell can go in selling your property fast and at the right price.
Home staging is about making the property as appealing to the potential buyer as possible. "Property purchases are largely driven by emotion, which is where things like order and a nice smell can tip somebody one way or another," Dos reis Marques concludes.
Author: Leapfrog Property Group
