5 Ways to Stage your House for a Property Viewing
Staging your home for a property viewing is crucial. First impressions count, as most home purchase decisions are made within the first 15 seconds of being at a property, it can take just walking through the door to a cluster of shoes for a buyer to be put off by your home! Investing time into prepping your home for a viewing will reap the rewards in the end.
As experienced estate agents we have repeatedly seen this stage go wrong. To help avoid any lost opportunities, we have created this blog to layout some tips and advice on how to stage a successful viewing.
Additional storage space has always been a great benefit to homes, so if you’re attempting to sell someone their dream home, your clutter may illustrate a lack of storage space. Clearing your rooms of chaos before a viewing will allow your potential buyers to envisage the available space and how they might choose to use it. When your floor is visible, and your jumbles are neatly put away it generates a spacious feel, regardless of the size of your property. A decluttered home is essential to entice buyers, however, don’t overdo it. Your home wants to look comfortable and inviting, but tidy!
Having a dark, gloomy room can add a negative feel to your home. Creating a bright, well-lit area will not only increase morale as your potential buyer walks through your home, but also enhance key features of your property. Often, it’s the finer details that make the big difference, by keeping the blinds pulled back and the windows clean; you are demonstrating to your potential buyer, that you truly care for your home.
We all have niggles and irritations that occur within our households that get put off and forgotten about, yet buyers are persistently looking for issues no matter how small or large it might be. Finding even a few minor problems could be a huge warning sign for a buyer that there are more to come. Spending money to address these problems, whether that’s getting a new tap or fixing the bathroom tiles, keeps buyers from having a negative impression. You want your potential buyers to leave with no concerns about unexpected expenses or having to make repairs.
Attracting buyers is easier when you’ve given your garden some TLC. An outside space is one of the most important elements a prospective buyer may be looking for; not only does this enhance interest, but also increases the value of your house. Mowing the lawn, adding some flowers, or even adding some garden furniture may be enough to persuade your viewers that this is their dream home. A garden can be used for social events, family days or even just sitting out in, to soak up some Vitamin D, making it a major selling point of any property. Remember the front garden is usually the first impression people get of your home.
Painting is the cheapest, but most effective “fix” for a home. A newly painted front door, creates a good first impression that the property is well cared for. Make sure there are no “grubby” finger marks around light switches, door handles and staircases.
Make sure there is a pleasant smell “wafting” around your home; we are human beings and all work with our senses, so it is not only what we see, but also what we smell, starts to form our opinion. You might be a dog owner, but your possible buyer may not, so evidence of pets is not a good idea. Make sure your dog is out of the property as your potential buyer might be frightened of dogs!
Have some background music playing to soothe and enlighten the mood, so ideally not heavy metal!
Ensure the property is clean, with particular attention to kitchens and bathrooms, they may not be to a buyer’s taste, but it could be that the buyer is at the top of their budget and they may have to wait to replace them, so if they are functional and can be “lived with for now” it will all work in your favour.
All these amendments do take time, so be sure to be ready for the big day. Ensuring you leave a few days free to begin the decluttering, cleaning, and organising processes will give you confidence in your property when it comes to the viewing. Knowledge of your home is vital when trying to sell. Formulating a small list of facts and features that you can talk to your buyers about can help the day run smoothly. Informing them of all the beneficial surroundings like schools, shops or transport may be enough to decide a deal and confirm the sale. Try to remember what the clinching factor was that made you buy your home as this could well be the case again.
If you’re looking to sell or buy a property in the Yorkshire area, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We offer a free home valuation and further advice to maximise your home’s potential.