If you plan to sell your Northern Beaches home, consider styling it first for maximum buyer interest. We find that homes that are styled beautifully attract far more interest and sell faster at a better price than those that aren’t.
Styling your home isn’t that difficult if you know the basics or you have the budget to enlist a professional stylist. Here are some tips to consider
Before you start, talk to your agent
Before you do anything, enlist the help of your local agent to take a walk through your home and give you some expert advice on things you should do. Your agent has in-depth knowledge of the type of buyers that will be interested, exactly what they’ll be looking for, and how to appeal to them.
You might find that a new coat of paint is all that’s needed to freshen up your house, but make sure to choose a light, neutral colour because it will make your house look bigger, lighter and cleaner.
Lay the foundation for your sale (and move)
To get started, declutter all the things you’ve accumulated over the years including what’s in your cupboards. Sort out what you do and don’t want to keep and donate, sell or give away what no longer suits your lifestyle.
Pack your personal belongings into boxes and store these in the garage or hire a storage unit until you’re ready to move into your new home. Apart from making your current house appear uncluttered, this will also help to make your move that much easier.
Next, it’s time to repaint the interiors if this is necessary and give the garden a good tidy-up.
Don’t forget to spruce up your house by giving it a good clean both inside and out.
Now that you have a clean slate, it’s time to style
To effectively style your home, you can either use a professional or do it yourself if you have the time and a little creative flair. Here are some room-by-room tips to assist you.
- Living room. Keep it simple while adding a few decorative touches such as coffee table books on otherwise bare shelves and an attractive side table in a cosy corner topped with a small lamp, a green plant or a vase of flowers. Use a soft blanket in a neutral shade, drape it casually over the sofa and add a couple of throw cushions.
If you have limited space, remove the coffee table and put it into storage. Replace this with a smart rug that fits perfectly. Keep the wall decoration to a minimum by hanging one large print or painting rather than a collection of photos or smaller pictures. - Dining area. Whether your dining area is a separate space or part of your kitchen or living room, you want to make it look appealing but not cluttered. Rather than filling the table with a complete dinner setting, consider placing just a bowl of fruit in the centre. If you have a lemon tree, fill the bowl with fresh lemons to let their citrus scent fill your home.
- Kitchen. Your kitchen benches should be as free from clutter as possible so put your appliances in a cupboard or a spare shelf in the pantry. If you have a couple of good-looking upmarket appliances like a coffee machine, leave these on the bench to evoke a sense of luxury. Add a vase of flowers or a lush plant.
- Bedrooms. To add warmth to your bedroom, arrange some tall white pillows and scatter cushions on your bed and find a nice, luxurious throw to place folded over the foot of the bed. Keep your bedside tables clean by topping them with a small lamp, a scented candle or a small vase of flowers. Find a nice print or painting to hang on the wall above the bed.
- Wardrobes. Yes, even these need to be styled because potential buyers will definitely take a peek inside. For this reason, they should appear uncluttered and give the illusion that there’s plenty of space. Put as many of your clothes into drawers or pack away out-of-season items and only hang your most treasured pieces.
- Bathroom. Put all your toiletries away in the cupboard and only have a few things on display such as a pretty liquid soap decanter and some crisp white towels. Add a plant or two as these really help to freshen up the space.
- First impressions count. Don’t forget the front entrance to your home as you want this to be as inviting as possible. Invest in a new doormat and place a couple of attractive planters with greenery or brightly coloured flowers on either side of the door if there’s room.
Ready to sell? Let us advise you
For some expert advice on how best to style your home on the Northern Beaches for the maximum buyer impact, get in touch with the team at LJ Hooker Mona Vale today. We’d love to help with some fresh ideas you can use.
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