How to Speed Up the Sale of Your Property
If you’re selling your house or apartment, you’re probably looking to sell as soon as possible, for as much as possible. However, with the current housing market having little demand, and too much supply, it might be a good idea to brush up on a few hints and tips to help speed up the sale of your property.
“Home staging” is an interior decorating technique that involves styling and furnishing a property for sale to enhance its appeal to potential buyers. Experts believe that buyers decide whether or not they could see themselves living in a property within the first few minutes.
1. Get out the paintbrushes
Repainting is one of the best economic investments you can make when it comes to home staging. It produces some of the best results, giving your home a fresh, modern look. This is also a great way to hide any little imperfections. In short, a new coat of paint is a great way to increase the value of your property.
However, in this case, it’s important to leave your own personal tastes to one side. When it comes to painting a property for sale, there is one unspoken law: light, bright colors everywhere, from the walls and ceilings to the window and door frames. Go for neutral colors, such as whites, creams, and pale grays.
These might not be the most attractive colors, but they are the ones that the majority of people feel most comfortable with. They give homes a softer, more welcoming feel, making them look brighter and more spacious.
2. Deep clean
If you’re thinking about selling your home, you’ll need to do a deep clean from top to bottom. Your property must be sparkling by the time potential buyers come to visit. Make sure to clean everything, from the door handles and windows to the closets, cupboards, and lampshades. There are also special cleaning products which will make your bathroom and kitchen look good as new. You can even buy special paints to help cover up any scratches on your tiles.
One piece of advice – be sure to organize your closets and cupboards properly. Storage space is really important for potential buyers. Messy, disorganized closets will visually reduce the amount of storage space your property has to offer.
3. Update your decor
You don’t need to go as far as buying new furniture to impress potential buyers. However, it might be a good idea to take a look at your current furniture and give it a bit of a makeover. Current trends favor light, neutral-colored furniture over dark furniture, which can make a room feel small and claustrophobic.
Paint your furniture in light tones, such as cream, white or marble. We also recommend removing any non-essential furniture from your home. There’s nothing less appealing to a future buyer than a cluttered room.
Curtains and upholstery should also feature bright, neutral colors. If you have dark living room furniture and you can’t change the covers, you could use cushions to brighten the overall look. Choosing cushions that match your wall color is a great way to make your room look brighter.
A dark couch right in the center of your living room will act like a black hole, sucking all the light from the rest of the room.
We advise maximizing natural light as far as possible. Remove any pieces of furniture that will visually “steal” the natural light from your room, and combine ceiling lights with subtler floor and table lamps.
When it comes to rearranging your furniture, balance is the key. Try to create a symmetrical layout in each room. Symmetry is the foundation of great design.
Each room should also feature a focal point, around which you can organize the rest of your decor. Take care to leave plenty of space between each piece of furniture, allowing easy access to each part of the room.
4. Kitchens, bathrooms, and terraces
Kitchens and bathrooms are two of the most influential rooms when it comes to determining how much a property is worth. You can buy special tile paints to update your decor, using neutral colors to give your walls a fresh new look. It might also be worth investing in some new kitchen and bathroom accessories.
Whether your home has a terrace, garden or balcony, exterior spaces are also important when it comes to preparing your property for sale. Decorate with plants and flowers, and create a reading corner that oozes luxury and relaxation.
5. The devil’s in the detail
Once you’ve got your house clean and ready for sale, you can then add a touch of color. But remember – less is more. Use small, decorative elements to add subtle bursts of color, and be sure not to go overboard.
It’s important to depersonalize your home. Remove any wedding photos, and that doll collection you’re so proud of. The last thing potential buyers want to see is reminders of the old owners.
Finally, choose some good quality bed sheets and towels, to give your home the perfect finishing touch. A few last pieces of advice – set the dining room table as if you have guests coming over for dinner, and make some fresh coffee. There’s nothing like the smell of a nice cup of coffee to make buyers feel right at home.