Selling your home can be an exciting but daunting task. Whether you’re staging your home yourself, or employing home staging services, this blog will guide you through the process of how to prepare your home for sale. And also share some tips and tricks to help you make a great first (and lasting) impression!

Cosmetic changes will make a big difference in how your home presents to potential buyers. And while big renovations can be costly and time-consuming, there are smaller changes you can make that still have a big impact. One of the most effective ways to freshen up your home’s appearance is by repainting. If there’s distracting paintwork or the ceiling paint is flaking, it’s worth investing in a new coat of paint. A fresh coat can brighten up a room, make it look cleaner, and even make it appear larger. We recommend swapping from the classic Hogs Bristle colour to a Lexicon White. But if you love the traditional look, swapping to Antique White will generate light while keeping a warmer tone. If you’re looking to brighten up or maximise a space in your home, have a read of our recent blog here. 

It’s important to address any obvious and eye-catching flaws before putting your place on the market. These cosmetic changes can include (but don’t have to, depending on your budget) swapping dated curtains for more modern sheer curtains. Or changing older fixtures like cabinet or door handles. This work will help distract from the preloved elements in your home, which will lead to getting the best return possible!

When it comes to staging a ‘pre-loved’ property, another important thing we consider is wall hangings and fixtures. The key here, if you’re hoping to stage your home yourself, is to remove personal belongings. So, get rid of things like family pictures or artwork that is personal to you. And instead, opt for modern, simple, and abstract art that appeals to a broader audience (because remember that’s the goal!). Use this art to cover existing fixtures and predominant wall hooks or marks left by previous art. By covering any noticeable marks and fixtures on the wall with art that is neutral and appeals to a broad audience, you will increase your chances of attracting buyers. 

When preparing your home for sale, it’s important to consider the functionality of each room. For example, if you have a bedroom that’s been converted into a study, it’s worth reverting it back to a bedroom. While a study may be useful for your family’s needs, potential buyers may see it as a limitation in terms of the number of bedrooms. Buyers are typically willing to pay more for a home with more bedrooms. Because more bedrooms increase the home’s versatility and resale value. So, if you have a room that has been repurposed, it’s worth returning it to its original function. First to maximise your home’s potential and also to attract more buyers. Try looking at your floor plan to see each room’s intended purpose.

Showing what a room is intended for is the most effective way to appeal to buyers (this is one of the reasons that home staging is so valuable!). So, while the minimalist trend may be popular, having just a teepee or a few scattered toys in a kids room doesn’t give potential buyers a sense of how the space can be utilised. One of our biggest recommendations for these types of rooms is to include a single bed. And even if you’re on a budget, use Facebook Marketplace to find a bed for under $20. It will have a big impact on your potential buyers. Because it shows them how the space can be transformed into a guest or kids bedroom. A bed provides a visual cue that helps potential buyers envision themselves living in the space.

First impressions are crucial when it comes to selling your home, and they start as soon as potential buyers pull into the driveway. So, naturally one of the first aspects potential buyers will see is your landscaping. To make a good first impression make sure the exterior of your home looks inviting and well-maintained. Overgrown grass and untrimmed hedges can make your home look neglected (or come across as difficult to maintain). And that can be a major turn-off for potential buyers. So take the time to remove any dead plants, weeds or debris from your yard. And if you’re a high achiever you could even add some fresh plants to create an inviting atmosphere! Other simple things you can do to make a big impact is cleaning light fixtures, swapping light bulbs to brighter ones (like these), or trimming back trees that block a window. By investing time to ensure first impressions make a good impact, you encourage potential buyers to take a closer look at what else your home has to offer.

And as always, declutter your home! You want potential buyers to be able to imagine themselves living in your home. And that can be difficult if your personal belongings are scattered throughout the space. Pretend you don’t live there and remove any excess clutter, such as unnecessary furniture or personal items. We totally understand this can be a challenge while you’re living in the property. But, do your best to remove as much excess clutter as possible. This will help potential buyers visualise themselves living in the space and make it easier for them to see its potential. By decluttering you’ll be able to create a more inviting and welcoming environment.

By taking the time to make some small cosmetic changes, declutter, and update certain elements of your home, you can distract potential buyers from any preloved aspects of the property and showcase its true potential! And if you’re looking to stage your home yourself, have a read of our blog about DIY home staging here!

Thanks for reading! I hope you found some good insights into how to prepare your home for sale. If you have any thoughts, comments or questions, please reach out to us on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.