Property for sale can be difficult if you’re finding it hard to locate a buyer for your home. It’s important you’re showcasing the property to its full potential to boost chances of selling. However, there’s one mistake you should never make, an expert in the industry has said. It’s vital those looking to sell property don’t make the mistake of not staging their home.
According to Steve Centrella, an agent with Redfin, all homes can benefit from this.
“Sellers often underestimate the power of furnishings and staging,” Centrella told The Washington Post.
“Even spacious rooms can be hard to appreciate when cluttered with the owner’s knickknacks and personal effects.
“You want the buyer to be able to walk in and easily envision their life in the home.”
A US 2017 National Association of Realtors (NAR) survey revealed 49 per cent of buyers’ agents believe staging affects most buyers’ view of a home.
And 77 per cent of them said it’s easier for people to visualise a staged home as their own, according to real estate listings and rental properties company Trulia.
The research also showed that by staging your home you can increase the sales price.
In the survey, 29 per cent of sellers’ agents said the sales price for staged homes were between 1 per cent and 5 per cent higher than unstaged home.
Property owners can stage their home by cleaning thoroughly and removing any clutter.
The brighter your house can look the better so be sure to keep window blinds and curtains open.
The living room was shown to be the most important room to stage in the NAR survey, following by the master bedroom then the kitchen.
While less furniture can serve to make the property look bigger and therefore more appealing it’s important to not take it too far.
If the home is too empty it can prevent potential buyers from being able to envisage themselves living there.
It’s also important to never leave your rubbish bins on view outside the house when you have a house viewing. You should also avoid parking your car immediately in front of the property.
According to personal finance website Money To The Masses: “Tidy up the garden and move wheelie bins to a less visible location, if possible. Consider moving vehicles away from the front of your property when viewings are taking place as it will open up your property and give it more ‘kerb appeal.’”
Consumer site Which? advised walking around the property yourself and pretending you’re on a viewing to help you work out how to improve the exterior.
When it comes to a garden, if you have one, it’s best not to just place lots of plants from the garden centre in random spots.
“It’ll just look incredibly artificial,” gardening expert Carol Klein said.
Instead, she recommended focusing on some particular sections of the outdoor space. “Maybe concentrate on spots, a few pieces of it, and containers are always a great idea because then you can go to tend things that are looking good right at that moment – because you’re usually putting your property on the market over a month or so, aren’t you?”