Styled to sell
How to stand out in the crowd and make your home drop-dead irresistible for potential buyers
Neutral colours and clean, bright spaces appeal most to buyers. Neutral colour scheme by Crown Paints, www.crownpaint.co.uk
What makes a property stand out to potential buyers? And what makes the difference between, well, indifference, and a firm offer? This week, Latest Interiors shows you how to get ahead of the crowd, and style your home to sell.
First – and second – impressions
Buyers form an emotional response to a property within moments, so make sure your front door gives the right impression: A coat of paint works wonders. Tidy up front gardens and anything visible from the approach to your property. A healthy hanging basket, window box or potted bay tree cheers things up, too. If your entrance hall (or any other room, come to that) is a little dark, install higher-wattage light bulbs – adequate light makes all the difference, whatever its source.
Choose a few neutral, stylish pieces to accessorise your home: Linea photo frame, £10, Linea vases from £10, all www.houseoffraser.co.uk
Touch up shabby paintwork elsewhere in your home, and take an honest look at your colour scheme: Bold colours and busy wallpapers may be fashionable, but they’re quite a personal thing. Most buyers respond well to warm, neutral colours. Time to get the magnolia out, we’re afraid…
Sort it out
De-clutter every room. See this as preparation for moving. Identify those things you can live without for a few months (be ruthless, please), and put them in the attic or in storage. You’re aiming for light and space, and excess books, bric-a-brac, personal items and photos instil a sense of claustrophobia. Give everything else a proper home and keep it there, tidying up before each viewing.
And on the subject of tidying up, now the decks are clear your home needs a good clean. Carpets, covers, floors and doors all need attention – dirt makes a home feel dark and unappealing. Clean your windows too, the more light, the better.
Rooms that sell
Kitchens and bathrooms make or break a property, so expend most of your energy (and any funds) here. Change broken or ghastly door handles and taps, replace worn flooring (lino is inexpensive and very effective as a short-term fix), and invest in a few new accessories (fluffy white towels or a swish kettle) if the old ones are looking tatty. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune – but improving these rooms makes all the difference.
Betty Jackson Black wallpaper, £20 per roll, www.debenhams.com
It’s all in the presentation…
And finally, style your home. Think about the potential market: Is it a first-time-buy, young professionals’ apartment, family home or somewhere to retire? Whatever it is, dress it accordingly. If your family have outgrown your once chic, singleton apartment, put away as much family paraphernalia as possible and make it chic once more. Replace loud or worn accessories with a few select pieces in neutral, complementary tones (a simple wool rug, a soft throw) to show your home to its best advantage.
We’re not sure if baking bread helps, but a nice-smelling home is more appealing than memories of last nights sausages so open some windows and invest in a good scented candle. A lovely bunch of flowers helps to dress a table – go for something simple, stylish and lightly scented (lilies, or seasonal blooms like sweetpeas or stocks).
Style rooms for their function – if your home has a separate dining room, make it look like one and put your model aircraft (or whatever else you do in there) away. Ask friends for an honest opinion too – they’ll spot things you’ve missed. Arranging rooms so that attention is drawn to special features – a sea view, a stunning window or high ceilings – helps to down-play less appealing points. Keep it clean, simple, clear and welcoming, you might even change your mind about moving.
