Clean, Clean, Clean.
Dust on top of the fireplace, polish your appliances and give the windows a thorough washing.
If you’ve already moved out or if you’re too busy to stay on top of things, consider hiring a cleaning service to stop by every couple of weeks.
Pay Attention To Smells.
Don’t cook bacon & eggs in your home the day of a viewing. Although it might taste great, the smell is strong and lingers for a long time.
You don’t want your home to smell like a fast food restaurant.
Open windows to ensure the house smells fresh. Use air fresheners with a ‘clean linen’ fragrance.
Clear Out The Clutter.
You want buyers to focus on how much space you have, not how messy it looks. Remove the piles of shoes from the entry, that stack post from the kitchen table and anything else that detracts from showing a clutter free space.
Paint The Walls Neutral Colours.
As much as you love your dramatic red dining room, it could turn off potential buyers.
Repaint your rooms in neutral tones like greys and whites. This allows buyers to focus on the space for themselves, not the colour of the walls.
Keep Décor Simple.
To help buyers imagine themselves in your space, get rid of any art or other décor that might turn off people with different tastes.
Reduce Personal Items.
Buyers want to be able to envision themselves in your home, so remove anything overly personal, like family photos in the hallway or your kids’ artwork on the fridge. All the time that buyers are looking at what you have, they are not thinking about how they would live in the space.
Let There Be Light
Open up all the windows to let in natural light and add floor or table lamps to areas that are dim. A bright, cheery room looks bigger and more inviting.
Bring Nature Inside.
Potted plants or a few pretty buds in a vase can help bring energy to a space, fill in empty corners and even draw attention to features you want buyers to notice. Just make sure the plants are in good health.
Get Rid Of Bulky Furniture.
Your furniture should fit the scale of the room, so get rid of any extra or oversized items that could make your space look smaller than it really is.
Organize Your Cupboards.
Storage space is a huge selling point, and if your cupboards are stuffed to the brim, buyers will think you don’t have enough of it.
Invest in some boxes, dividers and other solutions that will help you make your stuff look more organised and remove extra items you don’t need immediately.
Tackle That ‘To Do’ List.
All those little things you’ve been meaning to do but never got around to?
Buyers will notice them, and they’ll detract from the value of your home.
So set aside time to tighten those loose doorknobs, fix that leaky tap and paint over the scuffs from when you first moved in your sofa.
Do A Mini “Renovation.”
Little tweaks can make a big difference to the overall feel of a room.
Kitchen a little outdated? Replace the taps, door handles and hinges.
Family room furniture past its best? Use cushions & throws to change the look to something more contemporary.
Give Each Room A Purpose.
That spare room you’ve been using as an office or guest room or dumping ground won’t help sell your home unless you show buyers how they can use it themselves.
Pick a use (office, guest room, crafts room) and clearly stage the space to showcase that purpose.
Turn Your Bathroom Into A ‘Spa’
Create the feel of a relaxing, luxurious bathroom.
Stack a few pretty washcloths tied with ribbon, add some scented candles and faux plants, and buy bathmats and towels in coordinating tones.
Turn The Living Space Into Conversation Central.
Help buyers picture themselves relaxing with family and guests by grouping your furniture into arrangements that inspire conversation.
Create defines areas which promote a positive family lifestyle.
Keep The Flow Going.
The last thing you want is people bumping into furniture as they tour your home; it disrupts their focus and makes your space look cramped.
Do a dry run as though you’re seeing your home for the first time and tweak anything that interrupts the “flow.”
Make Your Home Smell Heavenly.
The sense of smell is one of the most powerful senses to stimulate.
A “homey” smell like baking cookies or bread can help people connect with a home.
If you are not a baker? Fake it with a scented candle.
Anything Vanilla or Cinnamon scented will do the trick.
Add ‘Lifestyle’ Touches.
Help your buyers see themselves living in your home.
By adding deliberate ‘touches’ that showcase just how your home can be lived in.
An inviting armchair and a tray with a coffee cup and book can turn that empty corner into a reading space.
Pretty soaps in a decorative bowl or bath oils can make your tiny half-bath more appealing.
Boost The Kerb Appeal.
Don’t spend all your time indoors. More than one buyer has decided not to even enter a home based on its kerb appeal, so make sure your home’s exterior looks excellent.
Trim your shrubs, weed your flower beds, fix any peeling paint and keep the pathway clear. Just adding a row of potted plants along the walkway or a colourful hanging basket by your front door, can make a big difference.
