Maximising value: Dressing Your Home to Sell

In the same way that we ‘dress for success’ when choosing our best personal attire for an interview, it’s also true when it comes to selling a home. You want to make it look as wonderful as possible to really show off the best qualities and features of the property. This is often referred to as “staging”. By dressing your home in preparation to sell, you can add significant value, attract more potential buyers and increase the final sale price. A little effort makes a huge difference and can dramatically reduce the length of time your property is on the market.

Home staging tips and ideas

Fresh paint

A coat of fresh paint on the walls and woodwork works wonders. It’s one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to transform your home. Everyone’s taste is very different when it comes to colour and decor, which is why we recommend sticking to light, neutral tones. This will enhance the size of your rooms and create a calming, welcoming atmosphere that will appeal to the majority of potential buyers.

A neutral colour scheme also makes it easier for people to imagine their furniture and accessories in your property, whereas bold decor can detract the viewer’s eye from certain features you want to highlight or promote. Just remember: the sooner you sell your house, the sooner you can start decorating your new home with your preferred colours!

Minimise clutter

When selling your home, you are promoting a lifestyle as much as the property itself. Minimising clutter and hiding those everyday items we all use in the kitchen and bathroom, for example, makes it easier for people to appreciate the space, take note of the property’s best features and visualise their own belongings in your home.

Declutter your cupboards to maximise the available space. Remove excess home decorations and bulky furniture that may detract from the property’s size and most attractive features. You may have to arrange temporary off-site storage but it will be worth it, and it’s also a great excuse to get rid of all the things we tend to hang on to in case they ‘come in handy’!

Repair and clean

Attention to detail is key. Fix any squeaky doors or loose handles, fill in any small dents in the walls, consider replacing old grouting, add a new shower head and curtain, invest in some shiny new sockets and light switches, make your carpets look brand new with a professional clean… all of these little things will make an unbelievable difference.

To ensure your home smells wonderfully fresh, open all the windows to thoroughly air the house before welcoming viewers. Spraying your soft furnishings with fabric freshener is also a great way to neutralise cooking smells or pet odours. Finally, light a scented candle an hour or so before viewers arrive to create a divine first impression when they enter your home.

Soft furnishings and decorations

Whilst it is important to minimise clutter and de-personalise to a certain extent, you also want to make your home feel comfortable, welcoming and lived-in. The addition of some simple soft furnishings is a great way to achieve this. A few accent pillows on the sofa, a cosy throw, plush rugs, a well-dressed bed and fresh white linen in the bathroom will make your house feel luxurious and homely.

Flowers, plants and fresh produce are also wonderful ways to add those finishing touches. Potted herbs and a bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen counter, an arrangement of cut flowers on the dining table, small posies dotted here and there, window boxes with seasonal plants, a small bay tree at the front door – simple, thoughtful and stylish.

Vanilla Square Dress for Sale service

If you need a little help preparing your home before putting it on the market, we offer a professional Dress for Sale service in collaboration with Sienna Interiors. Whether you need to spruce up a single room or update the entire property, our specialist service will ensure your home is looking at its very best to attracts a wealth of potential buyers. Our experience has shown time and again the tremendous impact dressing for sale can have in the value of a sale and interest raised. Read more about recent homes we dressed and sold successfully.