Selling Tips - Lisa Turner | Sales Specialist for Ray White | Townsville
LISA TURNER 0450 449 606

Selling Tips

Professionally staging your home

The presentation of your property is a critical factor in achieving the best possible outcome for the sale of your home. It is important to do whatever it takes to have your property looking its absolute best.

Below are some ideas and tips on how to stage your home for a successful photo shoot and ‘open house’ inspection.

  • De-clutter, de-clutter, de-clutter! This cannot be emphasised enough. The aim is to create a feeling of space and functionality, particularly in a smaller home or unit.
  • Minimise your ornaments and artworks, leaving only the best on display and always remove personal items from counters, bedside tables, hall tables, bathrooms and showers. Less is always more.
  • Open windows to allow fresh air to circulate throughout the home or if it’s a warm day turn on air conditioners. Always have fans on, especially if you didn’t have time to clean them before the inspection!
  • Play low volume mood music to create a relaxed atmosphere.
  • If your linen is looking a little daggy then purchasing fresh new doonas and sheets and luxury towels can make a huge difference for a small cost.
  • If you plan to paint your property prior to putting it on the market, stick to relaxing, neutral tones. This definitely isn’t the time to showcase your personality with bright purple or orange walls! Using safe neutral tones allows you to add a splash of colour with your soft furnishings and artwork.
  • Welcome buyers with an inviting fragrant smell. Buy plug-ins with fresh uplifting floral tones or set up an oil burner with lavender oil (very relaxing). Strong odours, such as smoking and pets, can turn off potential buyers.
  • If your furniture is looking a bit worn and outdated, we can put you in touch with our interior designer who hires out furniture and artwork for ‘open houses’, very cost effective and highly recommended.
  • If possible, splash out on a bouquet of fresh flowers and place it in an attractive vase in a visible spot. Fresh flowers bring great style and beauty to any room. Attractive dried flowers are also fine.
  • Make sure all lights and lamps are working. Light is very important for the photo shoot but equally so for the inspection, particularly if a room is dark.
  • It goes without saying that the whole house should be extremely clean but kitchens and bathrooms must be squeaky clean! Everything that should shine must shine… taps, mirrors, glass etc.
  • Remove all personal items from the bathroom such as toothbrushes, shavers, shampoos, sponges etc. and replace them with a simple ceramic soap dispenser (not the plastic ones from the supermarket), a small plant or piece of artwork. Nautical or seaside themes look really good in bathrooms.
  • In the kitchen, make sure the rubbish has been taken out and that all drains are odour-free. Remove all fridge magnets, school notes and shopping lists from the fridge and keep workbenches uncluttered. Remember you are trying to create a feeling of space and functionality.
  • Don’t forget to clean screens, windows and glass sliders throughout the home.
  • Remove any signs and smells of an inside pet. Very important!
  • Always look up! Cobwebs on the ceiling and dirty fans are often forgotten…and don’t forget the cobwebs under the house if you have a highset home.
  • Tame the teen! Remove the heavy metal posters and sporting memorabilia from the walls.
  • Clean the pool. You may want to remove the pool cleaner to create a better effect. Make sure the spa or water feature are working.
  • Rake up leaves, remove dead palm fronds, weed garden beds and pathways and apply a fresh layer of mulch to make outside areas as appealing as possible. Pick up the kids’ toys but definitely leave the cubby house… parents love them!
  • Place attractive pots with colourful plants in pool enclosures, in courtyards, on patios or in utility areas to create colour and interest. Even a simple pot of herbs can look very fresh and appealing.
  • Mow your lawns before the photo shoot and on the Friday afternoon before your ‘open house’, as potential buyers may drive by early on Saturday morning after purchasing the paper.
  • Water lawns regularly, emerald green is more attractive than dead brown.
  • Make sure all cars are removed for the photo shoot and inspection, leaving garages and driveways clear.
  • Check the toilet before leaving just in case the kids have ducked back for a toilet break without you noticing.

We hope this list goes some way towards helping you successfully stage your home. Take a look at our current properties for sale to get an idea of how we professionally market and present our clients’ homes.