Focus on…… Home Staging

Creating Space

Buyers focus their search on 3 main areas: location, size and price. As a seller, there is little that can be done to change your properties location; therefore sellers should focus on ensuring that the size and price of their property is correct, and that their home is perceived as good value for money. Buyers will be critically looking at each room in your home and deciding whether the space is big enough for them, and will be suitable for their needs.

There are no two ways about it, space sells, and the more you can show in your property, the better value for money it will appear, and the more likely you are to get a sale.

Now, I am not suggesting adding an extension or conservatory when you sell, but merely ensuring the space that you do have is shown to buyers to be as spacious and useful as possible.

Tips & Tricks

Use the following tricks to create space and consequently value for your home:

Declutter

This is one of the most powerful ways of increasing the feel of space in your home, and is an economical way of adding value. Rooms filled with boxes, wardrobes overflowing, items under the beds etc. all do nothing to sell your space. If your home is struggling to fit all your possessions, why would it fit in those of your buyers? This automatically devalues your house, as it creates a small and cluttered feel.

Get rid of any rubbish, give some items to charity and store anything that isn’t required until after the move. You will be left with the things that you need on a day to day basis, or stylish objects that will help to sell your home. You will not only have created more space but also helped start the first stage of your move by packing away some items and getting rid of others.

Take as many things off the floor as possible – it’s known that the more floor space you can see, the larger you perceive the room to be. This can be seen in bathroom showrooms, where small bathrooms can be fitted with wall hung toilets and sinks, making the room instantly feel larger.

Use Colour

Colour can be a very effective way of creating space in a home. A dark colour on the walls will always make the room feel smaller than it is. I advise when selling to use soft and light colours on the walls and floors. Darker colours can be used, but keep for the smaller things such as accessories.

Use Mirrors

Mirrors automatically enhance the feeling of space by reflecting the room they are placed in, but they also help to bounce light around the room. Used in dark hallways, they work wonders to increase the space that buyers perceive.

Use Light

Maximise the natural light in a space to make it feel larger. Take away nets and pull curtains back from the window to allow light to flood in – you will be amazed at the difference this makes.

Give every room a purpose

Now you have created space, you need to give every room a clear purpose. If you are selling a 3 bedroom house; make sure it has 3 bedrooms and not 2 bedrooms and a store room or office. Buyers will think that it is an overpriced 2 bedroom property, as many cannot see past how you use the space. Think about what activities will be taking place in the house (relaxing, sleeping, eating etc.) and ensure you have a defined space for all these things.

Stage an empty property

Rooms tend to look smaller when empty. This can put off some buyers and make them assume that their furniture won’t fit. If they can’t envisage themselves living in the space, they won’t make that all important offer. Stage your property using just enough furniture and accessories to show the rooms potential but not overcrowd it. Space Sells – so why not create more space and value in your home today.