As we see a new year in, it’s definitely the time for new years resolutions, and for many that means big changes like moving home. Moving home is said to be one of the most stressful things that you can do in life. So, if you can make it easier it is definitely worth doing!
Finding your new home is only part of it, you need to sell your existing home in order to make that move. So how do you go about getting your home ready for selling?
Declutter
Firstly, and most obviously, have a massive tidy and declutter. You will need to do this when you move, after all you won’t want to pay movers to pack and transport things you don’t need. Be strict with yourself; go through your items and consider whether you genuinely use or want it, and if not get rid of it. After a good clear out you can see exactly what you are dealing with.
Take Photos
We suggest taking some photos of your rooms yourself so you can get familiar with what angles look good and how things are looking in the photos. One thing we have learnt as Interior Designers is that when it comes to shooting a room, something that looks good in situ doesn’t always show up to its best in images, and sometimes angles that don’t look that strong in real life look amazing in photos. It’s worth getting to know what is working for you so you can direct and support the estate agent photographer when they arrive.
Review
Once you have tidied and de-cluttered, have a look at the room through the photos you have taken and you will be able to see what is missing. Is your interior neutral and in need of some contrast to avoid appearing too bland in photos? In this scenario you could add some plumped up contrasting cushions, some real or faux greenery or replace tired light fittings with some up-to-date lighting choices to show that your home is refreshed and updated.
The Little Botanical Plant Shelfie Set from John Lewis is perfect for easily adding a little something to a room and the Ashcraft scatter cushions from Wayfair come in a range of colours to suit many a room.
Purchasing your updated items will be a great investment in getting the best price for your current home, and you can take them with you when you leave!
If your home is already full of colour and pattern you might want to dial back a bit for sale. Again, looking at the images you have taken on your phone will highlight this to you. Do you need to refine the colour palette or patterns to ensure they are not too distracting for a potential buyer?
Look over the photos for any paintwork that needs touching up, and tape up any loose wires so they are not visible in photos
Up-to-date and considered decor will give buyers the impression you have been maintaining your home and that it is in good condition throughout.
Storage
Storage will always be key so now is a good time to invest in attractive storage trunks, chests and boxes that can store all the little things we leave out on the surface day to day allowing you to show your home to its absolute best potential. We like these metal storage trunks from Vonhaus that are attractive as well as functional.
Kids’ rooms don’t have to be perfect but it’s important the buyer can see how they might use the room; decluttering and storage are particularly important in these areas.
Light
Make sure you get as much light into the home as possible. For the initial photos and daylight viewings, draw back curtains and blinds to their maximum and open doors to ensure you don’t get left with dark corridors. If you have viewings in the evening or on a grey day, make sure that you turn lights on and use table lamps to get that light effect.
Floor Space
Unless you have a super large open space, floor space will be key. Put away anything that doesn’t need to be on the floor; think waste bins, magazine or newspaper storage and laundry baskets. While you may need these day-to-day, moving them out of the way will give a much better impression to prospective buyers. If you have any overly bulky items that take up a lot of floor space like a solid ottoman or side table consider replacing them with something slimmer in profile and on high legs so that buyers can see the full floor space. A great example of this effect working is with the Chesterfield Modern Footstool from SLF24.
Estate Agents
Finally, when you are choosing an agent consider the quality of the photographs and make that part of your choice as it really does make a difference; grainy images and bad angles will put off potential buyers.
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