How to stage your home like a professional to sell it faster

Imagine you’re selling your home.

Let’s say you’re at the beginning of the process and you’ve just posted your property listing online, and you’re getting viewing appointments.

So good, so far.

But what you do next will determine how quickly it will sell.

You don’t have long to wow potential buyers. In fact, research shows it takes the average UK house buyers only 27minutes to decide whether to put an offer in or not – that’s longer than most people spend deciding whether to buy a new sofa or a mobile phone.

If you want to make a good impression that will leave your potential buyers smitten with your property, you need to home stage.

What is home staging?

Sounds complicated but it isn’t. Home staging is strategical styling your property to make it look more attractive to potential buyers.

But, don’t panic, you don’t have to be an interior designer. Far from it, it’s easy to do yourself.

Here are eight easy home staging ideas to help you sell your home faster.

1. Depersonalise

Before you do anything else, start by removing your personal items. This includes everything from family photos, kids’ toys to your clothes. Without all your things lying around, potential buyers will find it easier to envision what life might be like living in your home.

2. Create as much light as possible

Let’s face it, a dark room (however clean and neat) still feels gloomy. Before buyers arrive, go out and stock up on light bulbs. During viewings not only keep all the curtains open to allow as much natural light in as possible but also, keep all electric lights on – regardless if it’s day or night.

If some of your rooms struggle to get much natural light due to their positioning, then purchase extra side lights to brighten them up more.

3. Return each room to its original purpose

If you’ve turned the kitchen table into an office space or the living room into a gym, return it to its original purpose as buyers will find it confusing. If they don’t trust what they’re seeing, buyers will feel put off.

4. Focus on key features

Research shows that a staggering 95 per cent of home viewers start by looking out the window – who doesn’t want to get a peek at the local neighbourhood when buying a new property?

So, not only should your windows be spotless, but also arrange the furniture to allow easy access for buyers to reach them.

Next on the list is storage. If you were planning to store your personal items in the cupboard under the stairs, don’t. Instead, keep all storage areas both empty and accessible. If you’re short on space, there are lots of clever storage solutions you can use that won’t cost too much. For instance, you can add shelving under the stairs, place under bed trolley boxes and install under shelf racks to maximise your storage space.

Buyers also love period features. So, for instance, if you have an original fireplace, show it off – stage the room making it the centrepiece so buyers will see it immediately upon entering.

5. Add soft furnishings

To inject some showroom ambience into your home, replace all towels with new ones, buy fresh bedding, add rugs and soft new blankets. These small touches will help make your property feel fresh, clean and more attractive to potential buyers.

6. Spruce up your curb appeal

It doesn’t matter how immaculate your property might look inside, if your front area is unkempt and unattractive, it will leave a bad first impression.

Whilst you’re having viewings, move rubbish bins to another area or even store in the boot of your car in emergencies.

Also, fix any faults like a squeaky gate or a missing paving slab. If you have a green space, spruce it up or if you don’t add a couple of pot plants to make it look nicer.

7. Good smells

Pet smells and cigarette smoke is a guaranteed turn-off. No only get rid of these smells but also paint over any stained surfaces of walls as a result.

In preparation for viewing place bowls of potpourri or use an essential oil diffuser, which will fill your house with pleasant smells masking any old odours.

8. Final touches on the day

There’s nothing more homely than the smell of fresh bread baking or coffee brewing. If you have time on the day of each viewing – get cooking.

Also, fresh flowers in the living room or in the corridor as you arrive will give your home those final touches that will help encourage buyers into giving you an offer.