First Impressions Count
If you're reading this post you're probably considering updating your home for sale or just curious on how to improve the look, feel & value of your home...please read on for a few handy tips. Have you considered all the options for "staging" your home for sale ?
What items can you do yourself and what can you pay professionals to do ? What is your target market ? What is your overall budget and how far can that stretch ?
Spend some time developing a plan & a budget for this challenging task you're about to undertake.
Table Of Contents
First Impressions do Count
Creating a strong impression at your open house goes a long way to achieving the best possible price on sale day. It doesn't have to cost the earth if you're half handy. Alternately,if you have a few dollars to spare then you can achieve a lot more by hiring a professional.
Kerb Appeal
Great place to start as this is the entry to your home and the first impression for potential buyers. First impressions do count.Lush green lawns always create good street appeal so start early to have your lawn in tip top shape well before open day.
Probably best to mow the lawn a couple of days prior. Trim the bushes, rake the leaves, weed the gardens and top up the bark, mulch or stones in the gardens. Consider painting the path leading to the front entry with a good quality paving paint and give the patio a paint as well if it's concrete or stain and/or paint if it's timber decking.
The entrance door is always worth dressing up.Remove any old hardware and replace with a new colour co-ordinated entrance set and weather strip (if it's deteriorated).Before you do that a trip to good ol' Bunnings is in order as you'll need paint.
Whilst there grab the new hardware, maybe a new letterbox & street no. signs plus some painting gear including brushes, rollers, no more gaps, filler and tape etc. as there's nothing like a good new paint job to add value to your home and increase the chances of obtaining the best possible price in on sale day.
De Clutter & Clean
Before anything else, you need to de clutter and clean your home inside and out. Get rid of all junk and that includes items that prospective buyers don't want to see.
Homes that sell well are open plan, bright, uncluttered, clean, nicely decorated and feel fresh. That old "first impressions count " thing again.Go through every room methodically and don't hold back.
Re-locate items you plan on keeping to storage and dispose of anything else that's not staying or anything that won't help sell your home.If in doubt ask a professional or your real estate agent for advice.
They've done this many times and have a good insight into what's required. Many good agents now provide a "staging service" for clients, for a fee. A good professional house clean may cost somewhere between $600 - $1,000 dependant on the scoop of work required.
The less items you leave in each room will make their job a lot easier and be reflected in the quoted price.Consider an Interior Designer to provide a colour pallete and or a styling schedule for the professional touch starting at approx. $500.
Once de-cluttered and cleaned you can start on the painting and decorating.
Remodelling and/or Renovating
Kitchens and Bathrooms sell homes....
There's no doubt about this.Create that emotional attachment on first impressions and you've secured a committed buyer.
So where do we start ?
If your kitchen and bathrooms are in good clean order consider small cosmetic improvements like new light fittings,re-grouting tiles and/or painting tiled splashbacks.
Yes, you can paint over ceramic tiles.Transform your kitchen bench tops, doors & tile splash backs with products like the Dulux renovation range. Keep the colour palette neutral and dress up with a bit of greenery or coloured items but do not overdo it. You want to appeal to as many buyers as possible.
Be aware of the local market as well. For example don't put the cheapest appliances, tiles and laminated bench tops in lieu of stone tops say if you're in an up market suburb.
Bathrooms are always an important aspect of any open home so make sure its' spick & span. Replace or add that modern shower screen if you've been getting by with a plastic curtain. Re-grout bathroom tiles if necessary, replace hardware ie.) taps & shower heads etc. Add new towel rails and clean bright new towels.
Colour schemes should be bright, clean & neutral like the kitchen.If in doubt, hire an interior designer to provide a schedule & layout for new bathrooms & kitchens.If you are completely re-doing bathrooms & kitchens obtain a few quotes form reputable local experts.
Licenced bathroom & kitchen professional builders provide good advice prior to committing. When hiring trades or builders always do a check on their licences & insurances before allowing work to commence, for your peace of mind.
Painting & Decorating
Probably the most important aspect of the whole open house staging process is the painting. A new paint job can be a very economical way to add tremendous value to your home if planned and executed well.
If you're you're not confident in DIY please hire a professional :) If you do have some basic skills and previous experience give it a go and even get the family involved.Before commencing do all the demolition work required including removing old carpets, floor coverings etc.
Please remember, good preparation is the key to any successful paint job.Spend a day or two filling and sanding any imperfections.Add and or replace any missing or damaged trim like architraves, skirting boards etc.
At this point consider new internal doors,wardrobe fitouts or refurbishments and or carpentry fit out.Best time to do this is before the painting commences. Internal doors these days are relatively cheap. approx.$40 will get you a nice Corinthian or Hume modern door from good ol Bunnings again or your local hardware store.
Window furnishings also need to be reviewed to complete the picture.If they need to be replaced keep it simple and consistent throughout the home with that ol" neutral pallete.
Flooring
Flooring is another important consideration for staging an open house.If your floors are in good shape then nothing to do other than a good clean, vacuum and/or mop.If you're wanting to create that awesome impression then rip out all the old carpets and replace each room with a similar theme throughout.
Once again a consistent uniform and neutral theme is what we are going for here. These days there are so many good choices with composite & real wood solutions.There's DIY "stick down " flooring planks on the market plus professional flooring companies who will quote you to lay whole new floors including all the preparation required.
The most cost effective way is to complete the whole home with the same flooring choice.Gone are the days whereby you always laid carpet in bedrooms.This is not necessary.
Tile bathroom floor and possibly kitchen floors but a good alternative is tiled floor in bathroom and laminate flooring throughout the balance of the home.This will appeal to the majority of buyers and be the most cost effective.
Lighting
LED technology now allows you to create specific "moods" in your home and enables you to control the lighting from your iPhone whilst away from the home.For example the Phillips "Hue" range of globes have in-built smart technology to enable remote control via your mobile phone.
Heading home from the office or work to a nice dinner with family or friends...set the colour ambience and mood with a few clicks of your phone prior to your arrival and its set for when you walk in the door.There are many options for feature lighting available in the market place.Search online or visit a local store for the right choice.
You'll be amazed at whats' out there now. Include a few feature light fittings over island benches in the kitchen and cerntrepice in dining & living areas.LED downlights everywhere else including bedrooms including over bed heads.Bedside table lamps are a nice feature and ceiling fans fan light combinations to all bedrooms is a strong consideration.
LED globes save enormous amounts of energy.9 watt LED globes can punch out upwards of 900 lumens which is bright enough for a single globe to light up a room.
Final Fitout
Getting there !... now it's time to finalise the final pieces for show on open day. Fit-off all door hardware, light switches, towel rails, make sure all doors, wardrobes, blinds etc all function as they should. Tidy up any leftover packaging & rubbish,hang pictures or artwork,set the tables,bedside lamps,bedding and rugs all the while keeping it simple and consistent throughout.
Ask advice of trusted friends or colleagues who have a natural flair for design or stretch the budget a bit further and consider renting furniture and staging for the open day.There are a number of companies now offering their services.
Talk to your real estate professional.He or she will have access to recommended businesses who provide this service.A few thousand dollars spent now can add $10,000 or more to the end sale price. Most of all though it will attract more prospective buyers.
Your home will look great in promotional material and hence achieve a quicker sale for you.
Exterior
So now we get to the sometimes overlooked but equally as important item on the open house staging process,the exterior. Start by removing all rubbish and items not likely to impress the majority of buyers.
Mow the rear yard, clean & trim the gardens, clean the gutters,check the fencing and gates and make sure no holes anywhere.Clear out the garage and make it neat and tidy.Not absolutely critical but consider painting the garage floor with a non-slip paint if the budget stretches that far.If you have a pool ensure the water is crystal clear and that all filters and water features,waterfalls etc.are working prior to open house day.
If you own a dog or cat say that's likely to cause an issue re-locate them for the day to be on the safe side for both pet and visitors.Clean all the windows. Hire a professional if needed.Out with the painting gear again and paint the exterior and especially around the front facade for the all important street or kerb appeal.
Clean and restore your outdoor furniture and BBQ (if you have one) and make any outdoor entertaining areas neat and tidy.Pots of colourful flowers always make a good impression too and are relatively cheap addition that adds great value.It's all about creating that emotional connection.
Flowers are welcoming and always create that emotional connection.They smell great too :) Plant ahead of time to ensure they look well grown and healthy on the day of the open house.Check everything twice and you're good to go !
Conclusion
In today’s competitive real estate market, first impressions truly matter. Open house staging is more than just arranging furniture. It's all about creating an emotional connection between potential buyers and the property. A well-staged home invites buyers to imagine themselves living there, making it easier for them to visualise your property as their future home.
From decluttering and deep cleaning to selecting the right décor and lighting, every detail plays a role in setting the stage for success. The investment in professional staging or a well-thought-out DIY effort can lead to faster sales and higher offers.
It’s a small step with a significant impact, transforming your house into a saleable, irresistible dream home. Whether you’re selling a cosy apartment in Sydney, a sprawling home in Melbourne, or a charming cottage in Brisbane, staging is the key to unlocking your property’s full potential.
Prepare your house for its moment in the spotlight and let it shine—because in the world of real estate, presentation is everything.
Happy selling !
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