Real Estate Matters | Interiors Series 3 – Tips to Staging the Inside of Your Home Like a Pro

Juliet Risdon

Juliet Risdon

Are you considering putting your property up for sale or renting it out, but not sure where to start? Afraid that you won’t get the price you want?
This is a common issue for property sellers. “Staging” your home may be the answer. In other words, setting the scene for immediate buyer interest in your property.
Here are 3 tips on where to start when staging a property.:

1. De-clutter.
This is one of the most important things you can do.
It might be easier to think of de-cluttering like this; Since you’re moving anyway, why not start packing now?
Take the opportunity to depersonalise the space by making sure that anything that is making a statement about it being “your place” is removed.
For example pictures of you and your family, holiday souvenirs, and other items that have a lot of sentimental value to you, but may not be ‘aesthetically pleasing’ to buyers.
Pack up everything you don’t need and store the boxes out of sight (or consider temporarily storing at a friends or rented storage space).
Any small bits of clutter, such as TV remotes, can be placed in a few attractive baskets or boxes.

2. Organise your cupboards
Put similar colours together, trousers together, skirts together, shirts together etc.
Why?
Because it will make the cupboards look bigger. (Really.)
An organised space appears bigger, and you want your cupboard to look as spacious as possible.

3. Make the space look like a model.
Ensure that wall and fabric colours are as neutral as possible and go together.
You want to de-personalise as much as you can so potential buyers can imagine themselves and their own belongings occupying the space in the property.
That means the space you are showing should look like a blank canvas that they can personalise with a few of their own belongings.
And the biggest tip of all?
Imagine yourself as a potential buyer looking at your property for the very first time. What impressions are you getting? Would YOU buy your property? What would you like to see changed before you put an offer on your property?
Don’t worry about spending several thousand dollars to get your property ready to view,  you’ll get it all back when the property sells.
Proper staging helps you sell or lease property in a shorter time and at the price you want.

(A version of this article appeared in February 2013)

Juliet Risdon is a Director of JML Property and a property investor.
Having established the company in 1994, JML Property offers Investment Property & Homes. It specializes in managing properties for owners and investors, and providing attractive and comfortable homes for tenants.

www.JMLProperty.com
info@JMLProperty.com