First impressions really do count! When it comes to buying a house, people will form up to 80% of their opinions within the first few minutes of entering a property and a poor first impression will take an astonishing length of time to rectify.
A property shouldn’t just look neat and tidy, it should also feel warm and welcoming upon entering, nail this and it will have a positive affect on both the price negotiation and your property’s time on the market.
When you’ve been living at a property it’s easy to over look the small things, like unmown lawns, untidy edges, the kids finger prints all over the windows and the years of clutter that have inevitably built up; but with a little elbow grease you can make a fantastic first impression without spending thousands of dollars. Try to take a step back and imagine it’s the first time your seeing your home. Does anything stand out?
Decluttering your home is a great way to create the illusion of a larger space and cleanliness is paramount to a successful sale, because no one likes a dirty smelly house.
Focusing on small repairs like fixing loose handles and holes in screen doors will go a long way to making a good first impression. Don’t forget to clean the outside of your property as well, hiring a pressure hose is an quick and easy way to clear out all the dirt and cobwebs.
Remember that its fine for a property to looked lived in, so long as it’s still clean, tidy, well maintained and smells delightful.
Of course you could take things to the next level by staging your property. This would require the hiring of a consultant who usually has various packages to choose from, the limit is your imagination… oh and your budget. Options range from hiring a few modern furniture pieces and a rug to a full redecoration complete with art hangings and a new paint job.
However, sometimes just getting an outside opinion from your fashion savvy friend is enough, there’s no doubt that staging will improve potential buyers first impressions but you don’t have to go all out and you do have to weigh up the cost benefits. Costs can escalate quickly but adding a few signature pieces to an otherwise bare room can inspire a potential buyer to imagine what could be.
