Tips for how to prepare your home for sale

When I am asked to work on an interior design project I am generally working on a house for a client where they will be living themselves. But what happens when you want to prepare your home for sale?

Buyers often purchase a home with their hearts, not their heads so using home staging to create a welcoming ambience will help sell your house. Here are five tips to get you started.

1. If there’s one thing you should do, it’s declutter. You want to create an impression of space. Clear kitchen worktops completely. Empty as much as possible out of your closets. A buyer likes to see clean surfaces and plenty of storage.
2. Remove family photos. The buyer should be able to visualize themselves in the house, not you! A cleverly staged home should appear depersonalised, yet still feel warm and inviting.
3. A fresh coat of paint transforms a room. Although bold colours can look fabulous, avoid them here. Save your individual style for your new home! Light colours make a room feel more spacious. Creams, soft whites and even warm greys all look fantastic and create a neutral backdrop. If in doubt, get some interior design suggestions!
4. Add accessories. Here you can use those eye-catching accent colours, but don’t overdo it. Use strategically placed rugs, cushions and throws in bold shades to draw attention away from any negative aspects of the room. Soft fabrics such as silk, lambs-wool and satin add warmth and texture.
5. Maximize the light in every room. Look for the darkest corner and position a lamp there. Switch it on even during a daytime viewing. Take down heavy drapes and keep window dressings simple. Remove any furniture which blocks light from in front of the window. You want the buyer to feel your house is light and airy.