Decorating
7 Home Staging Tips to Wow First Homebuyers
Smart staging aimed at attracting first-time buyers can be the difference between a quick sale and your house sitting unsold for months
With the advent of smart phones and wi-fi technology allowing people to search for property to buy online anytime, anywhere, a house that photographs well is crucial to draw buyers to inspections and make a sale. The aim of staging for a sale is to present your home in the most attractive way possible; however, if you’re looking to appeal particularly to first-time buyers this can be a little bit challenging, as this is a big step for first-timers and they’re going to be a hard sell. So you have to go the extra mile to make your home inviting.
In preparation for your open-for-inspection date, focus on depersonalising, cleaning, decluttering and making the house feel comforting and homey. All this will help to make the property more attractive, allow potential buyers to envision themselves living there, and enable you to achieve a good sale price. Here are seven easy ways to skilfully stage your home without breaking the bank, and most importantly tempt hesitant first homebuyers to put in an offer.
In preparation for your open-for-inspection date, focus on depersonalising, cleaning, decluttering and making the house feel comforting and homey. All this will help to make the property more attractive, allow potential buyers to envision themselves living there, and enable you to achieve a good sale price. Here are seven easy ways to skilfully stage your home without breaking the bank, and most importantly tempt hesitant first homebuyers to put in an offer.
All photos and portraits should be removed from view. Wedding photos and family mementos tend to distract and draw a potential buyer’s attention to your family, and can stop them from envisioning the house as their own future home instead of your current one.
Removing personal photos, collections and quirky keepsakes also means there’s nothing to distract or detract from the best features of the home itself. You need to make sure your house is the star of the show.
Removing personal photos, collections and quirky keepsakes also means there’s nothing to distract or detract from the best features of the home itself. You need to make sure your house is the star of the show.
2. Do a deep clean
First homebuyers most typically want low-maintenance homes that are ready to live in straight away. Noticeable grime, dust, pet odours and dirt are very off-putting and will give potential buyers the impression the home hasn’t been well maintained over the years.
Clean light fittings and windows to make sure the place is light and bright come inspection time. From shining floors to gleaming appliances and spotless benchtops, every surface should be sparkling clean and pristine.
How to get windows spotlessly clean
First homebuyers most typically want low-maintenance homes that are ready to live in straight away. Noticeable grime, dust, pet odours and dirt are very off-putting and will give potential buyers the impression the home hasn’t been well maintained over the years.
Clean light fittings and windows to make sure the place is light and bright come inspection time. From shining floors to gleaming appliances and spotless benchtops, every surface should be sparkling clean and pristine.
How to get windows spotlessly clean
If there are any noticeable flaws, cracks or damaged items, get these fixed before inspection time, to make sure there is none of that extra work visible that can be off-putting to first-time buyers. A fresh coat of paint can also work wonders to freshen up spaces and make a property feel clean, new and well maintained.
If you have pets, get the rugs, curtains and carpets steam cleaned and remove litter trays before inspections. There is no bigger turn-off than the smell of wet dog or kitty litter as buyers look around the house.
If you have pets, get the rugs, curtains and carpets steam cleaned and remove litter trays before inspections. There is no bigger turn-off than the smell of wet dog or kitty litter as buyers look around the house.
3. Declutter
First homebuyers, like most buyers, will be on the look-out for decent amounts of storage space. Too much clutter makes homes feel messy, small and cramped, and like there isn’t enough space to store anything else. Clear out extraneous items, like piles of mail and magazines, shampoo and medicine bottles in bathroom cabinets, and remove toys, shoes and clothes from overflowing cupboards to make storage spaces appear more copious.
First homebuyers, like most buyers, will be on the look-out for decent amounts of storage space. Too much clutter makes homes feel messy, small and cramped, and like there isn’t enough space to store anything else. Clear out extraneous items, like piles of mail and magazines, shampoo and medicine bottles in bathroom cabinets, and remove toys, shoes and clothes from overflowing cupboards to make storage spaces appear more copious.
This can be tricky for some, but it’s worth the trouble to show potential buyers just how much space there is for all of their things.
It can also give you a chance to get a head start on packing for your move. It can be a good idea to pack up and put your off-season clothing, books, extra linen and DVDs into storage to really show off your home’s storage space and room sizes.
It can also give you a chance to get a head start on packing for your move. It can be a good idea to pack up and put your off-season clothing, books, extra linen and DVDs into storage to really show off your home’s storage space and room sizes.
4. Add scent appeal
Prior to the inspection, wipe down benchtops and surfaces with your favourite, subtle, all-natural cleaning product to give the impression of freshness and cleanliness that first homebuyers are hunting for.
However, make sure you don’t overdo it. Being overwhelmed with powerful and competing smells when inspecting a home can be counterproductive. Keep the potpourri, aftershave, fresh coffee and air freshener use to a minimum in the lead-up to your inspections.
Browse more inspiring bathrooms
Prior to the inspection, wipe down benchtops and surfaces with your favourite, subtle, all-natural cleaning product to give the impression of freshness and cleanliness that first homebuyers are hunting for.
However, make sure you don’t overdo it. Being overwhelmed with powerful and competing smells when inspecting a home can be counterproductive. Keep the potpourri, aftershave, fresh coffee and air freshener use to a minimum in the lead-up to your inspections.
Browse more inspiring bathrooms
5. Simplicity is key
When rearranging your furniture, remember less is more. The aim here is to lead buyers’ eyes to each room’s best assets. Don’t block off large windows with bulky furniture or crowd and take focus from a feature fireplace with a TV and oversized couch. If necessary, consider putting bulky furniture and appliances into storage so you can allow the home and spaces within it to shine.
A few simple touches of bright colour, such as a turquoise throw rug or quirky vase, help add personality and make rooms photograph well for property ads.
When rearranging your furniture, remember less is more. The aim here is to lead buyers’ eyes to each room’s best assets. Don’t block off large windows with bulky furniture or crowd and take focus from a feature fireplace with a TV and oversized couch. If necessary, consider putting bulky furniture and appliances into storage so you can allow the home and spaces within it to shine.
A few simple touches of bright colour, such as a turquoise throw rug or quirky vase, help add personality and make rooms photograph well for property ads.
6. Create a sense of luxury and comfort
You don’t have to spend a fortune to make your home feel welcoming and luxurious. By simply buying fresh fluffy white towels or bathrobes to hang in bathrooms, displaying fresh-cut flowers in a crystal vase, and adding pretty cushions to sofas and beds can make a home look inviting and high-end.
Unlit decorative candles or bottles of top-brand soaps and lotions are great styling tools to add upmarket style and a sense of comfort to your home. Candles also lightly fragrance the air as buyers move through the house.
Home styling tips for photo shoots
You don’t have to spend a fortune to make your home feel welcoming and luxurious. By simply buying fresh fluffy white towels or bathrobes to hang in bathrooms, displaying fresh-cut flowers in a crystal vase, and adding pretty cushions to sofas and beds can make a home look inviting and high-end.
Unlit decorative candles or bottles of top-brand soaps and lotions are great styling tools to add upmarket style and a sense of comfort to your home. Candles also lightly fragrance the air as buyers move through the house.
Home styling tips for photo shoots
7. Give potential buyers the facts
According to a recent Mortgage Choice survey, the majority of Aussie first homebuyers view property as a lucrative investment, with 55 per cent of those surveyed saying they bought property ‘to set themselves up financially for the future’. To draw in first homebuyers, it’s crucial to have the key suburb data and statistics on hand while they inspect your home.
Request that your agent make a flyer with the key suburb information (schools, public transport, shops and parks) and data (annual capital growth rates and median house prices) that illustrates why the home and area is a good investment. That way, first homebuyers can easily revisit the information later and will feel as though they have everything they need to make an informed decision. Place flyers on your kitchen bench, coffee table or in the main bedroom so buyers can peruse one as they inspect your home.
TELL US
Are there any other staging techniques you’ve used that prospective first homebuyers love? Please share them below.
MORE
Browse more beautifully designed interiors
According to a recent Mortgage Choice survey, the majority of Aussie first homebuyers view property as a lucrative investment, with 55 per cent of those surveyed saying they bought property ‘to set themselves up financially for the future’. To draw in first homebuyers, it’s crucial to have the key suburb data and statistics on hand while they inspect your home.
Request that your agent make a flyer with the key suburb information (schools, public transport, shops and parks) and data (annual capital growth rates and median house prices) that illustrates why the home and area is a good investment. That way, first homebuyers can easily revisit the information later and will feel as though they have everything they need to make an informed decision. Place flyers on your kitchen bench, coffee table or in the main bedroom so buyers can peruse one as they inspect your home.
TELL US
Are there any other staging techniques you’ve used that prospective first homebuyers love? Please share them below.
MORE
Browse more beautifully designed interiors
Buying a home is almost certainly the biggest purchase decision first homebuyers will have made in their lives so far. Consequently, most first homebuyers tend to be more hesitant and difficult to win over than other buyer types – you have to go that extra mile to ensure there are no obstacles in the way of them seeing themselves and their belongings moving in. To help make this happen, pack away quirky, valuable and personal items until the sale goes through.