Selling a home requires more than just calling a real estate agent and letting him or her do all the heavy lifting. Motivated sellers also need to take some steps to attract qualified buyers and increase their chances of a sale. This article will focus on how to dress a home to attract potential buyers.
Make it Feel Inviting
Whether homeowners plan to have an open house or just show potential buyers around the property one at a time, they should make sure interested parties can see themselves calling the property their home. This may require updating or staging the furniture. Learn about affordable options for how to get started at sumolounge.com.
Add Carefully Placed Mirrors
Smaller rooms and narrow hallways can look less than inviting. Brighten them up and make these problematic spaces look larger by adding mirrors. Try to position them across from windows or at eye level in narrow, windowless halls and make sure there’s plenty of light. Natural light is always best, but overhead lighting can also do the trick in secluded areas of the home.
Add a Fresh Coat of Paint
One of the first things most new homeowners do to add a personal touch to their houses is repaint the walls. Unfortunately, not everyone loves bold colors, so those who like to colors outside the box may need to make a return to neutral if they want to attract buyers. Lighter colors can brighten up spaces and make small rooms feel larger so, when in doubt, it’s best to go for beige or off-white, not bright purple.
Hide the Clutter
Potential buyers want to see themselves and their families in a new house, not the current occupants. That’s why it’s a good idea to pack away knickknacks, family photos, kids toys, and other personal touches before open houses or property tours. If necessary, rent a storage unit to keep everything off-site instead of just relocating all the clutter to another room.
Float the Furniture
Moving furniture away from walls makes it easier to navigate the home and creates the illusion of more space. Furniture should enhance the house’s natural flow, not get in the way, so if there’s not much room, sellers may also want to put some of their larger items in storage. Creating more space by floating the furniture and removing unnecessary items will make it easier for those who come to see the house to visualize themselves and their families there.
Don’t Forget the Yard
When potential buyers arrive at the property, the first thing they’ll notice is its landscaping. Cleaning up the yard, mowing the lawn, and adding some colorful flowers can go a long way toward enticing more people to come in. Even minor landscape improvements will create a better first impression. Plus, potential buyers won’t be turned off by the idea that the house may not have been adequately maintained before they even walk in the door.
The Bottom Line
Dressing a house for success can help buyers see how much potential the property has, alleviate fears about lack of maintenance, and make it easier for them to visualize what it would be like to live there. Try to strike a balance between comfort and formality by removing unusual personal touches and unnecessary items and adding lighting, mirrors, and comfortable furnishings. It should help.