No-one wants to spend money on a house they are selling and leaving behind, but the alternative is continuing to carry mortgage payments for a house that is not selling! Home staging is the most cost-effective improvement you can make to go from languishing on the market to SOLD! I’m happy to work with you no matter what your budget.
Budget: £0
Curb Appeal
- Mow and edge lawn
- Prune plants and trees
- Remove dead plants and all weeds
- Tidy leaves and other garden debris
- Scrub down door, steps, and railings
- Brush walkway and drive
- Clean windows and sills
- Clean and repair gutters
- Remove any faded or broken garden accessories
One exception – even on a zero budget, you must find the money to replace any broken window panes. Buyers will run from this as they will consciously or sub-consciously infer there are many more deferred maintenance issues.
Interior
- Clean windows and sills
- Clean tiles and bleach stained grout
- Scrub baseboards and mouldings
- Lubricate squeaky door hinges
- Launder or dry clean curtains and air rugs
- Ruthlessly de-clutter and store any duplicates
- Store out-of-season clothes and shoes offsite
- Remove photographs, souvenirs, and personal items
- Organise drawers and closets/wardrobes
- Send exercise equipment into storage or the garage
- Limit room colours and patterns for a well-chosen palette
- Relocate and re-hang art and mirrors if necessary
- Take down any cobwebs in corners and on light fixtures
One exception – dirty carpets kill sales. Hire a professional to steam clean your carpets. Make sure the company is aware in advance if pet odours are an issue for the best possible job. I don’t recommend rented shampooers which rely on soap and will quickly attract more dirt. Book in several days before viewings to make sure carpets are completely dry, and don’t be afraid to ask buyers to remove their shoes for viewings, they’ll appreciate that you care. The more effort you use in staging, the better the results.
£100 Budget
If you have £100 to spare, these items give you the most impact in staging your home. Here are my recommendations in addition to the advice above:
- Plain welcome mat £10
- Luxury white bathroom hand towel £10
- White waffle weave shower curtain £10
- Flowering potted plants and long-lasting cut flowers £30
- Fabulous bed linens in a complimentary colour for the master bedroom £40
Bonus: except for the cut flowers, you can take these items with you for your next home. Shop around for the best price. If you have a gracious friend or family member, borrow these items where possible.
£500 Budget
All of the above (minus £100 spend) and:
- Candles £20
- Buy cream coloured paint and neutralize one or two rooms £80
- Give the kitchen a small face-lift with new cabinet hardware £100
- Remove 3 dated curtains or nets and install roman blinds £120
- Buy 2 lamps to illuminate dark corners OR one light fixture with big impact for the entry way or living room £80
If you have more to spend, and more issues to discuss, I would rather work with you one-to-one to prioritize and correct deficiencies that are holding back the sale of your home.
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