The real estate market is, unfortunately, not in full swing right now.But that doesn't mean it's time to give up. Sometimes, to get your home sale moving, you just need to use the laws of design to highlight its strengths and hide its weaknesses. Read our article to find advice that will help you sell your home. Of course, no tricks will help hide obvious problems or save you if you want to get an amount that doesn't correspond to market reality. But in any business, preparation is important - try to look at your home through the eyes of an outsider and start with the basics.
1. Appearance: Putting it in order
First impressions are important - get it rightif you haven't gotten around to it before. Make sure the gate looks welcoming and be sure to freshen up the paint on the doors and windows outside - the exterior of the house is just as important as the interior. Get everything out of sight: tools - in the garage, toys - in the nursery, firewood - in a neat woodpile. And even a few flowering bushes will produce the desired effect - guests will decide that the plants have always been here, even if you planted them the day before. Our opinion: - Create the impression of a lifestyle that is optimal for your home and the place where it is located. Is the area quiet and calm? Hang a hammock in the yard, even if you yourself do not like idleness. Is there a lake nearby? Put fishing rods in plain sight.
2. Interior: update and repair
We understand that major repairs are not included inyour plans. But now is the time to update everything that could scare off the buyer. Does the floor creak? Level it or at least lay a carpet. Are the taps dripping? Repair it and make sure that the house utilities are in order; this is what the invited appraisers will pay attention to first of all. Does the kitchen look good? Experts call it the most valuable room: its attractiveness often pushes the deal. The value will be increased by replacing old furniture fronts, updating appliances, even simple cleaning - let all surfaces shine. New things in the interior always make a favorable impression, even if they are small things - invest in , door handles or decorative pillows.
3. Decor: neutralize and get rid of personal items
Your potential buyers may be verydifferent people, but they all want to feel at home and imagine their own life within the walls where someone else has lived for many years. This can be hindered by too bright color schemes, and a general excess of decor, and an abundance of things that reflect the owner's personality - we mean collections, souvenirs, photos. Let the interior be a clean slate: add white and cream, get rid of things that have not been used for a long time - rest assured, agents and their clients will look into your closets to assess their size, so it is important to tidy up what is not in sight.
4. Add light
Light, especially reflected in glossysurfaces and mirrors, will do the work of a whole team of builders - it will expand the space. Well, at least visually. In the evening, light it, if you have one, so that buyers can be sure that it works perfectly. Turn on ceiling lights and lamps in dark corners. And wash the windows - dirty glass holds up to 30 percent of valuable daylight.
5. Scenography of the house
The final stage of preparation for the showings agentscalled staging — production, dramatization. Light scented candles, or better yet, bake cinnamon buns, the smell is calming and relieves nervous tension. Turn on some soft music — classical or jazz. Put fresh flowers on the table and make some coffee. Try to show off all the advantages of your home — highlight the great view from the windows by removing the blinds, draw attention to the cozy reading corner by casually leaving a blanket and a book there. A harmoniously decorated house, in which people lived a full and happy life, will definitely find its new owner. Our opinion: — Research shows that real estate sells faster if the buyer smells rosemary, white tea and figs. And music that evokes positive emotions in anyone, which also extend to the property in question — smooth jazz, instrumental arrangements of popular melodies and Beatles hits.
Anastasia Dobrovolskaya, realtor:— Cleanliness and order are very important when preparing a house for sale, as is the absence of extraneous unpleasant odors and noise. The aroma of pies and coffee always lifts the mood, but strong odors in the bathrooms are alarming: either someone has just washed here, or they hide sewer leaks. Think about the design of windows and thresholds of rooms — does garbage get in from outside? Such a banal thing as radiators will definitely raise questions: how are they arranged, do they leak. Personal belongings should not be in sight, leave only something beautiful: books, shawls, elegant cups, a vase with fruits or vegetables in the kitchen. Buyers carefully examine pantries and wardrobes: let everything be in its place. The trick is to make the buyer “live” in the space during the viewing. It is important to beautifully show all the functional aspects, such as convenient switches or “smart home” details. And the most attractive photographs are obtained if you take them with the light turned on as much as possible, when it’s just starting to get dark.
