Are You Turning Buyers off With These Property Styling Mistakes?
How to prepare your property for sale and turn buyers on, not off.
Showing your home to potential buyers is just like a first date. You want to make an exceptional first impression so they’ll want to find out more about you. Make them keen to see you again, and you’ll hopefully seal the deal forever. If a home does not turn buyers on in the way they’d hoped for, it can have a dramatic impact on overall buyer engagement and ultimately the sale price.
Buyers are there to view your home and to imagine themselves in the lifestyle being showcased. You want to draw them in and engage them emotionally. When it comes to property staging, there’s a lot you can do to put your property’s best foot forward. While clever home styling techniques can work wonders, there are also some major pitfalls you’ll want to steer away from. The good news is, it isn’t hard to get on top of them and maximise the impact of your campaign.
In the world of property staging, we believe these are the biggest turn offs for buyers:
1. No Online Presence
The first time a buyer views your home will almost certainly be online. Interior styling will not only give your property the chance to be beautifully photographed, but it will also give you the opportunity to stand out from your competitors online and stop buyers from scrolling past.
If you're interested in learning more about why having an online presence is crucial for property styling, click here to read our blog.
2. Overgrown, Neglected Yard
This tells a buyer that your garden is high maintenance and can’t be contained. In our busy lives, buyers prefer to see gardens as low maintenance. Well-kept backyards are a key selling feature in the Sydney property market, so make sure your buyers can see that your garden is looked after and easy to maintain. Lawns mowed, hedges and overgrown trees maintained, weeds removed and new mulch are all ways to improve the impact of your outdoor spaces so even the most non-green thumbs out there will like it.
3. Being too Attached During Open Inspections
Buyers need to feel the spaces within your home, to picture themselves living within its walls. An owner who thinks attending their own open home is a good idea is in fact making a big mistake. Vacate your home, go for a walk, head out for the day, do anything other than stay during open times. Buyers need to express their thoughts openly about the property, open cupboard doors and drawers, even hop in the shower recess to try the space. Having the owner’s eyes and presence upon them will feel intrusive and intimidating to any buyer.
4. Smells
Pets, cigarettes, bad shoe odour, damp and smelly bathrooms are all scents that can turn buyers off your home. We all know our furry friends are a part of our family, and as a pet owner, you may not notice your own pet’s smell. Rest assured that your buyer will. As part of styling your property for sale, we always recommend removing your pets during inspection times along with all bedding, toys and food bowls, to help minimise any odours. If your pet lives inside, a steam clean and deodorise of the carpets is also beneficial.
Smoke is considered one of the biggest smells that turn buyers off and it’s one smell that seems to be absorbed into everything including clothes, furniture and carpet. Open all windows and get some cross ventilation happening to allow your home to have a good air out. Air all clothes, bedding and anything that’s easy to transfer outside. A steam clean of furniture and carpets will help too. If there’s a smoker in your household, make sure they smoke outside for the duration of the campaign, and put away any butts and ash trays.
5. Clutter
Inevitably we all have some clutter in our homes. When buyers come to inspect your property, clutter and mess are unwanted distractions. Clutter makes a room look and feel smaller than what it actually is. An important part of the property staging process is always clearing the clutter. In fact, it’s one of the most important steps in preparing for the sale of your home. We’re not just talking about the clutter you can see. Cupboards and drawers will all be opened and viewed by buyers, so make sure they’re organised and tidy too.
6. Damages and Repairs
Unless you’re targeting the passionate renovator, putting time and budget into repairing any damaged or worn-out items will have a positive effect on your buyer’s offer. Carpet and a fresh coat of paint are all worthwhile enhancements to tackle before selling. Corroded tapware, missing tiles, broken fences…the list goes on. These things will have your buyer calculating additional costs whilst inspecting your property, resulting in an offer that’s less than ideal, just to cover the cost to repair or replace them.
By making sure you avoid these mistakes, you’re taking some great first steps in ensuring your home is attractive to prospective buyers. The good news is, there’s help at hand to enhance your property and make sure you’ve ticked all of the boxes. If you’re looking for more advice on how to prepare your property for sale, be in touch with our experienced Sydney property styling team.
" Your property is your canvas, and preparing it for sale is your masterpiece. Take the time to invest in the details that will make your property stand out, such as fresh paint, updated fixtures, and a welcoming atmosphere. By doing so, you'll not only turn buyers on, but you'll also increase your chances of a successful sale. "
- Styleness
