Presenting your home in its best light, for the sale of it’s life is no easy feat..
Let alone the frantic hours of cleaning every Friday in preparation for the Saturday open homes, you could even be lucky enough to have a viewing on a Thursday night. But also be prepared for the agent to ring stating he will be bringing a Buyers Agent around from Sydney in the next half hour.
All these scenarios have been a reality for me personally after transforming and selling six houses, the most important ideal is to create an instant connection to your space, making one feel or give the illusion that no one has lived here previously. You may ask how? Well if you rely on the human condition of using our bodily senses - you can't go wrong!
Can you see, what I see? Most definitely potential buyers will see if the dust has not been cleaned from the sliding door rails or window sills. And yes, clean the toilet bowl and remove the clutter from your cupboards stuff it in the car boot if need be. If it has a handle it will be most definitely opened. So keep it clean, clean like you have never cleaned before.
Smell is a game changer, invest in candles or an essential oil diffuser for up and down stairs, or in each wing of your property. I have them burning for a good amount of time before the buyers turn the key for the viewing. I have even gone as far as baking a cake so all of the aromas permeated through the kitchen.
At Project James which was situated on one of Brisbane’s busy premier streets. It was important that I created a sanctuary retreat vibe. I managed to transport buyers into a space of calm and wonderment with my careful selection of Indian Soul music softly playing from the butlers pantry, setting the scene and scenario of them cooking in the kitchen and listening to some tunes whilst sipping a vino. Really, it is like setting the stage for the band and you are the conductor of the senses.
Fresh linen, even if you purchase it from Kmart or Target and additional pillows to make the bedding feel lush and inviting. At every step the buyer needs to get a feel that it is theirs, so keep luring them into the dream of your home. Fresh towels, yes, skid mark free! Ensure the feel, touch, texture is appealing as they are washed and fluffy weekly. Fold them in order to hide the tags, another tip is to layer towels on top of each other on the hanging rails.
Put the toilet lid down & fold the full toilet paper roll, crazy as it seems I even present the paper as if they have stepped into their very own hotel. Why, I don't know! It must be an old habit of presenting things within an inch of its life when I was a house keeper at the Sheraton.
Comfort is queen, open the windows to access natural breezes make sure the temperature is just perfect if it is stinking hot crank the air conditioning and cold, put on the fire place for the ultimate turn on of ambience.
Secure valuable items in a locked cupboard or please take them with you, even your Gucci handbag. I had people scoping out my joint during an open home in preparation for their heist. Quite clever really!
Yes, it is true Kitchens and Bathrooms sell houses to WOMEN! So make them appealing, one of the easiest ways to do this is foliage or flowers. I tend towards flowers for the first two opens for the wow factor then revert to foliage as it is more cost effective and striking depending on the property.
The outdoors is also an extension and reflection of you and your home, so make sure it is maintained and tidy. Even if there is rust on the hot water system, give it a spray of rust guard, peeling paint is also a turn off. Get a handyman if need be to give your home the "I have been cared for feels."
Put it away. Yes, you! Portraits of the family are a massive no, no it inhibits the connection of the buyers seeing and feeling like your home is theirs.
Man’s best friend is not necessarily everyone else's. Ensure you take your best friend the dog, the chicken, the cat the cow with you during the open homes.
Remove all road blocks and go ahead and get an independent building and pest done, not only for yourself but for the buyers. It removes the guess work and allows for a smooth, transparent transaction and deletes any hiccups to the finish line.
Lastly, be authentic to you and your essence. Place treasures from distant shores to not make it feel uniquely yours, but like theirs. Transport them to other lands, with sacred items from your travels, create a feast for the senses.
Checklist
Clean the clutter - even cupboards
Smell, candles essential oils
Soulful sound - set the mood
Clean fresh towels, folded on rails
Clean the toilet - fold the paper
Stylish hand soap bottles
Open the windows
Foliage or flowers
Presentable bed linen
Secure valuables
Obtain an independent building & pest
Family portrait put away
Take the dog with you
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