This week we’re delighted to introduce you to Samantha Adamson, interiors expert and owner of Nest + Kin, a home staging and styling business based in Staffordshire.
If you are considering putting your home on the market, it is important to take the time to get it market ready to ensure you get the price and/or tenants you want.
With over 30 years of experience in interior design and home staging, Samantha shares her top five tips to getting your house in tip top shape to go on the market…
- Kerb Appeal
Start with the outdoor space, prepare to be ‘drive-by ready’ with welcoming tidy, clean frontages - with potted plants framing the door if the area is hard scaped or lacking interest.
The smallest addition/accessory can make a huge difference in how your house is perceived and along with an agent sign, good kerb appeal could be the catalyst for someone looking to view your home.
With that in mind, it is important you ensure the house number/name is clear and well lit so people can search your property online for viewing details and for evening viewings.
- Be objective about your style
Neutral, refreshed spaces that will work with any buyers belongings are most attractive - meaning they don’t consider redecoration or renovation work as a reason to propose a reduced offer….. or even to not offer at all.
Giving tired spaces a lick of paint to dumb down vibrant colour schemes will create light, bright, calm environment that work for almost anyone.
- Maximize space
Declutter every space to show off as much square footage as possible.
Clear away 'your' personality - kids drawings on the fridge, toys, shoes in the hallway, excessive photos - to reveal the homes true identity so buyers aren’t distracted by your life thus giving them the opportunity to imagine living there themselves.
- Give room purpose
Always dress empty rooms to create a lifestyle targeted towards your anticipated audience -
e.g. a spare room could be dressed as a kids room if you’re pitching to families or as an office/dressing space for 'professional couple’ buyers. While an empty room can be effective in allowing people to imagine what could be, it can be that it is so vague that they are unable to imagine furniture fitting in there in the way they’d like – dressing it gives them an idea to work with.
- Photography
Once you’ve taken steps one to four and your house is ‘market ready’, the last piece of the jigsaw is the photography, this will ultimately be the decision-maker as to whether people wish to arrange a viewing or move on to the next home.
If you choose to let your property through Rockett Home Rentals, the professional photography will be arranged for you as part of the management fee. Be involved in this – you know the quirks and benefits your house has to offer, showcase them, it could make all the difference!
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We’re very grateful to Samantha for sharing her top tips, some great practical advice for getting your home market ready. Remember, if you’re looking to put your property on the rental market specifically, then how you present your property will give potential future tenants an indication of how you will look after them, and the property, once they’re in. Put the effort in at the start and reap the rewards in the long-term.