You’re ready for a change and want to sell your house for the best possible price. You don’t have time to renovate and there’s no way to magically teleport your home to a newer, more popular location. According to Tracey McLeod, chief executive officer of Showhomes decorating agency in Brisbane, preparing your home for sale is all about “reducing objections” and making your house as inoffensive as possible. How? Just follow these tips for upping your street appeal and getting your house ready for the market.

DO

Maximise curb appeal: “The first seven seconds are really vital when someone is looking at the front of your house,” says Ms McLeod. “It should be clean, appealing and inviting, as people are inclined to make a split-second decision as to whether they will enter.” Keep up the maintenance of the front lawn and fence, make sure the grass is mowed and watered and your gate hinges are well-oiled, pick up dog poo and add some colour with a potted plant next to your front door, if you have the space. “White flowers look lovely,” says Cynthia Sajkunovic, sales agent at LJ Hooker’s Unley office in Adelaide. “If you have a water feature, clean it and turn it on as it creates a nice ambience.”

Get professional help: Ms Sajkunovic recommends hiring a stylist to get your house in tip-top shape. They can use your existing furniture or rent new pieces to give your space a fresh look. Magazines and catalogues can also be useful when conceptualising a room as they demonstrate layering, de-cluttering and placement of furniture.

Neutralise your space: Anne Johnson, property styling manager at Coco Republic Property Styling, suggests lightening up your home so people are more able to visualise their pieces inside it. “Make sure you use lighter fabrics on the key pieces so they are not so dominant,” says Ms Johnson. “If you can, make sure the walls are neutral – bold coloured walls can close a space in, whereas white walls create a sense of space and are bright and fresh.” Ms Sajkunovic also advises home-owners to avoid feature walls and heavy drapes as they make your space feel too personal. What looks good to you make not appeal to others, so make your space seem as non-confrontational as possible.

Walkability: Ms McLeod recommends walking through your house from front to back with the eyes of a buyer. You should be able to move freely throughout your home with no obstructions. Ensure you have good lighting by opening the curtains and turning all non-fluorescent lights on and de-clutter by removing unnecessary furniture – even if you just hide it in a neighbour’s garage for open days. Clean lines make a house seem bigger and less crowded, so Ms Johnson advises that you “don’t cut the room in half by placing a large sofa in the middle of the living room”.

Get rid of quirks: “I styled a house that was beautiful and incredibly well decorated,” says Ms McLeod. “The only problem was that the owners were very well-travelled and had a shrunken head by the door. You have to say something.” If you overwhelm buyers with your personal artefacts, it will be harder for them to imagine themselves in your home.

Know your target market: “Often, people will find themselves selling to a younger generation,” says Ms McLeod. Keep this is mind when choosing artwork and furniture and, if unsure, ask a younger friend or relative to come through and give you a fresh opinion.

Layer your room: “The use of mirrors, artwork and rugs, help to add an extra dimension to smaller rooms,” says Ms Johnson. “Rugs help to soften spaces and define an area.”

Artwork: According to Ms McLeod, looking up tends to trigger more positive emotional responses than keeping your head down and watching your feet. Pull potential buyers’ eyes up from the floor with interesting, simple artwork. Use wall space effectively, but don’t turn your home into an art gallery.

Remove traces of pets: Often, pet owners are oblivious to the variety of animal smells around their home. Ask a friend to come in and give it to you straight – the smell of kitty litter, animal hairs floating through the air, or the stench of dog food are an immediate deterrent for potential buyers.

Involve your neighbours: If you’re finding that preparing for auction is becoming a bit too much, ask your neighbors to pitch in. Get them to offer opinions or hands-on help and, if you feel comfortable, ask them to spruce up their house fronts too. The better the street looks, the more likely your home will sell for a higher price, which is beneficial to your neighbours in the long term.

Perfect your bed: “This is the $5000 tip, I think,” says Ms McLeod, “Iron your bed linen and make your bed.” You would be surprised how distracting and unsightly creased sheets can be.

DON’T

Remain emotionally invested in your property: “Detach yourself entirely,” says Ms Johnson. “You have decided to sell your property, so now you have to consider it is not yours.” That means getting rid of sentimental features like height charts in doorways or ugly keepsake ornaments.

Experiment with different scents: “You never know what memories or allergies you might trigger” with a room spray, candle or even the scent of fresh-baked bread, says Ms McLeod. Play it safe and just aim to eliminate the bad smells. If you have to have something, steer clear of incense, advises Ms Sajkunovic. Instead, choose a subtle candle and place it strategically.

Forget the little things: Ms Sajkunovic recommends cleaning your cupboards, appliances and even your garage floor. Buyers will not overlook these things and neither should you. Remove stains, fix cracks in floors and ensure you take your car out of the garage so people can get a good idea of how big it is.

Use fluorescent lighting: It’s harsh and unflattering. Replace it with lamps, down lighting or feature lighting.

BEFORE: A boy’s bedroom prior to being decorated for sale by Showhomes.
Photo: Chromatic Creative

AFTER: Tracey McLeod and her team used existing furniture and provided lighting, artwork and bed linen. “My aim is not to sell perfection, but to showcase liveability and lifestyle,” says McLeod.
Photo: Light Art Media

The living room in a home in Mosman, NSW decorated by Coco Republic. Photo: Coco Republic Property Styling.

The bedroom in the Mosman home decorated by Coco Republic. Photo: Coco Republic Property Styling.