TIPS FOR SELLING YOUR HOME? - Week 6

BEDS, BATHS & BEYOND

Whether you’re in a 1-bedroom flat or a 5-bedroom house, getting your bedrooms and bathrooms in order before a viewing is a must. There are no rules about how to decorate these rooms to sell your home, but in our 28 years in business as auctioneers selling properties across Kildare and Ireland we have found that cleanliness and a neutral design are the most important.

THE BEDROOM

No matter the size of the bedroom, your first step is decluttering, depersonalizing and cleaning. And while it may seem like a lot of upfront work, decluttering now means easier packing and moving once your home sells.

Here are a few simple tips to get your bedroom ready:

THE MAIN EVENT

Staging a master bedroom can have a big impact, so it’s a good place to start. The buyer will likely be the one using the master bedroom, so impressing them is key.

• Use crisp white bedding to give the feel of a luxury hotel.

• Stick to neutral colors like greys, light beiges or whites.

• Warm things up with accessories like throw pillows and blankets.

• Add pops of color with greenery, vases, frames or unlit candles.

• For inspiration check out the endless youtube videos on how to showcase a bed.

DEPERSONALISE

Buyers want to picture themselves and their families living in the home, so with this in mind;

• Remove personal items like family photos and keepsakes.

• Replace framed family photos with something more generic, like landscape or abstract images.

• If possible remove ‘named’ décor off walls and doors.

LAUNDRY

If you’re still living in the home, perfection is unlikely, but bedrooms should look as much like a nice hotel room as possible. While your home is on the market, expect to do laundry more often than usual… and don’t forget to put it away as soon as it’s clean and dry. If you can’t keep the laundry pile under control, opt for a linen basket with a cover or lid.

FURNITURE

As tempting as it is to fit everything you have or want inside of your bedroom, overcrowding a small space can make it feel closed off and cluttered to a potential buyer.

• Optimize your space.

• Keep it as simple as you can and remove any bulky furniture.

• Store away any surplus clothing and ensure everything else is neatly hung or folded away.

• Where possible give a piece of furniture a dual purpose e.g. Use a blanket box for storage and also as a window seat, you could also place it at the end of your bed with a book or put a throw on it.

PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER

Ensure curtains are hung well and any loose curtain rails are fixed. A well-lit room is very important so make sure your curtains are pulled fully back away from window to let the sunshine in. Clear any clutter from window sills and ensure windows are gleaming.

AMBIENCE

Check light fixtures are in working order and replace bulbs where necessary. A table lamp on a bed side night stand, with a book and candle will create a nice cosy ambience to the room.

Now on to the much used and most likely the smallest room in the house, the bathroom……

BATHROOM

Many home buyers feel slightly uncomfortable looking at bathrooms while viewing homes. So, they generally pop their heads around the door, often without setting foot in the room. Sellers can spend hours staging a bathroom for that quick second glance. The most important impression you want to make on any potential buyer is that the bathroom is a clean functioning space. With this in mind, here are the 3 main ‘to do’ checks when getting your bathroom ready for viewing;

SPICK & SPAN

• Cleanliness is top of the list, get into all the nooks and crannies that get forgotten about.

• Remove any signs of mould on walls and spruce up taps & shower heads.

• Remove and clean light fixtures and ensure light bulbs are in working order before putting back up.

• Discard old shower mats before viewings or replace with new.

TO DO LIST

The small jobs around the house can be left on the long finger but when it comes to selling your house they can stick out like a sore thumb; simple things like a leaky tap or loose grouting can be a big turn off for a potential buyer but are an easy and effective fix.

ACCESSORISE

Now it’s time for those much needed accessories to give the bathroom that finished look;

• Add some greenery (faux plants can be very effective).

• Invest in a new soap holder and some fresh towels, keeping a neutral theme throughout. Remember to remove any personal items including toothbrushes from view!

YOUR HOME IS NOW LOOKING ITS BEST AND READY FOR THAT ALL IMPORTANT SALE… SIT BACK AND ENJOY, BUT BE CAREFUL YOU DON’T FALL BACK IN LOVE WITH IT AGAIN!