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Using a home staging company needn’t be expensive and help you sell your home
research shows it “Sells Faster for more money too”.
With latest research out for 2021 from Right move saying its going to be a very good year indeed to sell you house I wanted to add my top ten savvy preparing to sell tip for you as...
1. De-clutter
Buyers invariably look for more space and they need to see that your property has plenty of room to store their own ‘stuff’. Pack away anything that creates visual clutter – too many ornaments, the collection of fridge magnets, piles of toys and excess pieces of furniture.
ANNE'S TIP: You’re moving anyway so it makes sense to start packing things away now and create that much-desired feeling of space and calm. Every room should have a purpose too as its simply no good have a junk room.
This before image show a classic junk room. then a stylish bedroom - which would you look twice at on line...
2. Depersonalise your home
Help a buyer visualise themselves living in your home by removing any overly personal items such as family photos, children’s drawings and holiday souvenirs. They all give a powerful message “This is MY home”, and a buyer will find it difficult to imagine their own possessions in your home.
ANNE'S TIP: Family photos are fine in the bedroom but keep them to a tasteful minimum.
3. Add ‘come on in' kerb appeal
Potential buyers will often do a ‘drive by’ before deciding to arrange a viewing so creating kerb appeal is vital. Tidy your garden, repaint the front door if necessary, make sure that curtains are symmetrical and windowsills are free of clutter.
ANNE'S TIP: Add some colourful plants in pots or hanging baskets by the front door. Make your property look as instantly inviting and welcoming as possible so potential buyers want to come in and see more.
4. Make your entrance entrancing
Once you’ve got them through the front door, buyers need to instantly feel ‘at home’. Help them literally 'see’ themselves in your home by placing a mirror in the hallway - this will also help introduce additional light into what is often the darkest part of the house.
ANNE'S TIP: Take all coats, shoes and sports bags out of this area as a cluttered hallway can set a buyer thinking that there isn’t enough storage space in the property 
5. Do that DIY - now!
Any unfinished DIY jobs ring alarm bells for potential buyers as they send a subliminal message that your property could be ‘maintenance heavy’ and will alert them to look out for other outstanding jobs. This could be used against you to negotiate a lower price.
6. Clean until it gleams
It can’t be stressed enough that a spotless home always creates a good impression and reinforces the message that the property is well maintained.
Clean the kitchen, bathroom and loo until they sparkle, polish the windows and make sure that the home smells fresh.
ANNE'S TIP: Pet and smoke odours are big turnoffs for buyers.
7. Define the space
If you’ve got three bedrooms they must be presented as three bedrooms – not two bedrooms and a box room crammed with clutter. And if you’ve got a sitting room and a separate dining area they need to be presented as such and should not be seen a living room-cum-kids’ playroom or ironing room.
ANNE'S TIP: Buyers are aspirational and need to be shown the lifestyle they could lead if they were to move into your property, which is likely to include entertaining (even if they end up having TV dinners rather than dinner parties!)
8. Redecorate where necessary
It can be hard to justify spending time and money on a property that you’re about to leave, but if it’s neutrally decorated, well-presented and inviting you can add thousands to your asking price.
9. Set the stage to sell
If you really want to see your property through the eyes of someone else take photos of each room from different angles and then take a cold hard look at them. It will be pretty obvious what needs to change. Today’s buyers are attracted to clean, bright, clutter-free, co-ordinated and spacious environments with aesthetic appeal.
ANNE'S TIP: Buy a few interiors magazines as they give good examples of what people find attractive today.
10. Mentally move out
This is perhaps the most important piece of advice. You’ve decided to move so do all you can to help yourself achieve a quick and profitable sale. Remember, living in a property that is for sale is not the same as living in a home you’ve settled in so don’t worry if the new look of your property is not to your taste – it doesn’t matter, you’re moving out anyway!
ANNE'S TIP: An initial consultation with a home stager need not be expensive (average charge is £295-£395) for a verbal consultation with room by room recommendations and could be a cost effective investment.
Putting the wow factor in to a house…making it stand out from the crowd.
Good luck and let me know how you get on…
I am often asked if freshly brewing coffee or baking of bread when got viewers really do work?
As a house stager working in lots of properties up for sale or preparing them for the market, I am often asked if the aroma of freshly brewing coffee or baking bread really works to entice the views to buy the property?
Well in my opinion, these are just a little too obvious sometimes and, will come across as you are trying too hard. However, it is true that the sense of smell does play a huge part in making a viewer feel they this could be their home, so this is my advice on this question;
My Top Five Tips for giving your home the Sweet Smell of Success:
1. Natural things -A vanilla pod in the oven on a low heat is far subtler and smells delicious. Also put a plate of freshly baked scones with a pot of jam or even muffins on the kitchen work surface with a pot of coffee pot and a bowl of fruit and a vase of flowers is my top tip.
2. Dog owner? Take pooch and any pooch-related bedding out of the house in plenty of time before the viewing – trust me, non-dog lovers will be able to smell it a mile away.
3. Scented candles (used sparingly) smell much nicer than spray fresheners. However, I recommend only using natural oil-based ones and not the cheap artificial fragrances (Airwick and electric plug ins) as these go stale becoming very pleasant with time.
4. Place tumble drier conditioning sheets at the base of all of your bins for a lovely fresh laundry smell.
5. Pop some potpourri in your vacuum cleaner before you clean the house for a subtle but appealing scent.
EXTRA TIP adding fresh flowers and plants is a wonderful way of creating a lovely look adding to the décor and smell nice too.
You might also like to read previous month’s blog, for more tips and hints
https://sassy.lightbulbwebdesign.co.uk/blog/idea-to-help-you-plan-a-design-change-in-your-own-home
If you would like any advice or support for your interior projects, then call Anne today on 07725246434 / 01673 20762.
“what is the most important thing I can do to my house that would make it more desirable and add value?”
Welcome with lovely newly painted Front Door - for great curb appeal.
Often get asked “what is the most important thing I can do to my house that would make it more desirable and add value?”
Of course, this is a subjective question, because it all depends on what your house is like right now. You may have just moved in and are wanting to renovate and then sell it on, or you may simply be wanting to put your home on the market.
Whichever it is, here are my five ‘Top Tips’ for those of you who are looking to put your home on the market.
1. Adding curb appeal - Not only does this make it nice for you to come home too but by improving your property’s curb appeal will create a great impression for passers-by and most importantly, for potential buyers who come to view your property.
Give your front door a lick of paint – regardless of what colours might be in fashion, choose a colour that suits your property and goes with its stonework, character, age and design. Make sure to choose a colour that complements your driveway, if you have one. Be sensitive to a period property, while on the other hand, a modern property will be able to carry a bold statement. The secret is - the paintwork on your front door should be clean, shiny and definitely not pealing.
Adding a new range of furniture – to your front door, i.e. letterbox, handle, knocker, bell and house number, all in the same style and colour will make an instant impression. If your house has a name make sure it is clean, easy to read and clearly visible so that prospective viewers know they have arrived at the correct property.
2. Entrance and hallways – This area is the very first impression viewers will have of your property, so make sure its clean and tidy of shoes and coats. It’s important that viewers do not see clutter and mess.
Adding Space – All the rooms in your home should demonstrate their correct purpose, for example, if you have a dining room that is currently used as a dumping ground restore it to its rightful purpose. If the dining room is small and tucked away, think about knocking a wall out to create a nice open-plan kitchen diner with a relaxing area. This kind of configuration is always very appealing to viewers who will instantly feel the house is family friendly. It will also add value to your property.
Adding Space – All the rooms in your home should demonstrate their correct purpose, for example, if you have a dining room that is currently used as a dumping ground restore it to its rightful purpose. If the dining room is small and tucked away, think about knocking a wall out to create a nice open-plan kitchen diner with a relaxing area. This kind of configuration is always very appealing to viewers who will instantly feel the house is family friendly. It will also add value to your property.
3. Small cloakroom – This tiny space under the stairs that may be being used to store rubbish can be remodelled into a great small WC. You would be amazed how little space a WC needs. There are a lot of small wall mounted basins, even corner ones, and radiators to choose from. With a bold colour pallet for the wallpaper, a mirror above the sink and subtle lighting this space can easily be transformed to create a wonderful and useful space.
4. Window dressing – Are your windows looking good are do they need replacing? Do the windowsills need a lick of paint?
These are honest questions you need to address because viewers will be looking at them critically. You will also need to think about how your windows are dressed. Take down old net curtains to let in as much light as possible. Consider installing new curtains or blinds. A stunning impression can be made with wooden shutters or wooden blinds which look very chic. If you are on a tight budget concentrate on the main living rooms.
5. Increase your property value by 20% - consider developing the roof space of your house into either an extra bedroom, home office or simply well organised storage. Research has found that by developing your home to gain the space you crave in a new house will cost far less than moving. The prospect of developing your property is well worth investigating especially when it could increase the value of your property by up to 20%.
Extra Bonus Tip
Creating a luxury adult haven in your master bedroom – is very appealing and adds an extra wow factor to your property. Look at your bedroom and see if you can upgrade things like the headboard, would it be more luxurious in a bold colour? and with some great deals on the market today this will be an easy exercise to do. Create a feature wall behind the head of the bed with a wallpaper that can be matched to sumptuous bedding. Keep the other walls neutral to keep the attention on your feature wall. Sumptuous curtains will finish off the ‘boudoir’ look to your bedroom. Oh, and don’t forget to incorporate soft ambient lighting from decorative lamps either beside the bed or on the wall above. All these tips will help you create a lovely tranquil place that views will envy.
Good luck with your 2020 New Year makeover. Let us know how you are getting on by messaging me on Instagram or share your before and after pictures on my Facebook page.
For more help simply send me a message
Best Wishes
Anne
Grey is one colour not everyone know how to use in there home, theses few guide lines help you get it just right.
Grey is a very popular colour at the moment with a wide variety of shades from very pale to gun metal appearing on all manufacturers paint charts. I love working with grey as when you get it right it can really enhance a room, however, getting the right shade can be a little tricky.
I thought it might be a good idea to give you a guide on how to use grey if you're a little bit unsure about using it when you're home decorating. There are a great many grey tones available and the key is to ensure you use the best one for your space, bearing in mind the shade you prefer on paper might not be the best for the light and space you have. So here are my tips on getting started with grey
above colour choice is Dulux’s Chic Shadow feature wall and Rock Salt Matt emulsion.
How to use grey in your home
For years now, many of us have been using white and cream on our walls and I feel it is a time for a change. Grey can be a real winner here, helping show off a rooms’ natural features and making your furniture stand out as it looks really good as a contrast with natural wood, pure white and stone. I feel that the trick is to create just enough contrast to make the raw materials look fabulous. Dulux’s Goosedown is a new colour for 2018 and brings a lovely soft quality that allows the natural tones of stone and wood to shine beautifully when used together. Try it against your fireplace or wooden furniture and you won’t be disappointed.
Using grey in a d ark room
I often get asked how to brighten up a space which is low in light and most people think they need to stick to cream or white which is not always the case. For north facing or low on light rooms a good tip is to use as a contrasting dash of colour such as pink, gold or yellow with something like Little Greene Paint Company’s :Dash of Soot . This is a mid-tone shade of grey which highlights an area without appearing too cold which is often an issue with grey. My other tips for darker rooms are to add some pale accessories such as mirrors or marble which will look fabulous against the grey.
Enhancing the ambience of the room
I always advise people to think about the ambience of the room they are decorating. If you want to set the mood for a room, think about what the room is used for and how you want it to feel. If it is going to be a restful space, then a really nice colour is Little Green Paint Company’s Urbane Grey as it rich tones pair nicely with woollen fabrics and textiles in darkish colour tones. This also works well with slate floors or flagstones polished off with a heavy rug in bright tones to add a pop of colour and warmth
Brightening up a room
Finally, to brighten up a room, I suggest using a pale grey with a contrasting accent colour. I really like Dulux’s Rocksalt , a pale tone which provides the perfect background to bright hues such as zesty yellows or bang on trend blush pink and copper colours. The pale grey sets off the accent colours perfectly adding warmth, character and that all important wow factor.
See below The little Greene Paint walls Loft White Matt no 222 and Grey wood work colour one Urbone Grey No 225 in Egg shell works very well indeed with at Natural slate
Another decor ideas is by using wall paper in grey tome can look very effective too make a room look wider as below
Got stuck and need help creating your new look in your home? Call Anne on 019673 20762 /07725 246 434