The property market is looking to be heating up, with house sales rocketing 24.7% in the most recent statistics available (for July) according to CNBC. In such an incredibly competitive market, getting your home sold is a case of finding a little edge above the competitors. While your home will do most of the work for you, there are a few key steps you can take to make sure that your home is presented in such a way that buyers will leave with a lasting impression.
The aura of a home
It may seem like an old stereotype that smells sell homes, but there is science to back up that assertion – however, the trick is in keeping it simple. According to US Today, shoppers will spend 31% more money in a home decor shop when presented with one clear, identifiable smell, as opposed to a mishmash of different scents. Before you settle on a scent, make sure you get rid of bad odors first. Consider bringing a friend in to help you have a smell round your house – you can certainly go ‘nose-blind’ to stale odors when you live with them.
From there, think about a scent that would appeal to anyone. Candle scents can uplift the home, so think of homely smells. Cedar, vanilla, moss, oak, pine: down-to-earth, natural scents that give a warmth and welcoming nature to your home but are just powerful enough to last in the nose long after buyers have visited. Using candles with wooden wicks can deliver scents more quickly, so bear this in mind when you're looking for candles.
A living home
While it can be tempting to clear the home out to give a clear show of the space on offer, Forbes suggest that making your home an experience is more valuable. What does this mean? Chiefly, you should take steps to ensure your home looks lived in – though, crucially, not cluttered. Keep it tidy, keep it fresh and spacious, but make it look how you might expect a family to live in. A few toys here and there; blankets, cushions, and so on.
You want to show to the prospective buyer that this is the right home for them, not simply an empty space. This goes hand in hand with the smells that you choose for your home, and is an effective motivator to make sure some thought goes into the design and feel of the place where you rest your head. Impressions matter, especially the first.
Curb appeal
Curb appeal is incredibly important, even when taken in its most basic form. A well-maintained garden and front step is going to ensure buyers aren’t deterred before entry. Taken to a higher level, Pro Tool Reviews note that adding curb appeal in the form of landscaping, foliage, and so on, can add up to 5% to your property value. That can be a huge difference, both in terms of your comfort and in terms of the next home you come to live in.
What’s more, undertaking landscaping can also help you to pre-empt issues, like tree roots, that can cause serious damage over time and impact on your ability to sell your home. This, in combination with simple maintenance tips across your front porch, can be really easily missed in their overall impact on the home sale process. Don’t underestimate this crucial part of the home presentation makeup – ensure the gateway to your home is a welcoming one.
A digital edge
Are you ready to get high-tech? Digital showcasing of homes is becoming ever more popular with each passing year, with homes using everything from VR tech to construction-grade mapping lasers to give their home the perfect introduction to would-be buyers. In the current age this can have a more profound impact than ever as prospective buyers can get a good look at the home before they ever enter it. This also makes you think about your home in a little more detail. Those living home aspects, like toys and furniture – sometimes, being taken out of the first-person perspective and seeing a digital model can help you to rearrange your home in a way that it will live up to its fullest potential.
When taken together, this really does show that appearances are everything. Introducing people to your home and showing why it’s such a good option will help you to make the best shot at a sale. In the best case, it’ll even earn you an extra few dollars.
