Preparing for your ‘Home Open’ – The Interior

5 Jul

As stated in our previous article on preparing the exterior of your property for your first home open, first impressions count – and you only get one chance to make a fantastic first impression. As visitors walk up your carefully swept path with newly mulched borders on either side and neatly trimmed bushes, what sort of impression does your front door make?

Is it dirty, tired with weary old door furniture and peeling paint or varnish? If so, that’s not a good look! For a small sum, invest in new door furniture (Gainsborough or similar) and have the front door professionally repainted – inside as well as on the exterior. That simple step will lift the whole look of your property as visitors move into the hallway and leave a neat, tidy and well cared for impression.

Interior décor

You may love the bright red wall in the living room, the pink décor and curtains in your daughter’s bedroom and the blue carpet and matching wall in the games room – but will prospective new owners tune in to it? Sorry to be blunt, but it’s unlikely.

The best course of action is to choose neutral colours throughout the property which will suit the taste of Everyman (and Everywoman especially). If you need to re-paint, this is no time for an amateur experiment. Please employ a professional!

The ‘De’ words

Your home is not only your castle, it is your personal space that reflects your family’s likes, dislikes and special personalities. What is precious to you can be a distraction to others, so you need to de-personalise the property before you consider a home open.

This means that the home should no longer look like your personal sanctuary and place of refuge from the world outside. Remove and store out of sight, your family photos, religious symbols and sporting memorabilia.

Look for a moment through the eyes of the buyer who wants to see a neutral ‘canvas’ that they can personalise in their own special way with their favourite ‘things’. If they can quickly visualise your house becoming their house, you are half way there.

The other significant word beginning with ‘De’ is de-clutter.   Remove magnets and bills from the ‘fridge, file or get rid of unnecessary papers lying around on almost every surface, the socks and boots under the coffee table, leave every surface clean, tidy and free of ‘stuff’ in every room.

Remember that in most case, the prospective lady of the house is the person you need to impress and please most. The key rooms for her are likely to be the kitchen, family room and en-suite bathroom. Make sure that these rooms look their best, are thoroughly cleaned and replace cracked and broken tiles. Use simple touches such as bright towels and attractive cushions to reinforce a feeling of warmth, comfort and ‘family’.

If you have a shed and a workshop, make sure that they are tidy and look spacious. The men will be pleased and that’s all part of creating a positive impression all round.

Remember that you are competing with the other homes for sale nearby. Make sure that the interior presentation of your home stands out from the crowd and is far more appealing than the competition for sale nearby.

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