How to showcase your home for sale online and in person

Staging rooms allows the buyer to clearly see the function of each room, especially if they are viewing online rather than in person. Selling your home relies on presenting it in its best light, staged to appeal to prospective buyers who want to imagine it as theirs. So, what should you do to prepare for a successful sale, and how do you maximise viewing opportunities whether online or in person?

Below are five key tips which are especially important in the competitive London market:

1)      Clear the clutter

With gaining more space one of the most common reasons for moving, you might be tempted to think it’s OK to leave the decluttering until the sold sign is up and you are ready to pack. But this is a golden opportunity to streamline your possessions early, or at least hide them from sight. Viewers want to see the potential of your property – not the stuff you’ve collected over the years.

2)      Present a home that a prospective buyer can imagine as theirs

This decluttering stage is essential in allowing prospective buyers to visualise themselves and their belongings in place. It can also prevent doubts as to what the clutter might be disguising and better illustrates the potential of the property, especially in areas of London where space is limited – a clear loft space being ripe for conversion, for example. Don’t go too overboard with de-personalisation though. Buyers still want to see it as a potential home.

3)      Clean and spruce

Once the ‘stuff’ is out of the way, it’s time to clean and spruce up. You may be taking that bookcase with you, but a prospective buyer doesn’t want to see it groaning under a layer of dust. If walls look damaged or marked it’s even worth a lick of paint to show them at their best. Add fresh, ironed bedlinen in the bedrooms and clean, fluffy towels in the bathroom. Set the table for dinner to allow prospective buyers to imagine tucking into a meal with family or friends.

4)      Set the scene by staging rooms

Showcasing your feature furniture or a feature wall can help your property to stand out. It’s also your chance to allow the personality and character of your property to shine through, giving you another chance to catch the buyer’s eye.

Remove unnecessary or oversized furniture and set and dress the room for its most applicable purpose, considering the buyer that your property and location within London is likely to attract.

5)      Appeal to prospective buyers’ senses

For initial online viewings, buyers will be restricted to sight alone which makes the decluttering, tidying and dressing element particularly vital. For in-person viewings however, you can go for an all-out assault of the senses with flowers, scented candles, soft music and open windows in the summer or the smell of fresh coffee and the heating on in winter.

Think about what makes you feel comfortable in your home and try to replicate it for prospective buyers.

Here at ludlowthompson, we have 30+ years of experience selling London properties, so we know a thing or two about how to stage your home and prepare for viewings. Chat to an expert at your local branch today, to see how we can help you sell your home.