By Georgina Shaw
With the property market improving, sellers should be getting more for their property and finding it much easier to sell, yet many are still struggling. Real estate agents Nordica have been investigating this to help their buyers sell at the right price and have found that the interior styling of a property can make all the difference.
To test the theory, they styled a property which had been on the market for over a year and sold it in just one week with its new look – at full asking price. They now have a home styling service, located in Aloha Gardens, and have put together the following tips to help readers improve their properties and chance of selling.
• Make buyers fall in love with your property… Through styling you want to create a neutral, aspirational and stylish space which potential buyers can see themselves living in. Think about how you can stage the property to fulfil their needs: create an office out of the junk room, add a play house in the garden if you lack kids’ space inside, show how tricky spaces can offer great storage, etc. You need to show buyers how they could live there and allow them to make an emotional connection with the property in order to make an offer.
• Clean, de-clutter and de-personalise… The first step to a property styling is always removing over personal items, stripping the property back to its essentials and creating a feeling of space. Then deep clean until everything sparkles and odours are banished inside and out. Consider painting and changing things like shower curtains and bed linen for a really crisp, clean, fresh look and feel. This can make an enormous difference.
• Improve flow and order… Check that viewers will get a good flow from the front door, all around the house, remove furniture which blocks their path and ensure that the use of the rooms makes sense – moving furniture is an easy fix. Arrange items with symmetry and order to create focal points and areas with a specific purpose which really enhance the space.
• Inject style and comfort… At this stage you can start adding items which create a sense of style and comfort such as a throw on the sofa, pretty and comfortable cushions and rugs. Use cut flowers, fruit, candles and well-chosen decorative pieces to enhance the space. These touches stop the property feeling clinical and create the “feeling” and aspirational lifestyle that people want to buy into.
Making these changes will alter the experience of house hunters and you will stand a better chance of selling. Nordica are so confident in the service that they are supporting owners who exclusively list their property with them by giving away one free styling package per month up to the value of €5,000.
To help owners further, they are running monthly home styling master classes in 2015 to give owners practical advice, inspiration and tips on how they can style their property for a quick sale. Places are limited, and prior reservation is essential.
Tel. (+34) 952 811 552
