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TOP TIPS FOR SELLING YOUR SPANISH HOME

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Contributor / 2011-10-05 13:51:45

In this special feature that we serialised in The Leader newspaper, Shannon McCullough and Tina Coppen look at how simple tricks can increase the chances of selling your home, by making it more appealing to the buyer.

Home Staging

What is home staging? Principally Home staging is the act of preparing a property for sale, although the concept can be equally applied to the rental market. The goal of staging is to make a home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers or renters, thereby selling/renting a property more swiftly and for more money. Home staging is about illusions, it’s about creating moods. Staging makes your house look bigger, brighter, cleaner, warmer, more inviting and, best of all, it makes people want to buy or rent it.

Home Staging for sellers

Home staging properties is not necessarily a new idea, but indeed is a good practice which is often over-looked and one that can dramatically increase your ability to attract buyers in a competitive market.

Today’s home selling market can be tough, but by no means impossible. Buyers are looking for their perfect property and sellers need to look for creative ways to attract those buyers. That means paying attention to detail and giving you the best chance of standing out from the crowd.

Being new to this area I was recently searching the web for properties and was baffled and disappointed with the poor quality photos that some people (and indeed some estate agents...shame on you!) use while trying to market their properties.  Unsightly dishes on worktops, messy lounges, pet dishes and beds, kids toys scattered around, overgrown gardens, unmade beds, broken furniture and unbearable amounts of clutter.

There are two stages (pardon the pun) to home staging. The first is the photos taken to display in your chosen media and the second is the way you present your home to viewers when they arrive. Obviously the photo stage is crucial, get that wrong and the viewing stage will never happen.

When staging your property, it is more about taking away household items than adding new ones. A room stuffed full of furniture and clutter will look smaller. Potential buyers want to imagine their personal household in the space so keep furniture to a minimum in order to highlight the size of each room. Put extra pieces in storage if necessary - remember, you're selling the property space, not the furniture. Rooms should be also be furnished and styled in accordance to their purpose. A common example would be the person selling a 3 bedroom house who use the third bedroom as a dining room. Get rid of the dining table and put beds in - if you are advertising a 3 bed house then let the viewer see a 3 bed house. 

Minimizing the Clutter

Before taking photographs remove all your personal effects; stacks of paperwork, toiletries, kitchen utensils, electronic equipment, dog bowls, toys, and general clutter.  If you are still living in the property then everyday clutter is sometimes un-avoidable but pack away items that are not necessary for everyday life and before viewings hide evidence of pets, kids or smoking.

Depersonalize 

Remove personal items from view. While you love displaying your family’s photos and cherished mementos, they are a distraction for potential buyers. A buyer wants to be able to see themselves in the property.

Lighting

Lighting is a very important part of staging. Allow as much light as possible to enter the room. Put the shutters all the way up, allowing the maximum amount of sunlight to enter the room. Open up all curtains, blinds or other window coverings. Make sure windows are clean, this will create more light and will add an additional sparkle.

For nightime viewings all of your light fixtures should have bulbs that are in working order. Light bulbs of a lower wattage tend to create a comforting glow in the house. If there are not any over-head lights in a room, make sure there is a table or floor lamp.

Cleaning & Painting

Make sure walls and flooring are clean and maintained. Re-paint any bright coloured walls with neutral colours. A purple dining room or the pink walls in a teenage daughter’s bedroom could put potential buyer right off. 

Get Rid of Odours

Pet or cigarette odors can make a buyer walk right back out the door without even looking at the house. If you smoke in the house, it best that you stop smoking indoors well before putting the house on the market. It can take weeks to get the smell out. Be careful with incense and air fresheners, some people are allergic, and some people might wonder what other smells you are trying to hide!

Each room should be very tidy and smell clean. However, avoid harsh chemical smells, such as bleach. If you can afford it, bring in a professional cleaning crew, it could make a huge impact to potential buyers. . Empty all rubbish bins before the viewing and hide litter boxes outside if possible. In most cases it is best to have no signs of pets

Kerb Appeal

Don't neglect the exterior, the entrance and garden at any time. Many potential buyers will do a drive-by before making an appointment to view. A good first impression makes them want to see more. Also they will often wait here for the estate agent while waiting for him/her to open the door. Make sure the front door and light fixtures are clean and in good condition. Trim any overgrown bushes that may be blocking windows or walkways and remove any weeds. Spend a few euros on some potted flowering plants. They are charming when positioned by a walkway, doorway or mailbox.

Simple Tricks when staging your home

Living Room

Remember to remove the clutter. If the furniture is in bad shape, consider replacing it with used furniture. There are a few good shops here in Torrevieja that have great looking used furniture at reasonable prices. For tighter budgets, throws are an inexpensive way to hide damaged furniture and a few cheap but well-placed home accessories will add to the warmth of the room. Do not be afraid to spend a few euros on these accessories, you can take them with you when you sell and enjoy them in your new home. Here at Ready-2-Rent we have a “kit” that contains flowers, plain vases, plastic fruit, wine and some candles. The whole lot probably cost under 20€ from Domti. And we use them over and again to create attractive photos for our landlords.

The Kitchen

After you have cleared unnecessary clutter from the kitchen counters, leave out a few cookbooks, a bowl of fruit or a simple bouquet of flowers to add warmth. Silk or fresh are fine.  Minimize or remove electrical goods on counter tops. Keep it simple, fresh and, most importantly, sparkling clean. It is well known that a kitchen can make or break a sale. Cupboards and refrigerators should be clean and organized, most people can´t resist a peek inside.

Bedrooms

Clean linens, a nice duvet and perfectly placed pillows will give a relaxing feel to the room. The bedding and curtains should match or complement the colours in your bedroom. Remove excess clothing and clutter in wardrobes and organise them to show off the amount of storage that is available. Optimize the bedroom and keep it free of unnecessary items.

The Bathroom

Remove everything from the bathroom countertops, shower, bathtub and sink area.  A few clean rolled towels in a basket will add a nice touch and scented soaps will give spa feeling. Never leave wet towels or bathmats on display. A small vase with fresh flowers is always attractive. Always put the toilet seat lid down when photographing or showing your home.

Photography Tips:

Use as much natural light as possible. Pull up all of the shutters to let in the light. Do not photograph rooms with the rolling shutters down. It makes the room look small and dark.

Photograph the entire room, not just a photo of a sofa or piece of furniture.

Do not photograph piles of clutter or dirty dishes in the kitchen sink. We see this all too many times.

Stand far back into the room when photographing to try and show the entire room. To get more distance you might try standing outside and photograph through an open window.

Take loads of photos; it cost nothing on a digital camera. You can then select the best pictures for your advertising. Check your photos before publishing them, and edit them as necessary to improve the look. It’s fairly simple to chop the bad bits off or change the lighting and colours using the image management tools which came with your camera software or, if you have MS Office, using MS Picture Manager. If you can´t do this yourself we can do it for you for a small fee. Believe me it can make a huge difference!

Home Staging is a simple, cheap and yet extremely effective way to attract prospective buyers. If done properly, buyers will appreciate the extra care and attention to detail. Staging will help your property to stand out from the crowd, increase viewings and thus your chances of selling. Simple!

Ready-2-Rent offer a personalised consulation service from their office in Villamartin. Check out the Vamp-it-Up section on their website www.premiercostablancarentals.com.

For 1000's of Spanish properties at GREAT prices, please visit www.theleader.info/spanish-property/ or call +34 96 897 1860 for sound investment advice from leading property experts.

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