STAGING
It’s all about the show (house)
When showing your house to prospective buyers, make sure
all is in tip top condition
A
sk yourself; would you be more inclined
to buy a brand new, sparkling car or a
dirty second hand version with stains
on the seats? Most people would choose the first
option, as far as their pockets allowed. It’s the same
situation when it comes to a home. Neglecting to
prepare properly for a show house can severely
hamper a home owner’s chances of selling it.
It’s worth putting your best foot forward
Home owners can be forgiven for seeing a Show
House as a big inconvenience; generally you have
to vacate the property between 14:00 and 17:00
on a Sunday afternoon so that strangers can walk
through your home. While that is true there is plenty
of evidence to suggest that opening your home for a
Show Day is worth it.
“In my experience most buyers will only make the
decision to purchase once they’ve physically walked
around the property, envisioning themselves in
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Residential Handbook 2013
it. Of course it’s much easier to do so when in a
pleasant environment.
Finish the renovations first
A building site is not very attractive and many
prospective buyers might struggle to imagine
the finished product, as opposed to what they’re
currently seeing. They could also worry that the work
will be completed in time. Try to have all renovations
completed before putting a house on the market.
Camouflage the cat
If you have pets, especially cats the smart move
would be to remove as much of their hair from the
furniture as possible; as so many people are allergic
to the animals. People tend to be less allergic to dogs
but, their smells can still be off putting so vacuum,
wash the floors and light a scented candle or two.
It’s really advisable that people with large and/
or aggressive dogs make sure that they’re either
removed from the property or properly secured
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