1. Know your market
If you’re selling a city central loft-conversion, frills and flounces may not speak to your intended buyer. The same goes for a stainless steel kitchen in a chocolate box cottage. So consider the lifestyle and requirements of your prospective househunter. What kitchens and bathrooms did comparable quick-selling properties in your area have? Ask your local estate agent, or visit Thinkproperty.com and check out the competition. Invest in something similar but give it a superior edge with a top-quality worktop or Italian designer taps.
2. A little bit of what you fancy
Not everyone has the same taste, but you can still make a statement without ostracising potential buyers. Suzanne Deakins of Thinkproperty.com advises, “When selling a property, many of the old rules still apply. Keep it clean and free from clutter to give an indication of the space, but lift the décor by introducing a colour splash, complemented by matching furnishings.”
Wallpaper can transform a room from ordinary into sensational, and a single feature wall creates impact without commitment; if a potential buyer hates it, it’s no big deal for them to remove it. Or paint one wall and continue the theme with rugs, flowers and lighting to create a polished impression that can leave when you do. Deakins adds, “The buyer wants to imagine living in the property, but be able to put their personal stamp on it for minimum effort and expense.” Try Timorous Beasties, Osborne & Little and Farrow & Ball for the latest designs and paint colours. Unsure about current trends? Ask the store what’s selling well.
3. Copy the professionals
The right stylishly-idiosyncratic space can demand a premium. Luxe Interior provides a range of designer living spaces, for both developers and private homeowners, from a portfolio of designers that include Celia Birtwell, Linley and Orla Kiely. Managing Director David Rees comments, “I’m always wary of vendors putting too much of a personal stamp on property as it’s easy to get it wrong. We provide a standardised set of signature designs to which people can add an individual twist.” For those going it alone, Rees suggests adding enough to keep them interested but not so much you overwhelm, “We recommend adding up to six key feature pieces including artwork, flooring, or an interesting piece of furniture.”
4. Keep your distance
Some standards, like de-personalising your property prior to viewings, still hold true. Even if people are buying into a very definite living-idea, they’ll want to be able to project themselves onto the space. Photos of you and your family will only serve to remind them it’s someone else’s home. Remove photos, paperwork and clothing from view and replace with more generic, less personal items. It’s also a great chance to declutter. Sign up to Freecycle - it's an easy way to recycle by giving away your old stuff.
5. The complete deal
If you're among that rare breed of super stylish, why not offer your full décor as the ultimate lifestyle package? It’s not unusual to let a property fully-furnished, so why should selling your property be any different? The current trend for quirky, vintage styling takes time to achieve and may not be easy for your buyer to recreate. Hunt round salvage yards, flea markets and junk shops for one-offs that will ensure your property stands out from the crowd. When negotiating a package sale-price, mark it up slightly (after all, you put in the leg work!) and give buyers a ball-park figure.
