How to 'dress' your home for sale or rent

When deciding to sell your house or flat, the importance of how you present it to visitors is often underestimated. It is true that it is up to us agencies to describe it, make it appealing and prepare the documents. But a fundamental part can only be done by the owners.

If we have to go to a job interview, for example, we take care of our clothes and accessories, we pay attention to how we express ourselves, we try to understand what our interviewer wants and we try to give it to them. When it comes to presenting a house, it works in much the same way.

First of all, we need to tidy up and clean thoroughly because those who come to visit will not stop at appearances but will look carefully at all the rooms. A clean and tidy space will certainly encourage people to come in and, above all, to stay.

Using a room fragrance makes the house more welcoming. A pleasant, but not overpowering, aroma puts visitors in a good mood, relaxes them and puts them at ease. It also emphasises the care you take of your home.

When a person is considering buying a home, they will also visit it with their imagination. They will look at it thinking about how it could become and what it would be like with their own belongings. It can therefore be very helpful to find neutral, de-personalised rooms to look at and imagine with your own style. If the person evaluating it does not share our taste, the initial impression will not help the rest of the visit. It is therefore advisable to temporarily hide anything that distinguishes and reveals who lives there (photos, magnets, unusual paintings, ornaments, soft toys, etc.).
The context must appear as neutral as possible.

A room full of things, whether objects or furniture, fills not only space but also the imagination. A room that is too full will appear smaller, more chaotic and less tidy. A piece of furniture, even a small one, placed in an inappropriate position can make the house appear less interesting, less rationalised or even suggest that it is hiding some defect.

When visitors come to view the property, it is good practice for the owner to leave the house to allow the estate agent to freely present the property, highlighting its positive aspects. The absence of the owners will allow visitors to look at every single detail, to browse and to linger. It will allow them to freely ask any questions or express any concerns, which the agent can address immediately. In fact, it often happens that, in front of the owners, visitors avoid making judgements or asking questions that could be embarrassing or create discomfort, but which, if left unanswered, could reduce the likelihood of a purchase.

These tips are even more important if your property is going to be rented out and perhaps furnished. Objects that are too personal, excess furniture, and overly bold style choices will make it difficult for visitors to use their imagination. Keep in mind that the person who moves in will certainly have at least their personal belongings, if not some furniture or plants that they cannot part with and will want to incorporate into their new living space in the best possible way.

These tips are also useful in the preparatory phase because they allow us to take attractive, striking photos that spark curiosity and imagination, which are the best ingredients for a “good” visit.

That said, we know that following all these tips is not always easy, but a little effort in this direction can really change a visitor's approach from curious to interested.

But don't worry: part of our job and expertise is also to provide advice or recommend professionals who can help you arrange the rooms. Your goal is also ours: to achieve the sale or rental as quickly as possible and with maximum satisfaction.