Outdoor Staging : Complete Your Home's Look
When trying to sell your property, it’s important to remember that all aspects of your home are going to be a selling point and as the housing market continues to be competitive, you’ll need each part of your home to sell itself to potential buyers.
In this regard, outdoor spaces are often overlooked and seen as a burden of sorts, not something that should be given attention and kept mostly as they are. Gardening and landscaping is hard work and the tried and tested ‘a project for the future’ buzzwords of estate agents are used to mask a dull and worn out backyard.
The truth is that outdoor living is becoming more and more important to first time buyers. They want the freedom and the societal factors that a well-maintained and spacious garden provides so make effective use of your space. Property staging is all about making your potential buyer imagine themselves in your home so give them the most opportunity to, with something that matters to them. This article contains a few things to make sure you are doing when staging your outdoor spaces to maximise their value.
Clean and maintain them.
While you may have been doing this anyway when living in your home, it always pays to give your outdoor space a thorough clean and refresh. Making sure pathways are clear, the patio is painted and the sidewall is free of any cracks. Just make sure all the surfaces are clean and any furnishings, such as outdoor lighting, are either maintained or replaced with new ones. If you have a flower bed or big lawn, it’s worth removing any dead plants and doing a bit of weeding. It’s a bit of work but it will have an impact.
Keeping your space open.
As mentioned above, you want your buyer to imagine themselves in this space. To this end, keep your garden open and keep the sight lines wide. You don’t want lots of barriers or furniture getting in the way if possible. In a similar vein, you’ll want to keep the entrance open if you have a patio or steps down into your garden.
Removing these obstacles makes your garden feel more free while also removing that sense that you are hiding anything. Keeping the entrance clear also keeps the flow of a visit natural while reducing any pauses as you make it outdoors. If you can keep your house front and centre always, you should as you need to be able to keep a buyer’s attention and any inconvenience will affect how they feel about a property.
Furnish and style.
While you’ll want to keep things open, you’ll still need something for your buyer to look at to showcase the potential of the space. Standard seating and cushions, a table and potted plants are all good ideas. You’ll want something that isn’t too bold or confrontational but just hints at the possibility of the area. Property stagers will have a good idea of the relevant styles that work best for your target audience and how to effectively position them.
If you happen to have a flower bed, investing in nice smelling, pretty flowers is worthwhile. It may take a green finger and a bit of effort but the benefits outweigh the negatives here with flowers providing a lovely welcoming environment for potential buyers and giving a house a homely feeling without feeling lived in. For this reason, an effective flower bed is really important for the front lawn if you have one to set the right mood and make an amazing first impression.
Property staging is all about feeling and presenting the best version of your home to potential buyers for them to fall in love with. You want to remove any potential bad feelings or issues the buyer could have and showcase your home at its fullest potential. This means managing your outdoor spaces and making some smart adjustments to the furniture and flowers you have.
