What realtors do when selling their own homes
bigger with furniture in and smaller when they’re empty.
The couple also put some of their older pieces in storage in favour of Roz’s newer items. “They were well-loved pieces that wouldn’t have appealed to our target audience.”
Foster also believes in giving the property a good clean, inside and out, bearing in mind that nosey open home visitors like to peek into wardrobes and cupboards.
Also think about cleaning the carpets if needed. And while you don’t need to go full Marie Kondo, a good decluttering and tidying of bookshelves can go a long way, as can lighting lightly scented candles.
“We also make sure we get the garden and outdoor spaces in the best shape they can be, because it’s a big selling point for any property.”
Susa Guhl agrees. Admittedly, the real estate agent with KC & Co Real Estate in Nelson has lived in her Nelson home for 16 years but is thinking of downsizing next year.
“Having worked in the industry for almost 30 years, I’ll be taking my own advice when it comes to listing my own home,” says Guhl, who moved to New Zealand from Germany in 1982.
“I always tell buyers that the first impression is so important, so when you walk up the drive you want people to experience that ‘I have to have this house’ feeling.”
That’s why Guhl starts with tidying up the outside, ensuring that the house is waterblasted, the gutters aren’t overflowing, the garden is tidy and, if possible, features some colour. “That’s easy to do in summer but if you’re selling in winter, try to make sure you have a few flowers growing in pots if possible.”
Bringing colour inside is another way to get buyers to fall in love with your house, says Guhl. “My kitchen, for example, is grey and black so having a bowl of lemons or some bright
flowers in a vase makes the kitchen pop a bit more.”
The usual rules of decluttering – having clear spaces, putting personal touches such as photos away and tidying cupboards and drawers – also apply.
And then have a good old clean from top to bottom. “That includes getting carpets cleaned, dusting spiderwebs and ensuring things like pets’ beds are put in the garage for open homes because not everyone likes pet smells.”
If you need to, pay for a home staging firm to elevate your house from the ‘it’s okay’ category to the ‘I have to have it’.
For Guhl, it’s all part of listening to, and trusting, your real estate agent. “We’ve been doing this a while so if we suggest that it might be time to put some of your furniture in storage and hire more modern pieces, it’s because we want to sell your home as
much as you do!”