Tricks to help you sell

REMEMBER the days when some freshly brewed coffee and the aroma of bread baking in the oven could help sellers snare an extra few thousand dollars from property buyers?

Well, those days are gone. There are still ways to potentially boost a property’s sale price, but the tricks of the trade are changing. Research has found that home staging can add up to 5 per cent to the purchase price, and it often costs you almost nothing. Here are some of the experts’ ideas: 1. SPACE AGE: Half-empty the wardrobes to create an illusion of space, and clear about one quarter of the clutter in each room.

Remove small appliances from benchtops and make sure things look pretty inside kitchen cupboards and the fridge – people will open them. Stand outside each bedroom’s door and look inside . Is the first impression from the doorway a nice one?

Experts say it ’s best to be looking at the foot of a bed and pillows rather than a horizontal view of the bed, which makes a room appear smaller. 2. NOSE FOR A SALE: Scented candles have replaced bread and coffee as the smells of success. Stick to floral or citrus scents and keep them close to the entrance to create a calming, relaxed feel. You may love cooking but the smells left lingering might put off some buyers. Pet and smoking odours can also deter them, so give your home the sniff test. 3. BE BLAND: Remove family photos and other personal memorabilia and store them somewhere. Home stagers also recommend removing area rugs because they can make a space seem more crowded. Generally it’s best to keep colours neutral, but one area where a splash of colour can help is with a bowl of fruit.

Spending a few thousand dollars on a professional home stager may not appeal to many sellers, but a few other small costs can deliver a big financial return. Buy a new thick doormat, which you can take with you when you move out. A fresh coat of paint and some elbow grease might cost less than $1000 but bring in bigger bucks.

You can freshen up the garden with a little landscaping TLC.