How do I prepare my house for sale?

It’s essential to put your best foot forward when selling your property. While you cannot change the location or size, styling and decor are in your control and can have a huge impact on a first impression.

Small changes, such as updated, on-trend styling, lack of clutter and quality pieces can make a house feel like a home for potential buyers. To help you add style and value to your listing, check out the latest design trends and tips for styling for a home inspection this year.

Styling 101

It's important to get the basics sorted before you attempt any on-trend styling. Here are some areas of focus to get your styling started.

• Work with what you already have: A tired piece of furniture can be transformed by being moved to a new spot, reupholstering or adding a coat of paint, or adding an accessory for texture or colour.
• Thoughtful decor: Small changes make big statements. Add chic coffee table books to the living room, put flowers on a side table, throw a blanket over the sofa and team it with cushions. Give a room personality with vases, plants, collectibles, sculptures, art, candles or decorative bowls. Remember you don’t need to go overboard when preparing your house for sale - less is more.
• Add layers: Layering adds both comfort and dimension to a room. Think cushions, throws, blankets, rugs, and tablecloths.
• Follow the seasons: The time of year can impact how you style your home for sale. For example - layer cushions, throws and rugs in winter; add a vase of fresh flowers to a tabletop in spring; decorate the kitchen table with crisp linen in summer, and create a cosy atmosphere with autumnal accessories like plants.
• Consider the room’s temperature: Cooler colours are more relaxing, while warmer colours excite. Think about the functionality of a space and how potential buyers will use it. For example, a clean, white kitchen encourages cooking and relaxing with the family, and a children's room with pops of colour will excite the little ones.
• Put away utilities: If you have an open-plan kitchen and living area, hide away as many utilities as possible. Make sure all the cleaning products are out of sight in the laundry and kitchen. Clutter can dramatically affect the feel of a space.
• Add greenery: House plants not only add freshness and colour, but they also produce oxygen to help reduce stress. Adding a house plant or flowers to a space can subconsciously put people at ease and create a feeling of calm. Start with one or two plants on a side table or create a focal point with a large pot plant in a corner.
• Let in light: Light-filled rooms and spaces are appealing to buyers. Maximise natural light by opening curtains and blinds and swapping heavy drapes for lighter fabrics such as sheers.
• Fix the small things: Yes, they matter! Think move-in ready. Buff away scuff marks, tighten loose handles, replace broken fixtures, mow the lawns and weed the garden. The less there is on a buyer's to-do list, the better.

On-trend styling

Here are some top design trends in homes this year, many of which can be easily incorporated into your home styling.

• Back to nature: While many Australians have opted for a sea or tree change in recent years, others are bringing the outside in with landscape-inspired interiors. Think ocean blues, bush greens, sunset oranges, rich wood and natural stones. A colour palette inspired by nature can be balancing and energising and allows potential buyers to picture themselves in the space.
• Two-tone paint: A two-tone paint palette is very ‘of the moment’. The idea is to take inspiration from decorative items, such as art or upholstery, and find two shades that work together or contrast. Remember, paint should be a backdrop, not the main event and dark shades should be used below the eye line so they don’t shrink a space.
• Colour of the Year: When Pantone announced the 1023 ‘Peach Fuzz’ as its Colour of the Year 2024, peach and sweet spring shades became a desirable choice in decor, adding soft pops of colour to a space. Pops of peach in artwork, tableware and bedding against white makes for a subtle yet stylish choice.
• Sustainable: This one is a no-brainer; it’s cool to care. Sustainable furniture, fabrics and finishings not only look great, but they also create a memorable talking point amongst buyers during inspections. Think biodegradable plant-based leather alternatives; linen, hemp and eco-focused fabrics; coconut hair, and wool and feathers used as an alternative to foam. The options are endless.
• Marry modern with functionality: Modern and sleek style is very much in. Marrying clean interiors with contemporary furniture, finishes, materials and fabrics can result in elegant, enduring designs that are both comfortable and timeless. Get started by decluttering, adding a coat of fresh paint to the walls, or updating cupboard and drawer handles.
• The year of the rug: Rugs are big in 2024, with endless colourways and patterns available to suit your home. A statement rug can be a simple and affordable way to lift a space and add warmth and comfort underfoot, especially in the cooler months. Once reserved for the living room, rugs are now used under dining tables, in hallways and in the bedroom.
• Curves and rounded edges: Sharp angles are out – in architecture, furnishing and fabric designs. Rounded edges and curvaceous design create a sense of flowing space and freedom. Softening lines in interiors can create a welcoming space.

Your pre-inspection checklist

The styling is the fun part, but the tedious tidying tasks are not to be overlooked. To help, this handy checklist covers pre-inspection cleaning and easy ways to elevate your space, step by step. 

• Declutter and depersonalise, remove photographs and valuables. Potential buyers need to imagine themselves in the home. 

• Sweep the entrance and outside areas, weed the garden, mow the lawn and shake out doormats. 

• Water all plants inside and out. 

• Change the water in all vases of flowers. 

• Empty all bins. 

• Turn on all lights and lamps. 

• Open curtains and blinds to let in the most light. 

• Scatter cushions on couches and cover any worn or stained patches with throws. 

• Style beds with textured throws, cushions and fresh linen. 

• Wipe down all showers, baths, bench tops, fridge, microwave, oven and sinks. 

• Dust side tables, TV units and shelves. 

• Flush all toilets and put the seats down. 

• Put fresh towels in the bathrooms. 

• Play soft, ambient music throughout the house. 

• Let in some air and spritz with a room spray to create a nice scent. 

• If it’s cool, turn on the heater or light the fireplace. 

• If it’s warm, switch on the air conditioning. 

• Round up any pets and leave them with a friend or take them to the park during. inspections. Pack their toys, mats and bowls away. 
• Throw any last-minute mess into a suitcase and store it away. 

While these tasks may seem daunting, you can space out your home prep to make the process manageable. One day for a deep clean, one day to pack some items away, another to replace the old cushions and upgrade the bedding. The best part is, your new, home-inspection ready decor can come with you once you’ve sold – it’s a win win! 

For advice and assistance with selling your property and preparing it for sale, please speak to your local Hockingstuart agent. 

Read more in our blog on how to prepare for a property appraisal.