Aussie design guru shares her must-dos before selling a home

Homeowners often weigh up a renovation before selling their home, but they tend to face a common issue, says interior design expert and Selling Houses Australia host Wendy Moore. 

Ms Moore, who is in the middle of filming a new season of the hit TV series, told Realestate.com.au that homeowners often became “paralysed” on whether to give their home a makeover before sale. 

“With Selling Houses Australia, many of those parting with their home know the existing problems within it, and tend to become confused about whether it’s a general problem or one specific to them – and they feel quite paralysed what to do with it,” Ms Moore said. 

“That’s when I would suggest to get a real estate agent to give their advice or an interior designer, as they inspect lots of homes and can give their opinion with ease if you’re stuck.” 

A full makeover may be too much for some, but a small tweak could make all the difference. 

Homeowners could update a vanity, choose a new mirror in the bathroom, regrout any problem areas in the shower or basin areas, and add some tactile furnishings to add warmth to the space. 

Choosing which rooms to focus on was important too, with some rooms holding greater influence on buyers than others.  

Open plan living 

Open plan living areas were one of the most underestimated areas within the home, according to Ms Moore. 

“It is where prospective buyers spend most of the time when inspecting your home,” she said. 

“It’s also where buyers will decide whether your home feels right, and if it’s a place they want to live in, so from the moment they walk in your home, it’ll be here that they decide to buy it.” 

It’s also the easiest room to fix and get sale ready.

Open plan living zones are often filled with clutter and don’t have a cohesive story to tell when it comes to interior styling. 

It’s here you want to avoid too many items, keeping your space streamlined, stylish and making it an inviting space for those who visit it for the first time. 

Ms Moore said to create a sense of delineation – make sure those coming to inspect it see the line between the kitchen to a dining and living zone. 

Rugs and soft furnishing help create that sense of separation, while tones and colour palettes should be united to allude to a warm feeling. 

The trick is to introduce texture into your open plan spaces – it’s a subliminal message that works wonders. 

Texture acts as an invitation for us to touch – our brain makes that connection immediately when we walk into a room. It all happens in a split second, giving us permission to enter. 

Ms Moore said this can be achieved with a big rug that feels nice under the foot, a textural throw at the furthest point of the sofa, window furnishings that have texture to the fabric and cushions to add texture. 

“They make a room feel more welcoming and intimate, and from a styling point of view, they make it more comfortable,” she said. 

Kitchens and bathrooms 

These are often the most expensive zones to renovate and the reason most people want to move out of their existing homes to begin with. 

“They’re expensive because they require the most amount of licensed tradespeople and really add a lot of money to the renovation cost of your home,” Ms Moore said. 

“It’s also the most problematic areas to live with, and these zones turn a lot of prospective buyers off. 

“I think there’s a lot of pressure to get a bathroom or kitchen right, but if you’re marketing what you have, always go for a timeless appeal and while there is no such thing as that, at least give the sense that what you choose to style these areas with has some currency for a while.” 

While buyers focus on what they can see in and around a home, sellers might want to think about what buyers can smell too. 

Ms Moore said making buyers feel welcome in your home all began with the first scent they interacted with when opening the front door. 

“If it smells good, they’ll remember it,” she said. 

“You don’t want an overpowering scent though, go for something that makes it feel comforting and welcoming.” 

Baking a loaf of bread or muffins can work – or choose room sprays that stir nostalgia or holiday destinations. 

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