Blooming gorgeous

Many of us don't have the time to be arranging and purchasing flowers prior to our open homes and open for inspections.

• If the budget allows, think about contacting your local florist to deliver a fresh bunch of flowers to your home.

          Alternatively  grab a bunch from the supermarket whilst you are doing your
          grocery's

• Try and buy flowers that match or compliment your decor. Instant WOW

•  I really love fresh flowers in the home. Lily's smell so lovely and remind me of the birth of my Lili.

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I love pretty things, they really can make a home

I love pretty things, they really can make a home. Something as simple as a vase of fresh flowers or a nice fragrant candle burning. These things really make a home feel homely! Try and have the candles burning and some fresh flowers for your open homes.

Improving the outdoor area is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to add value to your property.

 Improving the outdoor area is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to add value to your property.
You'll be amazed at how little time it can take to transform your outdoor areas into a space that buyers can imagine entertaining in or watching the kids play outdoors.
 Create a look that is enticing and peaceful.
Potted plants are inexpensive and give you that instant WOW

             

Bathroom tubs have really come along way

Bathroom tubs have really come along way. It never ceases to amaze me just how much impact a free standing bath tub makes to a bathroom.I'ts a real "WOW". Be inspired to sink into a tub and soak your cares away!

Statement pieces

 Every space you see that makes you long to live there usually has one thing in common, the statement piece. Whether sleek and chic or wild and wacky these pieces are often the key element to the room’s success. Here are samples of statement pieces that you could add (or copy) to add some extra personality and wow factor to your own home. 

Winter outdoor areas

If you're anything like me the backyard pergola gets neglected in the winter time. Buyers love the outdoor entertaining areas, so its important that they can imagine themselves entertaining under that pergola, cooking the BBQ and having fun with family and friends.

• Generally the pavers get a build up of moss and dirt. Get the hose and scrubbing brush out and give them a good clean with a cleaning solution
• Do the same with the outdoor furniture and the BBQ
• Discard the dead hanging plants and dreary potted ones and replace with some vibrant new colourful plants or flowers.
• For some 'WOW' pot some colourful flowers and put them on the table
•  Add some colourful cushions to the existing seating
• Now you're ready to bring your buyers through  

                                                 Click here for some great ideas

Mould and mildew tend to creep into almost every home by the end of a long cold winter

Mould and mildew tend to creep into almost every home by the end of a long cold winter. The kitchen is no exception and generally it's the heart of the family. See below some spring cleaning suggestions

• Wash all the walls over with some soapy scented water
• Scrub all the kitchen cupboards with a no abrasive product
• Give the floors and any rugs a good vacuum and wash
• Time to clean out the dreaded pantry, discard all of the out dated food
• Re organise the pantry, I love organised cupboards
• Give the dishwasher a clean out
• Wipe out the interiors of the kitchen cupboards
• Clean the windows and window coverings
• Now for the most hated task of all YES the oven. You don't want your buyers seeing the last 3 months worth of baked dinners now do you
• De clutter the benches and give them a good scrub
• If you are feeling really energetic scrub all of your appliances and most used items
• Once you have achieved all of the above, treat yourself  to a bottle of champagne and a bunch of flowers to brighten up the kitchen
• Owh and don't forget to wash the light fittings

When selling your property, one of trickiest things to ask a client is to remove their "treasures"

When selling your property, one of trickiest things to ask a  client is to remove their "treasures" or shall i say in some cases clutter and junk.

When one of my clients is preparing their home for the the professional photographer, i always urge them to remove the clutter. Even if it is only for the photography.

I  like to have a walk through the property with the client prior to the photography and talk with my clients about what needs to be done to prepare the home for the photographs. I like to leave them with a check list.

There is nothing worse than arriving with the photographer to find dirty tea towels hanging on the stove and the kitchen table covered in junk!

You would be surprised at how many times that has happened!

 We have to de clutter and present the property to it's best ability.

                                 

Divine Bedrooms

How Divine are these beds.. Check out my Pinterest board labeled Bedrooms for some more gorgeous ideas!

Swap old lamps for some new trendy new ones

Swap old lamps for some new trendy new ones. Or why not treat yourself to some new shades. They are inexpensive and can bring a whole new look to your room.

                                                         

A couple of quick tips to make your kitchen stand out for the photographer :

A couple of quick tips to make your kitchen stand out for the photographer :

• Remove all the clutter from the bench tops and kitchen table
• Make sure the sink is clutter free. That means no dishcloths or hand wash to be seen
• Get rid of the tea towel hanging on the oven door
• Remove all the magnets and bills from the fridge
• Remove all the appliances from the bench tops
• Add some colour to the room, try putting some green apples in a bowl or add some flowers to the bench top
• Freshen up walls and cupboards 
• Wash and shine the oven, stove and kitchen cupboards
• Open the curtains or blinds and make sure window coverings and windows are clean
• Let the light in

                                     

Love this

Great light - So in at the moment

                                                  

Imagine that you are a buyer and you are time poor

Imagine that you are a buyer and you are  time poor and do not have the time to physically inspect homes for sale.These days most buyers start their search online. Most buyers would of viewed your property on the Internet before they have even decided to inspect your property.

 In my opinion its paramount that you have fantastic professional photographs taken of your property . I always encourage my vendors to have professional photography done.

You don't want potential buyers deciding that your property is not for them because they have judged your home from the poor photographs on the Internet or in the real estates window display. Great pictures equal more inspections.

Remember a sale can be lost by one click of a mouse. If your property does not stand out and attract buyers to inspect your home, well my friend unfortunately you have lost a sale.

                               great chandelier

                     Lighting makes a difference

                         
                           Sure to impress

The property needs to be as neutral as possible

The property needs to be as neutral as possible when the potential buyers first see it. Property styling is all about setting up the property for sale so the buyers can visualise themselves in the space and imagine moving into your home. By making your property as neutral as possible they can more easily see themselves in the backyard having a BBQ for their family and friends. And by adding a few nice pillows to your outdoor setting you can create an invitation to let the buyers imaginations run wild.

For some instant colour and fragrance

For some instant colour and fragrance place some fresh herbs by the backdoor or on the window sill in the kitchen. Instant WOW not to mention the fresh aroma and the fresh ingredients at your finger tips. If you do not have any herbs in the garden use anything green out of the garden. It is  amazing at what a jug of greenery can do to liven up a dull bench.

                                                                Image  the aroma

I dare you to do something different this month?

 I am going to share with you items and ideas that can enhance your property when you list it for sale.
Changing interiors brings new energy into your property and can help maximise the property value.
The aim of property styling is to sell your property quickly, and for the most amount of money.
 Let's together, make your home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers possible.
I say let's reduce your days on market and style your home to sell. Start at your front door and walk around your property as if you were a buyer. Mmm now what do see that you do not like? Remove it, the clutter, the magnets, the pictures, the piles of junk,  and clean and clean some more!

For more tips talk a wander through my blog

Create a mood

Create a mood with lighting. By leaving your mood-lights on before the open house you create a nice ambiance for the property, you obviously don't want every light in your house turned on but  a few here and there to set the tone. And if you have a fireplace get it burning it creates a very comfy mood. Just make sure you are close by so when the real estate agent leaves you can get home quickly... we don't want any fire mishaps.

Images: Print screens from here.

Three tips for the perfect open home

When your real estate agent holds an open for inspection, it’s your opportunity to let your home shine. Of course the marketing materials, photographs and advertisement copy all do their job, but once someone’s on your property, you want them to fall in love with what they see. Here are our top three tips for making sure your open for inspection is the best it can be.

1. HIGHLIGHT THE BEST BITS

Every home has that special something that makes it unique. If you’re highlighting a view, make sure the curtains are open and that the furniture is positioned in such a way as to draw the eye outwards.

For making note of local attractions, you could leave brochures with the estate agent to show prospective purchasers, or compile a menu book filled with the choices on offer from local restaurants – it’s the little things that count!

2. PLAY TO THE CONDITIONS

Is it winter outside? Yes. So, it wouldn’t be the best idea to leave all the windows open before you leave the house. Of course, in summer, that would be the ideal move. People want to feel comfortable when they walk into what could be their ‘forever home’, so try and emphasise how warm and welcoming your house or apartment is in the winter selling period.

Putting out thick rugs in the lounge and fluffy towels in the bathroom will help those rooms appear to be warmer. Heating helps too! Air conditioners and under-floor heating should be left on to welcome guests, but be careful if you use a gas or space heater at home – don’t leave these unattended!

3. CHOOSE THE RIGHT REAL ESTATE AGENT

When you interview agents prior to listing your property, make sure to ask them about how they would present your home to buyers. Some realtors are stronger than others when it comes to presentation ideas, so make sure to find out their thoughts.

Ask for examples of marketing materials or internal photographs from previous open for inspections they’ve held – this will give you a very realistic picture of what your agent can do for you and your home.

Art creates focal points

Does the perfect home exist? Perhaps, but then it probably wouldn’t be up for sale! “Using art in a home that has a few unexciting elements can help bring out the best in a space, and draw attention away from its grey areas by turning them into vignettes,” Bluethumb’s interior specialist Alex suggests. Using several pieces in a cluster to create a gallery wall is another option bringing the buyer to focus on a particular feature while diverting them away from others. ​Online curations​ centring on themes or styles can boost inspiration when installing art at home in preparation for a sale. Whether one piece is displayed or several, the important thing is that the art selected flatters the room while downplaying the undesirables.


Tropical prints are big this Summer! This piece by Donna Maloney energises a room by mixing bold leafy greens with house plants.

Suitable arrangements
Create a styled vignette on an otherwise empty sideboard or coffee table by grouping ceramics, glassware, geometric shapes or ornaments in threes or fives. Be sure each grouping of objects has similar or complementary colours and different heights and shapes for the most aesthetically pleasing result.

Photo by Park and Oak Design – Look for contemporary living room inspiration

Make an entrance
The first thing a person sees when they visit your home is the front door. Make a bold statement by attaching a wonderful door knocker to your front entrance. From lion’s heads and mermaids to gothic shapes and shackles, there are myriad options to choose from.

Photo by CM Glover – Look for entryway pictures

Play with scale

Play with scale
Play with scale in your home by contrasting low-line furniture with tall indoor plants or lamps, as seen in both of these rooms, or using a rug to make a small space feel larger. Really looking at the scale of your furniture (is it all the same height? Are there any standout pieces?) is a great way to add drama or interest to a room. Another way of doing this is using a statement artwork to draw the eye to the centre of a room. Try Artfinder for affordable original artworks that can be shipped direct to your door.