You’ve probably heard the saying, ‘You never get a second chance to make a great first impression’. When it comes to selling your home, this definitely rings true!

First impressions are everything in a competitive real estate market. With buyers usually deciding within the first few seconds how they feel about a home, it’s safe to say the first impression of your property can have a direct impact on the kind of offer a buyer chooses to put forward.

Here at Tailored Space Interiors, we are passionate about helping homeowners make the best first impression possible to improve the sale price of their property.

So with this being said, what are buyers actually looking for when they initially check out your home? Keep reading for some of our top tips to help you make a great first impression and ultimately boost the value and sale price of your home.

Make your real estate listing stand out

With most buyers now looking at real estate directories to find their potential home, it’s absolutely crucial that your property presents well online.

Professional real estate photos are an absolute must when it comes to making a great first impression online. If the images showcasing your property online are dull and uninviting with poor lighting and bad styling, it’s unlikely a potential buyer will be tempted to find out more.

Great photos will make your listing stand out and catch the eye of potential buyers, while also establishing the value of your home. You can learn more about our top tips for preparing your home for real estate photos on the blog.

Make sure your real estate listing also clearly conveys the best features of your home through the written content itself. Your real estate listing should be targeted to the right kind of buyers, so make sure it showcases the key selling points of your home. For a family home, you can highlight the surrounding amenities like schools and parks. For a city apartment, you might want to reference public transport or nearby shops and cafes. Or for an entertainers home, make the outdoor areas a feature.

Consider your facade

When potential buyers visit your property for open homes or inspections, they’ll start making a judgement call from the moment they pull up outside.

With this in mind, it’s really important to consider the front facade and “kerb appeal” of your home, to ensure it makes a great first impression from the outside in.

Look at your home facade from the street, and take note of any areas that you might be able to improve in order to make it more appealing. This might mean a fresh coat of paint on your fence, making sure your garden is pruned and weeded, staining your front deck and ensuring your outdoor lighting is in working order. Yes, you may need to get your hands dirty, but it will be so worthwhile with the value it adds to your home.

Emphasise the best features of your home

When potential clients walk through your home for the first time, the very best features of the property should be clearly showcased. One of the best ways to make a great first impression with your home interiors is through thoughtful and strategic property styling.

Remember, the aim is for potential clients to enter your home and think “WOW”. This can be achieved through modern furniture and decor, functional floor layouts, and beautiful home styling that appeals to the right buyers.

It can be difficult to make a great first impression if your home is empty, or fitted out with old, dated furnishings. Instead, ensure your home feels clean, airy, warm and inviting, to help potential buyers form a strong emotional connection. People want to be able to visualise themselves living in the space, so make that easy for them!

Pay attention to the smaller details

Often it’s the smaller details that really help to enhance the overall presentation of your home. How can you improve the experience for potential buyers?

Fragrance can be one way to enhance the impression of your home, so consider lighting some candles and including fresh flowers or baked goods on open days and inspections.

You’ll also want to pay attention to the finer details like making sure all of your light bulbs are working, removing any traces of dust from areas like window sills and ceiling fans, and actioning any “quick fixes” like chipped paint. Remember, buyers are usually more interested in a property they can move into immediately, without the need for any further fixes or repairs.

If you’re currently looking to sell your home, we’d love to help you make the very best first impression. With flexible furniture hire packages and property styling solutions, you can learn more about our home staging services online, or get in touch with our team for a no-obligation quote.