Poor presentation costs Aussies up to 25 percent on auction day

A recent survey by Finder.com.au has revealed that some buyers indicated they would offer up to 25 percent less than the asking price for a property that had presented badly, further solidifying the importance of property presentation.

These results are really no surprise to us. Over the years we have seen unstyled or poorly presented properties have very little interest, only to sell over reserve following a spruce up by a professional stylist.

In a tough market place, property presentation can really make or break a sale.

Top tips for preparing your home or investment for sale include:

1. Improve your street appeal by tidying the gardens, repairing any fences or guttering, adding a fresh coat of paint and making sure to have a definitive pathway to the front door.

2. Declutter by removing excess furniture and personal items – too many items such as photo frames and figurines can make a property feel small and cramped and will distract buyers from focusing on the property itself.

3. Conceal day-to-day items such as laundry, piles of paperwork, dishes, keys and garbage or remove completely from the property for open for inspections.

4. Set up the property well in advance by opening all curtains and blinds, turning on heating or air conditioning, opening balcony doors and windows, and turning on lights and lamps – this will make the property feel light and airy.

5. Finishing touches create good first impressions – adding a bunch of flowers, bright scatter cushions and colourful throws along with burning a scented candle will make buyers feel welcome.

Justine Stedman is director and principal stylist of Vault Interiors and can be contacted here.