If you were to ask most households where they congregate when they have guests, it is more than likely that the kitchen would be the room of choice. Often named “The heart of the home”, it is one of the most important rooms when selling your property in Canterbury. Staging a kitchen is an art: you want to create a buyer’s dream home before your viewings start. This is why we, at Page & Co have put together four dishy tips to make your kitchen deliciously irresistible to buyers.
Eliminate the seasoning
When you’re cooking, you always want to add some seasoning to make your dish taste even better, but when buyers are viewing your kitchen you certainly want to stick to the recipe that “less is more”. Kitchens are homes to so many things, and it is common to place items and appliances on your worktops. One of the main things we always recommend to our clients is to clear your work surfaces and place any small appliances away in cupboards. Clutter is never attractive to potential buyers.
It isn’t just your work surfaces that you need to make sure are looking pristine don’t forget to sort out your cupboards and remove fridge magnets, children’s drawings, letters etc. from your fridge. These are your memories and can make it difficult for buyers to imagine themselves living there, it can also make your kitchen look cluttered and small.
When it comes to staging your kitchen, a good idea would be to place a couple of vignettes or striking bottles to make the room feel lived in and more homely. Use natural accessories that will help a buyer to connect with your room – a loaf of fresh bread on a wooden board with a pot of butter – it can often be the little things that make such a difference when it comes to staging.
A splash of colour
There is something extremely attractive to seeing a range of colours on your plate, and the same can be said about staging your kitchen. You don’t need a rainbow to add some personality but a splash of colour will bring some much needed style and warmth. A vase of flowers will be the perfect addition to your worktop or kitchen table, but you can also add some more pops of colour through glazed ceramic pots. Another addition could be to place a bowl of one type of fruit, such as oranges or apples, in a key spot, but make sure you don’t start to clutter what you have already cleared!
Spice up your units
Your kitchen is prone to wear and tear due to the amount of use it gets with family life, and there is no doubt buyers’ eyes will be giving your kitchen units a critical eye to make sure they are worthy. We certainly aren’t saying splash out on a new kitchen but look at what you can do to the doors to give them a new lease of life; respraying and/or new handles can completely transform it to that luxurious room that will be hard to resist.
Zest it up
Lighting is a big part of your home, and your kitchen is no exception, therefore if your fixtures are looking dated, it is time to zest it up a bit. Your lighting needs to work with your space – a chandelier over a dining area may be overpowering, whereas some modern pendant lights provide a more tasteful look.
Aromas
Never underestimate the role that smells play when selling your home, especially when it comes to your kitchen. Aromatic dishes can excite or repulse and the same can be said for the scents that can be found in your kitchen, so it is essential you take this into account. Clean every area, including your appliances; no one wants to open a dishwasher to be met with that distinctive smell. Once spotless, you can add those scents that will make buyers feel that they want to make your kitchen their own. A pot of fresh coffee anyone?
No need for a takeaway
Get your kitchen staging right and buyers will want to stay, make sure it truly feels like the heart of your home.