Freshen Up Often, it’s the simple updates that have the greatest impact. Deep cleaning, minor repairs, fresh paint and refreshed carpets can transform how a home presents and how buyers perceive its age and condition. These details communicate care, and care builds confidence. Style with strategy Styling isn’t simply about adding furniture and a few cushions. It’s about presenting a home in a way that appeals to your target demographic and helps them emotionally connect with the space - ultimately positioning the property to achieve a premium result. Start with strategy Understand your buyer, and your home. The way you present a coastal family cottage will differ from how you style a contemporary penthouse apartment. You need to consider both the likely buyer demographic and the architectural style of the property itself. Your agent can provide valuable insight into who the market is, and your styling should align with that audience. Show the full potential of every room Buyers should never be guessing how a room is best utilised. If a bedroom comfortably fits a double bed, show the double bed. We often recommend styling rooms as bedrooms rather than studies, as buyers know a desk can fit into a bedroom, but may question whether a bed fits into a smaller room that has been set up as an office. 8 PRESENTING YOUR HOME FOR SALE By Amy Smith Founder, Huntley + Co Presentation is one of the most powerful tools you have when selling your home. It directly influences buyer perception, emotional connection and ultimately, the price you achieve. We recently sat down with Amy Smith, Founder and Creative Director of Huntley + Co, to share her advice on preparing a home for sale. With over 20 years’ experience in the property styling industry, Amy understands how powerful presentation can be in positioning a property correctly for market and driving stronger sale results. Amy recently sold her own home through Clarke & Humel. Despite being a professional stylist, she still needed to make a few changes before going to market. “Even in my own home, I had to make changes before going to market,” Amy says. “With two young children and a dog, it was styled in a way that worked for how we lived, but it wasn’t inspection-ready. I had to step back, look at it through a buyer’s lens and make a few tweaks to ensure it was presented at its very best.” Whether your home is vacant or occupied, the principles remain the same. Street appeal matters Before buyers even step inside, they’re forming an opinion. Tidy landscaping, a freshly cleaned façade, a painted front door, neat pathways and a welcoming entry can dramatically shift perception. The emotional tone of the sale is often set before the front door opens. Presentation begins at the street. Declutter and edit For occupied homes, this is the first and most important step. Buyers are not assessing how you live - they are assessing space, scale and potential. Excess furniture, crowded shelves and busy surfaces make rooms feel smaller and more chaotic than they are. Clear kitchen benches. Minimise décor. Edit wardrobes. Remove surplus furniture where possible. The goal is to create a space that allows buyers to see the room and how it can be used without being distracted by clutter. Depersonalise When selling, you want buyers imagining themselves living in the home. Highly personal items such as family photos, children’s artwork and personal items can unintentionally distract from the property itself. This doesn’t mean removing warmth. It means creating a layered environment that feels inviting and broadly appealing. The more emotionally accessible the space, the easier it is for buyers to connect. From the expert
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