5 Styling Tips To Prep Your Home For Buyers

Everyone knows that a house only feels like a home when it becomes a reflection of who you are! From the colors of the walls, the furniture in every room, and finding the perfect places for your prized possessions, your home should be an extension of your personality and the things that make you happy. 

But when you’re getting in the market to sell your home, there are key elements you should incorporate to have a strong buyer’s appeal. The core beauty and style of your home will always be the main selling point, but adding a friendly welcome mat or cleaning up the yard may secure you a generous offer in the long run! To give you a glimpse into the world of styling and staging, we sat down with Stephanie Malcolm from Style Maui and asked her for her top five tips for styling your home for potential buyers. 

Stephanie founded Style Maui with Christine Akins and together they bring client’s visions to life with positive energy and a collaborative effort. They focus on redesigning sessions, home enhancement, and design coaching in order to give you the tools to help your home keep up with your ever-changing style and ideas. 

On top of being a trusted resource for redesigning and becoming a styling expert, a staging company like Style Maui will make your selling experience a breeze. 

Check out Stephanie's top five tips below! 

Photo: Dante Parducci

1. Curb Appeal Starts at The Driveway

Your buyer will be analyzing the property from the minute they arrive onsite. Everything should be as pristine as possible. Anything from power washing the driveway to trimming the landscaping to the fresh welcome mat at the front door. You’ll want to address any objections that a buyer may have BEFORE they enter the home.

2. Clean Slate: Declutter and Deep Clean

Less is more when it comes to presenting your home on market. Clear all countertops in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry room, and general surface areas. Organize and pack as you are moving through the process. Understand that you will be moving very soon so you might as well start packing now. Your home will feel larger once you have more space. You’ll definitely want the house to feel super clean so get a team of professionals to clean everything from baseboards to ceiling fans. It’s the details that matter. Remember to have the windows professionally cleaned as well so the buyer has a clear vision of the outside viewpoint in each room. 

Photo: Dante Parducci

3. Good Vibrations: Styling With Your Senses

Visual appeal is a must, things should look orderly and purposeful. Each home has its own “vibration” or “energy”. The way to elicit a positive vibration is through the thoughtful placement of items, clear and clean aromas, soft-toned music, and fresh florals. When you address the senses the buyer can “feel” at home with attention to every detail.  

Photo: Dante Parducci

4. Nothing Personal

One good thing to consider is not to make the home about the seller but about the buyer. The best way to do this is to edit (remove) anything personal. Take away family photos, anything religious, anything political, and anything with nudity. You want the buyer to feel at home in the space with no partial influence to interrupt their visualizing themselves living in the space.

Photo: Dante Parducci

5. Outside In

The outside living spaces are a huge draw to buyers moving to Maui. The lanai holds a lot of weight with the buyer considering their indoor-outdoor living space. Play up the space with a nice seating group, outdoor rug, potted plants, and accessories to tell a true lifestyle story.