Stabilize your home for sale – six tips

1. Consider potential buyer target groups
Home styling can be used to attract a specific target group of buyers. Consider whether your property and its location is best suited to young couples, families with children or older people, for example. Families often prefer more bathrooms and more storage space, while older buyers prefer accessibility.

2. Go through the unnecessary items
Go through all the rooms in the home and see if there is any unnecessary furniture or items that could be donated or stored for the sale process. A cluttered space can reduce the chances of a sale, as it can make the home look smaller than it actually is. Unnecessary items and furniture don't necessarily have to go, but you can also store them temporarily in storage.

It is important that the purpose of each room is clearly visible in the layout. A bedroom should look like a bedroom, not a storage room with clothes and other items lying on the floor. The same goes for the other rooms - they should look neat and functional.

You can start by hiding all your personal belongings out of sight. It's also a good idea to remove personal papers, documents, drawings and notepads, for example, from the fridge door. It's also a good idea to reduce the number of photos that are visible.

The first impression of your home is already made in the hallway, so keep only the essentials there. Also clean out wardrobes, storage areas and cupboards, as potential buyers may open them to check the storage space.

Bathroom styling is a good place to hide make-up, hairbrushes, razors, curlers, toothbrushes and other toiletries. Bathrobes and towels should also be hidden.

3. Do a thorough clean
Once you've gone through all the unnecessary stuff, a thorough clean is easier to do. All surfaces, including windows, should be cleaned. Dirty windows can leave a bad impression, even if the apartment is otherwise gorgeous. Cleaned windows let in more light, which makes the apartment look brighter. Also check your houseplants and remove any wilted specimens.

4. Create a harmonious atmosphere

Think about how you can make the rooms in your home look as spacious as possible - by organising and decluttering, you can make the space look much more spacious. Light and neutral colours such as white, light grey and beige appeal to many. You can also combine a few stronger colours, for example in towels and cushions, but avoid too many strong colours.

A good tip is to stop at the door of each room and see what catches your eye first - a camera can help. Take a photo and assess what needs styling. It's easier to spot the colour scheme, shadows, contrasts and distracting details in a room from a picture than from a visual inspection alone.

5. Pay attention to lighting
Open the curtains and let the sunlight fill your home. Also make sure there are enough light bulbs in the apartment so that no corner is left in the dark. Candles can help make your home feel cosier, and if you have a fireplace, a fire can add to the cosy atmosphere and warmth.

6. Finish before each screening
Even if you've already cleaned up and organised, there are a few things you should do before each screening. Keep the air fresh by vacuuming and ventilating the whole apartment. Clean the toilet seat, sink and bathroom surfaces. Also wipe down kitchen surfaces and take out the rubbish.