Warm whites, minimal decor and clean spaces are the trend of the minute when it comes to home staging.

With Wanaka’s property boom in full force, there are lots of homes for sale at any given time. Whether you’re moving away or have bought something new elsewhere, it’s worth making sure your home is in top shape for potential buyers.

Home staging is the act of preparing a private residence for sale. The goal of staging is to make a home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers, which can help you sell your home more quickly and for a higher price.

The beauty of home staging is it does not have to cost a lot of money to achieve a jaw-dropping transformation. Whether you choose to employ a professional or go DIY, there are a few key steps to home staging.

Declutter

Decluttering is Home Staging 101. Garage full of junk? Move it. Living room overflowing with odds and ends? Get rid of it. Bedrooms piled high with your stuff? It’s gotta go. Whether you choose to put your things in storage or take the opportunity to throw out a bunch of stuff, removing clutter is key.

Once you remove the non-essentials from your home, it will feel bigger and cleaner and give you a chance to see what needs to be done next. Research shows prospective buyers don’t like identifying things in homes they visit - they don’t want to see storage boxes, laundry baskets and family photos. "People need to see a home with a blank canvas so they can imagine them putting their own things in it,” First National’s Lynette Winsloe said.

Do your furnishings add or detract from your home?

Considering if your furnishings are up to scratch is the next step in homestaging. If you’re planning to use a professional home stager, this is the time to consulting with them for design direction. If you’re not, you don’t necessarily need to rush out and re-furnish the whole home, as some small changes can make a big difference.

Try moving your furniture around and see if you can come up with a better arrangement. Using dated, matching furniture? Dated can easily become eclectic with editing and rearranging. If you’re not using a professional, now’s the time to ask your most honest friends for their opinions on your home decor. If they notice flaws, potential buyers will too.

Work from the outside in

You want to grab potential buyers right from the curb. Make the outside of your home appealing and inviting. Mow the lawns, add potted plants to your entryway, clean the windows and weed the front garden. Make sure they want to come inside! "Sometimes we have great houses for sale but we can’t get buyers through the front door. It’s all those little things creating that first impression which is so important,” Lynette said.

Make repairs

While it’s probably the last thing you want to do on your exit, it’s well worth making necessary repairs on your home before you sell. If you notice leaky taps, peeling paint and creaky doors, buyers will too. Most potential buyers are not looking for worry and work, they are looking for properties that are ready to move into. "People want to move into their home and have it ready as a perfect home,” Lynette said.

To help your home feel fresh, it’s generally well worth repainting your interior. A warm white is the safest option: it’s a classic and a crowd pleaser. "We’re seeing a lot of whites or off-whites,” Lynette said. "The colour also reflects more light and makes the rooms look bigger themselves.”

Final touches

Finally, the fun part! Your house is clean, uncluttered, your decor looks great and your garden is neat and tidy. Now’s the time - before viewings - to add a few finishing touches that buyers want. Considering renting art and rugs, and display fresh flowers at focal points. Research has shown the smell of freshly made coffee or bread baking can make a home more appealing.

PHOTO: Supplied