Inside Touches and Styling — What We Did Before We Sold

We've been selling real estate for 17 years and sold over 500 homes. But over the last three years, we've also been renovators and vendors ourselves — four times over, as we sold up our own Wellington rental properties. This series shares what we actually did, what worked, and what we'd do again.

If you're just joining us, the first three entries cover the section and garden, the house exterior, and the interior fixes. This one — Entry 4 — is about the finishing layer: the inside touches and styling that shape buyers' first impressions.

1. Decluttering and packing

There's a saying in real estate: clutter eats equity — like a Pac-Man. Too much stuff in a space overwhelms buyers, makes rooms look far smaller than they are, and signals a lack of storage. When you're thinking of moving, it's a great time to have a good clean-out.

A few things that helped us:

• Designate a "departure lounge" room. Use the four corners: Keep/Store, Sell, Donate, and Dump. Be ruthless — it's cathartic.

• Hire a van. City Hop works well and is cheap once you're organised and not leaving it sitting idle.

• Short-term storage. If furniture or boxes need to go off-site to show space properly, a storage lock-up is worth it. Deals are usually available if you shop around.

2. Deep cleaning

With the clutter gone, give the place a proper deep clean. Wipe skirtings, window sills and frames.

Wash walls and any marks off ceilings. Clean the carpets — we used a Rug Doctor, which is particularly good if you have pets. Wipe cupboards inside and out, clean bathrooms top to bottom, and don't forget the oven.

Even an older property that's ready for a refresh reads well when it's genuinely clean. Buyers notice.

3. Door mats

New door mats at each entrance looks after that freshly cleaned floor and gives a tidy, considered impression from the moment someone steps inside.

4. Thoughtful set-up of spaces

Buyers are looking for versatility. People work from home more than they used to, and extra living spaces — and guest bedrooms — are genuinely valued. A few things worth thinking about:

• Set up a casual sitting area within an open-plan kitchen

• Incorporate a home office set-up into a larger living area or mezzanine space

• Re-purpose a workshop or storage room as an office or man cave — a rug, desk, chair, two-seater and TV can do a lot

• A smaller dining table can free up a whole room to show as a study or second living space, rather than having dining and living jammed together

5. Home staging — full or partial

You might have most of what you need and just want to add beautiful linens, cushions, some art, or swap out a piece of furniture that isn't doing the space any favours. A trip to Kmart can go a long way on a small budget.

Or you may want to clear the place out and have it fully staged. This is where getting advice from Leonie can really help — she'll give you an action plan and make spaces pop without spending more than you need to.

6. Scents

A nice but not overpowering scent is an easy finishing touch. Particularly important if you have pets — people with dogs don't always pick up a slight doggy smell, but non-pet owners will notice it even through clean carpets.

The takeaway

These four properties all sold faster — in some of the more challenging markets of the last three years — and for better results than they otherwise would have. Every one of them made a profit on the outlay spent on presentation, or protected what otherwise would have been a sizeable loss. And they all avoided long, drawn-out sale processes.

If you're thinking of a move, start with a chat. We'll give you a prep plan specific to your property and tell you honestly what's worth doing and what isn't.

Not sure where to start with renovating? We've rated 20 common renovations by cost and return.

Previously: Entry 3: Getting the inside sorted · The full series: All entries

Selling in Wellington? We've been doing this for 17 years across Newlands, Karori, Khandallah, Ngaio, Johnsonville, Paparangi, Woodridge, Churton Park, Grenada Village and beyond. No junior agents, no fuss. Find out what your home's worth or call us on 027 518 0008.