Improving for Moving

If it's time to move on or rent out your existing property, then these top 10 tips from staging specialist interior designer Natasha Rocca Devine of The Interiors NRD Studio will ensure you get the best return.

- Natasha Rocca Devine

1. MAKE A PLAN

Before you do anything, it is vital to make write down what you are hoping to achieve with the property and then to stay focused on this. Are you staging it for sale, for rent or an Airbnb? Once you have identified your end goal, then you can firm up on any structural or decorative improvements that need to be made in order to get the best return.

2. THEMING THE SCHEME

Looking at the whole house, is the design very mismatched or one overall style? Ideally you want a cohesive look that flows throughout the whole house or very strong themes if you have an eclectic theme. However, before you do any decorative changes, spend time researching different interior styles. I would recommend Pinterest, Instagram and interior magazines. Once you have identified the design that best complements the property and will appeal to your targeted buyer/renter, then it's time to make at least one or two moodboards. For example, if it's a coastal property, you might want a natural beachside theme. If it's a city apartment a minimal, contemporary aesthetic might be an option or a bit of high drama and bold colour could really make the most of a period property. Theme the scheme for potential buyers or renters, not just your style.

3. SURVEY

Survey the house or apartment and see what it is that you would like to change. Look at floor plans, take photos and look at what you need to adjust room-by-room. From this, make your list of what you hope to achieve in each space and who and what will be required to do so. From there you can become more specific and focused and create a plan from start to finish. Redoing the whole house is not always an option, nor needed. The aim here is to increase the pace of sale and sales prices, so keep it simple.

4. IDENTIFY USP