Today on the blog we’re taking you inside founder Alex McCabe’s St Kilda house! A true designer’s delight, and best of all it’s for sale! Alex shares the best tips she’s received about getting your pad ready for sale.
I spent my early thirties building Kip&Co, attending 9000 hens parties, watching Offspring and most importantly trawling real estate websites for my first home. When I saw this double-fronted Victorian beauty, filled with light and a fairy-tale bridge out front, I was sold!!
I spent the next six years planning for the renovation of my dreams. I wanted to maintain the charm of the original building but transform the interior into a home that is light and joyful, with generous spaces, considered and elevated finishes with a designer edge. Honestly I still love this home SO SO much and this remains my fave kitchen I’ve been in…and I’ve checked out a LOT in the last decade!
So, it’s bitter sweet that life steered me back to the Mornington Peninsula and that now feels like the right time to say adieu to the place that symbolises a real coming of age for me. This house has brought me immeasurable joy and I hope its next owner appreciates its unique charm, and the wonderful lifestyle it affords, as profoundly as I have.
I enlisted the help of the awesome guys at Buxton (thank you Rohan and Nat!) and vendor advocate Ben Reid to give me some hot tips on how to prep the house for sale that we thought were worth sharing!
(1) Street appeal
What your property looks like from the outside can be a crucial factor in securing an inspection. Many people will drive past your home before they decide to book an appointment to inspect or come to an 'Open for Inspection'. If your property looks scruffy or in poor repair from the outside, they will assume it will be the same on the inside.
(2) Cut the clutter
To make your home feel as spacious as possible, we recommend de-cluttering the entire house, inside and out – including cupboards and storage spaces. You want your buyer to be able to imagine their own belongings in the property, so de-clutter to keep things tidy. Less clutter also makes rooms appear larger. When your clutter is gone, your buyers will easily be able to imagine their own possessions in the house.
(3) Set the scene
Now you’ve stripped the place back, start to reintroduce some decorative elements that will create a great impression… lots of Kip&Co (ok, I added that bit in but it's true!). Little touches, like vases of fresh flowers, music, or a candle give a welcoming ambience. Doing all you can to improve your home’s sense of style, space and light will enhance the ‘appeal’ that typically underpins every outstanding property sale.
(4) Quick fix!
From leaking taps to light bulbs that aren’t working, make sure all those tricky little minor repairs are taken care of.
(5) Create dream bedrooms
This area of home presentation is one where just a little bit of thought can create such a dream impression. Turn on that bedside light and keep the space feeling fresh, light and liveable.
(6) Kitchens and bathrooms
They don’t need to be new but they need to be clean. Make sure your kitchen bench tops and bathroom vanities are clean and sparkling.
(7) Outdoor living
With outdoor living being such a large part of our lifestyle these days, an attractive, well maintained entertaining area can make a huge difference.
