Gina von Sturmer has helped dozens of overwhelmed homeowners get their properties ready for sale. As part of the team at Professionals Real Estate, she runs a concierge service designed to take the stress out of pre-sale prep, and she’s seen the same problem come up time and time again.

Most sellers don’t realise how much their home reflects them, until it’s time to sell. And that’s exactly what can turn buyers off.

As Gina puts it: “You want it as a blank canvas, but give the idea of what it would be like to live there”. That balance matters. A lived-in space can feel warm, but it shouldn’t feel owned.

Less is more, especially when it comes to clutter

Clutter shrinks a space. It draws attention to your stuff instead of the room itself. It can make even a generous kitchen feel cramped, or a sunny living area feel chaotic. And for buyers, it creates one more barrier to imagining themselves living there.

That’s why decluttering is one of the most powerful (and affordable) things you can do. Clear surfaces. Thin out bookshelves. Pack away personal items, extra furniture, and anything that distracts from the sense of space.

Don’t stop at the obvious areas, either. Buyers open wardrobes and cupboards too, and if they’re crammed full, it sends the wrong message. A home that feels overfilled can signal a lack of storage, even if the floor plan is generous.

Clean lines, open space, and visual breathing room help buyers focus on the features of the home, not the distractions inside it.

You’re not selling your taste. You’re selling potential

If you’ve lived in a house for years, it’s hard not to take it personally when someone suggests changing things. But when you’re selling, it’s not about what you like, it’s about what appeals to the widest pool of buyers.

That means pulling back on anything too bold, quirky, or taste-specific. Feature walls, patterned curtains, brightly coloured cabinetry, they might suit your style perfectly, but buyers have to work harder to imagine their own lifestyle in the space. A fresh coat of neutral paint and simple, timeless styling helps them focus on the layout and feel of the home, not what they’d need to undo.

“You’re now preparing it for someone else,” Gina explains. You want to provide a blank canvas and sell the idea of how every person can live in that property, without it having the strong personality of the individual who lives there.

This isn’t about erasing character, it’s about creating flexibility. The more buyers can see themselves in the home, the more likely they are to fall for it.

If you’re unsure where to start, our Quick Guide: Getting Your Home Ready for Sale breaks it all down. Join MyTrends to unlock this and a full library of guides designed to support you at each stage of your property journey.