When you are a property owner trying to sell a space you have a long list of work to do to prepare the property for sale. Beyond bringing the property to its bare bones and listing the property as is, we have discovered some tips and tricks that can really help to bring your space into a positive light with some simple styling and staging.

We spoke to Brittany Cini, an interior designer at The Hallmarc Group, to get the low down on what to do to present your property in the best light possible. Brittany is a trained interior designer working in the commercial space and has offered some simple but effective ways you can prepare your property for viewing to get the best photos for your online and print advertisement As well as when you have inspections, a little effort in the beginning can make a big difference in the sale price.

 

CPG: As a property owner, you must consider many different things when preparing the property for sale. What is the secret to good styling when presenting a commercial property for sale?

BC: Do not clutter the space. Try to add some pops of colour and greenery to brighten the interiors instead of placing bulkier items such as additional desks and seating. You want to evoke a sense of happiness and comfort within the buyer, so they can imagine working in the space every day.

Selecting interiors that are grey and bland isn’t nearly as inviting as sky blue pin boards or artificial planters for example.

 

CPG: We have heard of a new trend called staging when a property owner may show potential buyers exactly what the property can look like with some appropriate furniture. What are the advantages of staging or presenting a property during the sales period?

BC: You would be surprised at the number of people that cannot picture a space fitted out. When a space is completely empty, it is a lot harder to explain how many employees can fit in the space, where the desks would be positioned, where a waiting room would be, what size table would fit into a meeting room? And so on.

When the space is fully fitted out and decorated correctly, there are fewer questions as to how it will work for them. Rather than the buyer seeing that a few tweaks to the existing layout would be a perfect fit.

 

CPG: That's interesting to hear. Besides staging, are there some quick and easy things a property owner can do to present a commercial building in its best light?

BC: A fresh coat of paint and a few touch ups here and there are so important. People will judge a property on first inspection. If there are things that need to be fixed on the surface they will immediately think there is more than meets the eye.

 

CPG: What are some simple rules to keep in mind when styling a commercial site?

BC: Keep everything as light and spacious as you can.

Dark and heavy furniture pieces are usually not appealing. Pops of colour in your accessories with basic white desks to keep things light and bright can be very effective. Try to be as gender neutral in your colour palette as possible to appeal to a broader market.

And finally, keep it practical; don’t add unnecessary décor that wouldn’t be found in an office environment. This tends to look tacky and forced.

 

Try to consider your audience in all your sales activities. Ensure that you have their needs in mind when preparing the property, if you have an office space, would a potential buyer consider your space if it was untidy or needed cosmetic repairs vs. one that was prepared with a small amount of furniture and artwork in place?

Prepare to spend a little time and money. Put in some effort and tidy up the space so that the potential buyer doesn’t see a pile of work that needs to be done before they move in.

These are some simple things to keep in mind when selling your own commercial property. Remember that staging a property costs money but when you are selling a property that may be on the market a little longer than the average residential property, it may be the unique element that helps your property sell sooner and for a higher price.

Finally, watch this video for some more tips on what to consider when setting up your commercial property