5 Psychology-Backed Ways to Make Your Home Sell Faster

Selling your home can feel really overwhelming - toys everywhere, overflowing wardrobes and drawers, and the worry that buyers won’t see its true potential. As a Behavioural Psychologist and mom, I know that a little preparation can make such a big difference - not just in how your home looks, but also how buyers feel when they step inside.  I know when buying myself that the initial feeling when I walked in the door was make or break.

And most importantly, do it before your listing photos are taken, because online images are a buyer’s first impression! This is how you get them to want to come and view.

Here are my top five psychology-backed tips to maximise your home's resale potential:

1. Declutter to highlight space and reduce overwhelm

Messy rooms make spaces feel smaller and overwhelming. Pack away personal items, extra furniture, and anything that distracts from the home’s flow. Clear counters and surfaces so your home looks spacious, calm and inviting in photos.

2. Neutralise your space

Bold colours and personal décor can prevent buyers from imagining themselves there. Some people are great at visualising how they would live in your home (even with very different interior tastes), but others cannot. Use neutral tones so potential buyers can picture themselves living in the space. 

3. Arrange furniture strategically

A well-placed sofa or dining table creates flow and showcases functionality. Perhaps you liked having extra dining chairs at either end of your dining table, as you have guests often. Or you needed the extra armchair in the sitting room. But removing them may create a more spacious and easy flow through your home.  Buyers subconsciously assess this - and you want it to tell them, “I could live here comfortably.”

4. Highlight key features

The key selling points of your home should receive extra thought and time.  Stage them thoughtfully so they stand out in listing photos. For example, an outside seating area, your front porch etc.

5. Stage for lifestyle

Buyers aren’t just buying a house, they’re buying a lifestyle. Like I said before, some people cannot visualise, so help them!  Set a breakfast table or create a reading nook. Make sure your lifestyle staging shows up beautifully in your photos, because that first online impression often determines whether they visit. 

Bonus tips: First impressions matter, fresh scents, clean hallways, and lighting can make buyers feel welcome both online and in person.

Selling a home doesn’t have to be stressful. A few smart changes can help your home sell faster, and even help  increase the price.

Rachel Mason, a Behavioural Psychologist and founder of Mom of Mayhem. I help families create homes that feel calmer, functional, and genuinely supportive of their lifestyles - whether you’re selling, downsizing, welcoming a new baby or just want less chaos at home. I am here to help.