Selling Tips/Advice
Important tips when preparing your property for sale.
Remember, You never get a second chance to make a first Impression.
Now it’s time to take a good hard look at your home and try and see it through fresh eyes – the eyes of potential buyers. Buyers will pay more for a property that looks and feels fresh, clean, well maintained and ready to move into and enjoy.
So what can you do to make sure your home is as attractive as possible, without breaking the bank?
Here are things you can do to make a real difference to your property’s sellability.
The following items are exhausting and exhaustive, remember, you don’t have to do it all, some items may not even apply. Keep in mind that doing as much as you can, makes a better impression on the purchaser.
1. Focus on first impressions
It’s called kerb appeal for a reason. Before buyers even set foot in your home, make sure they like what they see from the street. Get a shiny new house number. Clean the front verandah and put out an inviting bench. Plant fresh shrubs or flowers, tidy up and mulch your front garden. Clean or paint the shutters, window frames and front door etc. Repair any steps, railings or pathways that need attention, and brush away any dirt and cobwebs. All of this could cost as little as a few hundred dollars and a few weekends of work, but could add thousands to your sale price.
2. What is clutter
This might be harsh if you are attached to your stuff, but clutter is anything excessive that rests on a surface. While ''excessive'' might be related to the individual, I think you should really seek minimalism. Buyers are fickle creatures and often baulk at the slightest sight of it in a prospective property. They don’t want to see dirty dishes or clothes, chewed dog toys, old wrestling trophies, your bills on the fridge, or the photos of your holiday. So box up those treasured extras and get rid of the everyday mess and personal items on display throughout your home.
If your rooms look cluttered, take several items of furniture and store them offsite while you sell. Clear out and organise all the cupboards and closets to make them seem spacious (yes, they always look in there!) because you don’t want buyers to think there’s not enough storage in your home. Creating open, uncluttered living spaces invites buyers to “move in” in their imagination, and clears the way for an easier sale.
3. Scrub up your kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of the home but you can make minor repairs and fairly inexpensive cosmetic changes that can transform this all important hub into a warm, inviting and modern space. First, scrub every centimetre of your kitchen (even the ceiling) so it sparkles and move appliances you seldom use. Consider painting tired old fashioned cabinets white or a light neutral colour, and update the handles and knobs. Replace the taps with a simple inexpensive set. Finally, clear off and dress the benchtops with a few smart items, such as a bright bowl of fruit or a shiny new kettle etc.
4. Make your bathroom shine
Most interested buyers will forgive an ageing bathroom, but no one will forgive a dirty one. So roll up your sleeves and give it every surface a good scrub. Buy a grouting pen and whiten up that old tile grout. Repair leaking taps, or if your budget can stretch, buy a new tap set. Paint walls white or a neutral shade, and consider replacing handles and towel rails. Then put out some nice fluffy towels and a few luxury touches such as a scented candle and soap. Your bathroom is now perfectly clean so you’ve got nothing to hide.
5. Arrange Bedrooms
Most prospective buyers look for large light filled bedrooms. So position the bedroom furniture to make all bedrooms look big. Remove any access furniture, books, magazines, toys etc and make the beds daily. Use attractive bedspreads, pillow cases, drop rugs and freshly laundered curtains. Tidy all the built in wardrobes to make sure that they are not overcrowded to avoid the impression of lack of space.
6. Be neutral
You want people talking about your fantastic home, not your neon orange feature wall. So if you do have vivid décor, kitsch collections or unusual furniture, it may be a good idea to swap them for something more neutral. Painting over that feature wall, putting away the china dog collection and putting on crisp white bed linen offers buyers a chance to see your home as a blank canvas where they could picture themselves living comfortably. Remember, you’re selling your home, not your own stuff, so keep your décor simple to appeal to as many buyers as possible. If it helps, think of your property as a display home while it’s on the market.
7. Lighten up
Natural light is a huge plus for your home, so welcome it in wherever possible to make your home seem bright and spacious to buyers. Open blinds and curtains (and clean them), wash all the windows, trim shrubbery that may be blocking out light, and consider replacing dark heavy drapes with inexpensive lighter ones. Use mirrors to reflect back natural light in darker areas. You can also switch on a few floor and spot lamps to make your rooms seem brighter and more welcoming – but be sure not to turn on every light in the house, and choose lights of at least 100 watts as dim lighting can have the opposite effect.
8. Get a new coat
As all the TV renovation experts tell us over and over again, paint is one of simplest, fastest and cheapest ways to transform your home and can make all the difference. Plus if you’re handy, you can do it yourself. So if any other areas of your home, inside or out, are looking a little worse for the wear, grab a brush and go to it, or call in the professionals. Again, this can add thousands to your final sale price for a fairly minor investment.
9. The Smell of Success
Smoke, cooking and pet odours could have buyers wrinkling up their noses at your open houses. So make sure to thoroughly air out your home and clean all your soft furnishings to remove these lingering smells.
Most people like pets, but some don’t. Don’t forget to pick up after your pets too, vacuum up all pet hair, and take your pets away with you when you’re showing your property. A barking dog will not only scare some, but also take their concentration away from inspecting your home.
You can also put out fresh coffee and flowers to make your place smell more inviting.
10. Make your outdoors great
Australians see their outdoor space as another room of the home, so don’t neglect your garden if you want to grow your sale price. Fix fences, pressure clean paths and pavers, and get rid of that rusty old clothesline and junk around the side of the house. Scrub and oil decks and outdoor furniture. Add some fresh plants, prune, weed and pop in new mulch or soil to garden beds and pots.
11. Obvious Faults
The discovery of even a relatively minor fault by a potential purchaser often leads to a much more thorough research of the property. Reduce the risk of a guarded and tenatative inspections, fix any faults prior to showing your home.
12. Repairs make a difference
Small things such as a leaking tap, loose knobs, sticking doors or windows put people on the defensive and lead your agent to make apologises for lack of maintenance. Minimise this annoyances, flaws detract from your home’s value and have them fixed.
Any favourite fixed wall TV, light fitting, curtains, blinds or any other item with sentimental attachment should be removed prior to your agent showing your home. It avoids complications when you get an offer from the purchaser.
14. List the features
There is a good possibility that the features you liked about your home could be the same ones a new owner will find appealing. Make a list of these items and give them to your agent to help capitalize on them.
15. Encourage feedback
When an inspection is taking place make sure you are well out of range of you prospective purchaser. This will encourage them to speak freely and make comments tour your sales agent. Any negative comments can be addressed immediately.
In conclusion, It won’t cost you the earth to spruce things up, but it could be the difference to selling your property fast and for the best price or watching it languish on the vine.
