Tips on Selling
How You Can Help Us to Help You...
DE-CLUTTER!
This can’t be overemphasised. A cluttered home is a turnoff to most buyers. Buyers need to be able to get a sense of the space and how they can fit their furniture and belongings in. Cluttered rooms look and feel small. Put away ornaments, children’s toys, children’s artwork, family photos, pets eating/drinking bowls, etc. Clear magnets and other items from the fridge door. Declutter the kitchen benches. The kitchen will look bigger and cleaner. Remember, it’s not enough to simply stuff everything into cupboards; people will be looking inside these areas to assess storage capacity. Either get rid of it or store it offsite.
THE WHITE GLOVE TEST
Clean up! Not just everyday cleaning like dusting, sweeping and scrubbing the bathtub. Carpets should be steam cleaned, drapes washed/dry cleaned, upholstery vacuumed and shampooed if necessary. Attend to areas that are often ignored – the top of the fridge, cob webs, cupboard interiors, and the oven. The bathroom and kitchen should be spotless. If you don't have the time or utensils to clean your home immaculately yourself, ask us about local cleaning services that are cost effective and do a great job!
REVIVE AND REPAIR
A fresh coat of light, neutral paint is worth considering. Take care of scuffed woodwork, ripped wallpaper, water damage and any dodgy wiring. Half-finished home improvement projects deter buyers; complete any such projects if at all possible. If this isn’t done, buyers will likely factor the cost to do it into any offer they make.
ENHANCE STREET APPEAL
Most buyers form conclusions about a property from the street. Cast the same critical eye on your home’s exterior. Does the roof need repairing? Are the gutters overflowing with debris? Make any necessary improvements. Buy a new doormat and decorate with some container plants that you can take with you to your next home.
LAWN AND ORDER
Prune, trim and weed. An appealing landscape may help buyers visualise the potential for the home. Don’t forget interior landscaping: if you have no healthy house plants inside your home, buy a few attractive ones and place them strategically around the house. Dump any dead or dying plants.
LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE
Check that every single fixture in the house has a working light bulb of the maximum safe wattage. Clean all the windows so that buyers can appreciate now bright the rooms really are.
