over 6 years ago
Preparing your home for sale this spring
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So, you’re finally ready to sell your home! The big decision has been made and now you can sit back, relax and wait for the buyers to roll on in, right?
Ah, not quite. Almost every single home going to market needs some attention, probably including yours. There are a number of things to consider once you’ve decided to sell, but initially there are three stages to preparing your home for sale.
1. The Clean Up
The key to maximising your sale price is to make your property look cosy and homely, but also as if nobody with an everyday life lives there! Move through your house, putting away anything that’s lying around – shoes, coats, cleaning products, towels etc. Then do it again, but this time with an eye on the less superficial layer. Simplicity is key, so get rid of fridge magnets, tidy bookshelves, and declutter.
Next, head outside and do the same in the garden, the shed and around the perimeter of your block. Empty buckets, tidy tools, put away children’s bikes, toys and play equipment. Get a gardener in, if necessary, or just deal with the weeds, mow the lawn and sweep the paths yourself, so everything is tidy and in order. Professional cleaners can also wash your home to brighten paintwork – which can add thousands.
2. The Makeover
Once you have removed the layer of everyday life from your home, it’s time to give it a shiny new makeover, ready for its photo shoot. Give tired walls and window frames a fresh coat of paint and take a good look at your current furniture and room configurations. Can things be arranged to present your home in a more attractive way? The junk room needs to go and that space should be turned into a spare bedroom, a home office or an elegant reading room.
A professional ‘home stager’ is worth considering too. While this can be a costly exercise, when done well, can add tens of thousands onto your sale price - so get some advice from your sales agent and see if they can recommend someone to give you a quote.
Don’t neglect the exterior of your home and its street appeal either.
3. The Showcase
Now that your home is sparkling, the marketing campaign will kick in. It’s worthwhile investing in professional photographer for your photo shoot. The first interaction the majority of buyers will have with your home will be your photographs, so they need to be impressive. If you are going to restrict your budget anywhere, it should definitely not be here!
In addition to the marketing, you need to impress buyers when they come to inspect the property. Fresh flowers and a spotlessly clean and tidy home are all great ways to get them interested. Many buyers will be turned off at even a hint of a bad smell, dampness, mould, peeling paint, dirty pet bowls or litter trays, or last night’s dishes in the sink.
Your agent will support and advise you on all of this and more. A well prepared home can achieve a much greater price when it is clear the seller has put some tender loving care into the property and buyers will respond accordingly. Ask us for a Home Seller’s Guide today!
Ah, not quite. Almost every single home going to market needs some attention, probably including yours. There are a number of things to consider once you’ve decided to sell, but initially there are three stages to preparing your home for sale.
1. The Clean Up
The key to maximising your sale price is to make your property look cosy and homely, but also as if nobody with an everyday life lives there! Move through your house, putting away anything that’s lying around – shoes, coats, cleaning products, towels etc. Then do it again, but this time with an eye on the less superficial layer. Simplicity is key, so get rid of fridge magnets, tidy bookshelves, and declutter.
Next, head outside and do the same in the garden, the shed and around the perimeter of your block. Empty buckets, tidy tools, put away children’s bikes, toys and play equipment. Get a gardener in, if necessary, or just deal with the weeds, mow the lawn and sweep the paths yourself, so everything is tidy and in order. Professional cleaners can also wash your home to brighten paintwork – which can add thousands.
2. The Makeover
Once you have removed the layer of everyday life from your home, it’s time to give it a shiny new makeover, ready for its photo shoot. Give tired walls and window frames a fresh coat of paint and take a good look at your current furniture and room configurations. Can things be arranged to present your home in a more attractive way? The junk room needs to go and that space should be turned into a spare bedroom, a home office or an elegant reading room.
A professional ‘home stager’ is worth considering too. While this can be a costly exercise, when done well, can add tens of thousands onto your sale price - so get some advice from your sales agent and see if they can recommend someone to give you a quote.
Don’t neglect the exterior of your home and its street appeal either.
3. The Showcase
Now that your home is sparkling, the marketing campaign will kick in. It’s worthwhile investing in professional photographer for your photo shoot. The first interaction the majority of buyers will have with your home will be your photographs, so they need to be impressive. If you are going to restrict your budget anywhere, it should definitely not be here!
In addition to the marketing, you need to impress buyers when they come to inspect the property. Fresh flowers and a spotlessly clean and tidy home are all great ways to get them interested. Many buyers will be turned off at even a hint of a bad smell, dampness, mould, peeling paint, dirty pet bowls or litter trays, or last night’s dishes in the sink.
Your agent will support and advise you on all of this and more. A well prepared home can achieve a much greater price when it is clear the seller has put some tender loving care into the property and buyers will respond accordingly. Ask us for a Home Seller’s Guide today!