Preparing Your Home for Sale
There are many things to consider when preparing a home for sale. The main thing is to present your house as a well-cared-for place with no glaring problems. You never get a second chance to make a first impression. There are some small ways to maximise the instant appeal of your home. The effort and expenditure you put into preparing it for sale can be a highly profitable use of time & money.
Emotional decisions are based on sight, sound and smell. Therefore, your house must look attractive, the sounds should be unobtrusive, and odours should be inoffensive. Below are a few easy makeover tactics to help you sell at a premium price.
Improve the Interior of Your Home
- Do a full spring clean, buy some storage boxes and get rid of all clutter.
- Scrub walls, skirting boards, floors, tiles, windows, light switches and fixtures.
- Repair any leaking taps or broken appliances you wish to include in the sale.
- Check that all fittings and fixtures are in good working order.
- Check that doors, windows, awnings and blinds open and shut correctly.
- Ensure the kitchen, bathroom and laundry areas are spotlessly clean, and there are no chipped or broken tiles.
- Use your best linen on the beds and the best towels in the bathroom.
- Replace outdated light fixtures.
- Clean carpets, lounges and curtains.
Improve the Exterior of Your Home
- Wash down the external walls and clear out the gutters.
- Sweep the driveway and paths.
- Keep lawns cut and reseed any bare patches.
- Trim back trees, especially if they are blocking light into the house.
- Weed the garden, add some mulch to garden beds and put some colourful pot plants in clusters around the yard.
- Keep garden furniture clean and tidy.
- Clean the windows and entrance doors.
- Tidy up the garage and garden shed.
- Repair the fence if necessary.
- Keep bins out of sight.
- Keep water features, pools or ponds clean.
Property Tips
Don't overspend: The idea is to maximise appeal without emptying your pockets. If possible, ask family and friends to join you in a working bee that brings the property up to scratch.
Come up roses: If your garden is out of control and looks unloved, hire a gardener to tidy it up and add some hardy plants.
Make timely decisions: Arrange inspection times to coincide with the sun flooding the living rooms.
Think before renovating: While renovating can add value to a property, you can risk overcapitalising. In addition, many buyers are looking for a "Renovator's Delight". Ask your PRD Penrith real estate agent for their opinion before undertaking any significant changes.
