How to get the best price for your home
What you do to prepare your home before the ‘for sale’ sign goes up, is critical to achieving your dream price. Here are my five rules to sell well:
Clean up!
Cleaning your house and making it look absolutely spotless is a must before selling. You can either do it yourself, which won’t cost you much, or you can hire professionals to do it. Whichever way you go, the inside of your home needs to be flawlessly cleaned, with close attention paid to the kitchen, bathroom, windows and blinds, lights and light switches, walls and floors. Basically everything! Don’t forget to clean inside cupboards too, that means under the kitchen and laundry sinks, and in wardrobes. Part of the clean-up should include a de-clutter of your home. As a general rule of thumb, all benchtops should be clear and there should be minimal pictures on the walls. Just remember, less is more. A de-cluttered home allows a potential buyer to imagine themselves living in the space. It also makes a home look larger.
Fix up!
Every buyer wants to feel like they’re getting value for money. Chipped tiles, old carpet, dented walls, peeling paint, any obvious wear and tear can lower the price buyers are willing to pay. Don’t be afraid to invest some money to spruce up your home. Many homes will benefit from minor maintenance in order to bring them back to near-new condition. A good agent can identify exactly what you need to do without having to spend a fortune! Take the feedback on board, they do this for a living!
Dress up!
Never sell an empty home. A room with furniture always gives perspective and enables a buyer to imagine their own furniture in the space. Also, looking at an empty room is boring! If you need help with styling, your agent can make suggestions, and more often than not, a seller can work with the furniture and homewares they already have. But if you need to, don’t be afraid to invest in a professional stylist to help with your home’s presentation. You shouldn’t need to spend any more than $4,000 to have your entire home furnished by a professional. This relatively small investment can bring about big returns when it comes to the final sale price! Also, don’t be afraid to go to other open homes, and look at how the houses are presented. It’s important you look at your own home with a buyer’s eye.
Go Green
Tidying up outside is just as important as doing it inside. How your home looks from the street is critical and is the first impression a buyer gets. So, tidy your lawn and make sure the edges are done. Plant some extra plants if it’s looking a bit bare. Make sure you have weeded and mulched the garden. Also, take into account any fences or pathways which could do with a clean and paint. First impressions count!
Use your nose
Strong smells can put off buyers. Get rid of pet and mould odours and avoid cooking any foods with a strong smell before your open homes. Make sure you open windows which can help remove odours and freshen up the home. This is important to do in the hours leading up to your open home inspections. You can also use air fresheners and scented candles. Stay on top of the odours throughout the campaign.
Finally, on settlement day, ensure your home is presented exactly how the buyer saw it. Leave the house as you would love to receive it.
