Once you have decided to put your home on the market there are a few things you should do before taking it to market. Every seller wants to sell their home fast and at top dollar! But it takes more than luck to make this happen! Preparing to sell your home involves careful planning to convince your buyer to get out their cheque books and pay the highest price!
Depersonalise and Declutter
We tend to collect a lot of junk over the years of owning our home and decluttering will assist in making your home feel organised and homely. Here is a tip, if you haven’t used a certain item in over a year, you probably don’t need it. If you don’t need it, donate it or sell it on gumtree or the online op-shop through Facebook and get money for your unused items which can go towards fixing up your home to sell. You don’t want to go to the trouble over packing the unused items and carrying it onto your new home. Remove the books and pack up those knickknacks, clean the kitchen counter and draws. You should put the essential items you use daily away in a small box in a closet where you can access easy.
Rearrange your closets and storage cabinets
Buyers love to snoop and see how the home can work for them. They want to see how much space is in the home and how it is used. If you have your cupboards chock a block, they are most likely going to think the space does not work properly. When a buyer sees everything organised, it says that you take good care of the rest of the house as well. Hang up the shirts, reorganise the draws, line up the shoes. In the kitchen cupboards neatly stack the dishes, organise the spice jars etc
Make minor repairs around the home
Fixing up the minor repairs can make or break your sale. Replace cracked floor or counter tiles, patch any holes in walls and paint. Fix any leaking taps, fix any doors or draws that don’t close properly. Consider painting your walls a neutral colour, especially if they are loud colours you don’t want to be known as the house the buyers remember for the green bathroom. Replace old fixtures and fittings. Replace any lightbulbs that are blown and have the lights on when running your open homes to make the home feel as light as possible. Make sure you dust behind the TV, architraves, and behind the sofas.
Make your home Sparkle!
Cleaning your home should go beyond the usual weekly or day to day cleaning jobs even if you have to hire a cleaner to assist to complete the jobs you hate doing. Ensure all the windows are clean inside and out, spray down the external walls free of dirt and cobwebs. Pay special attention to the bathroom and kitchens. Regrout the shower recess or around the bath if needed or bleach the grout if required. Ensure the toilet is clean. Hang up fresh towels and fresh flowers on the kitchen bench or table, even if you pick them from your garden.
Wax or polish the floors, clean the ceiling fan blades and light fixtures. Ensure the home is freshly vacuumed before a buyer inspection or open home. When a buyer walks in, you want them to smell clean fresh air and not musty odours. Ensure the agent lights your candles before any inspection and have these available on the counter ready to light.
Curb Appeal
First impression are everything! When a buyer rocks up to view your home you want to ensure you have the perfect curb appeal! Setting the tone outside before anyone steps through the door puts your buyer in the right mindset. Take time to mow the lawns, plant some flowers or even revamp the front fence these all assist in making the right first impressions.
Now for the final part, once all the cleaning is complete and you have decluttered your home both inside and out, your now ready for the fun part! STAGING! Look on Instagram or Pintrest for staging ideas. Place a few indoor plants around, replace your pictures with some lovely artwork. Throw a throw-rug and pillows on your lounges. There are some great inspiration on social media like Adairs, Kmart hacks etc…
Now sit back and let the buyers love your home like you do!
Photo credit to Adairs NSW.