It’s simple: marketing your home to showcase it to its full potential is key to achieving a high sale price. A beautifully presented home will not only attract buyers but pull on the proverbial heart strings to create an emotional connection to your home, allowing buyers to visualise living in the space.
Selling your home and preparing the property for sale can be a taxing and financially cumbersome task, but remember having the home in good condition inside and out is imperative in making a smooth and profitable sales process.
While some homes may need more extensive updates, such as bathroom and kitchen renovations, most properties will benefit from a thorough comb over inside and out to make sure it meets buyers’ expectations.
We’ve created a checklist of the most important things buyers look for and how vendors can best prepare their homes for sale.
Decluttering
Decluttering is the most vital step in the preparation process. Offload unwanted items by selling or giving away items that haven’t been utilised for years. A spacious and clutter-free home is appealing to potential purchasers, as are clean windows, floors and walls. Consider buffing or sanding down timber flooring and giving the walls a fresh coat of paint in neutral and warm tones to create an inviting ambience.
Cleaning
Before the marketing photos are taken of your property, your home will need to be cleaned top to bottom. Steam cleaning or replacing carpets will enhance the look and feel of the home. Buyers will notice if the house smells like pets and may not be as tolerant of your furry friends, so pay special attention to the areas where your pet sleeps and frequents.
Maintenance
Get the toolbox handy and run a maintenance check throughout the home. Check for wiggly door handles, light bulbs that need replacing, chips on the wall or loose areas of carpet and attend to any outstanding repairs. These may seem insignificant but most buyers will be put off by the idea of doing any repairs or DIY work. These things in order show the home has been well-maintained and cared for.
Bathrooms
Most agents will tell you, it’s the bathrooms and kitchens will sell houses. Buyers pay particular attention to bathrooms, thanks to the fact that they are used frequently, and the presence of water can lead to mess and damage. If you’re not doing a complete bathroom renovation, some small tweaks or additions can add significant value for buyers. Buyers often want to check the water pressure of the shower so remove any lime scale that might have built up, it’s an easy job but can make a big difference. Installing underfloor heating and replacing older toilets can add value to your home.
Kerb appeal
The garden is arguably the most important room in the house, being the first thing that creates an impression for buyers. Mow the lawn, prune back any trees and bushes, consider updating the outdoor furniture, hide the kid’s plastic toys and inject some colour into your garden with flowers. Replace the tired worn-out door mat at the front door, clean out the gutters and consider updating any fencing or gates.
Create the lifestyle
Once a full declutter and clean has been completed, staging will showcase your home’s best features and create a welcoming atmosphere. Your agent can advise on how best to do this and you may consider getting the advice of a property stylist to stage the home for you. A professional stylist can advise you on how to arrange your own belongings and furniture, or they can style the home with hired furniture and homewares during the course of the sale campaign.