Preparing Your Home for Sale

You may need to take a step back and take a long, hard look at how your home might appear to other people.

This can be difficult. The things you can live with, may appear as neglect to a prospective buyer - and something that may cost them time and money.

It’s best to remove these distractions to avoid an instant turn-off, and instead create a welcoming environment which calls out to buyers that the house is clean, fresh and ready to live in.

So before you put your house on the market, peruse this checklist of tips – some are surprisingly easy, while others might require a bit of time and effort…

1. Street Appeal

First impressions count, and it doesn’t matter how beautiful your home appears on the inside if the exterior is dull, untidy or looking un-loved.

Set the tone before any buyers even walk through the front door! Get the mower out, give the garden a makeover with fresh soil or mulch, pressure clean the driveway & pavers, and paint the fence if its looking tired.

2. Style Your Home

Styling is another instant facelift that can give your property a fresh look which appeals to buyers. You can hire a stylist to take care of this for you, or simply add a few pops of the latest colour to accessorise for a fresh new look.

Don’t forget to fix any loose handles or replace any missing lightbulb, if you are hands on, consider changing any dated or broken door handles or fittings for a chic new modern look.

Don’t forget to clean, clean, clean and… declutter! Less is more when people are viewing your home-they want to envision themselves living in this space, so the less distractions the better!

3. Maximise Natural Light

No one likes living in darkness or having to leave the lights on during the day. A few simple tricks can help you increase the natural light -Use mirrors, lighten your interior colour palette, trim branches, change window furnishings or add sky lights.

4. Go Green

Green is great! It’s fresh, it’s lush and it looks gorgeous! For a bright and welcoming environment add some plants to your living rooms and bathrooms to brighten your abode. Also, consider a vase of flowers or bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter or dining table.

5. Final Inspection

Imagine you are viewing your own property for the first time. Invite a close friend over for a second opinion and be sure to pay attention to minor details like straightening cushions, packing away your personalised items and making sure that every surface is clean and clear of clutter.