Getting your place ready for sale may seem like a huge task, particularly if you have children. Having sold over 30 properties ourselves, we want to share some helpful strategies to make the whole process a little easier for you as well optimize your sale price.
via Forbes
1) Open House
Try to always have your showing scheduled. Have a set day and time. Think about what the best time is for you and the family as well as the time that the house presents the best with natural light etc. If your agent wishes to bring someone through out of the set time, then request at least 3hours notice so that you have a chance to tidy up.
2) Declutter and Depersonalize
Start with one room at a time. Walk through each room and critique it from a buyers point of view.
Sell, donate or trash what you really don’t need. Purchase storage containers or use cardboard boxes and line them with garbage bags to water seal. Put away anything that is not needed or that adds ambience to the décor. BE OBJECTIVE! The best way to do this is to image that your home is someone elses. Its ok to have a few family photos on display , but not too many.
3) Repair
Make those minor repairs that are unsightly:
- cracked tiles
- holes in the walls
- leaking or rusty taps
- doors that don’t swing properly
- lights that don’t work or that have a bare bulb
- outdated décor
- You don’t have to paint the whole house, but any walls that are badly marked will detract from the sale.
- Freshen up fixtures and fittings like old door handles and locks
4) Spring Clean
* the entire house top to bottom. This means walls, floors, benchtops and surfaces and windows. If necessary hire someone to help make your house shine, its worth the investment.
5) Street Appeal
* First impressions do really count. Walk out to the street curb and enter your house as a prospective buyer. Take note of your homes street appeal, garden, lawn, front porch and entry. What can you improve with a little elbow grease? Clean driveways, paths verandahs and front windows. What do you need to ad to make it more inviting?
Put in some flowering plants in the garden or in pots on the front porch. Many potential buyers will do a drive by first, to decide if they should go to an open house inspection. An inviting porch and garden is welcoming and entices the buyer to want to see inside your home.
via HGTV Canada
6) The Big Day – Presentation
+ Let in the air and light. Open the blinds and windows to let in a gentle breeze.
+ Turn on the lights if necessary to illuminate the décor.
+ Eliminate odours and remove any staleness. Air the house and cupboard regularly. If you have a dog , then take it out for a walk. Not everyone is pet friendly.
+ Stage your home. Imagine you are a theatre curator . Your home is a stage and the propective buyers are the audience. Detach from your own personal style to appeal to a broader market.
+ Choose décor that is relevant to the price and style of your home.
+ Decorate each room with a focal point that draws the buyers attention. For ideas take a look at : http://www.pinterest.com/oohmhomewares/homewares-and-accessories/
+ Rearrange furniture to best suit the look of the room.
+ Display flowers , either real or artificial
If you can’t afford new décor, then take a look at some DIY ideas – http://www.pinterest.com/oohmhomewares/
TRICKS|TIPS -There are tricks for quick fix solutions if your short of time.
+ A trick is to buy some cheap large white sheet and use them on the beds as covers with a few coloured or patterned scatter cushions. And a throw blanket at the base of the bed .This creates a designer look and by keeping them for open day display only, you know they are clean. Other coloured sheets work also as long as they match your décor.
+ On the day just tidy up, vacuum, rinse the toilet and basins make all the beds with fresh looking covers etc
+ Gather last minute clutter into baskets and cover with a throw.
+ Put some plates and glasses in the dining room table to create a lived in feeling.
+ Create an inviting outdoor space. I often have a chair with a table with magazines or a novel on it.
+ Light some incense or a candle with a mild scent to create ambience.
Remember you want to create a lifestyle feel that the buyer will want and that they can imagine themselves in.
It doesn’t cost much to do these changes but they make a huge impact on the buyers impressions. Good presentation of a property for sale has become an essential ingredient in achieving a successful sale. A picture paints a thousand words and with property being marketed via the internet then your photos portfolio is the first contact the buyer will have with your property. Many buyers make their decision on what they will inspect from that.
Finally, check the opposition. Take a look at a few houses in your area that are on the market and see what they are offering so you can go that bit further and make a point of difference.