10 THINGS TO DO TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR SALE

So you’ve decided to go ahead and put your house on the market. But there are a few things that you can do that go a long way towards making a good impression on future buyers.

When we live anywhere for a prolonged period it’s easy to ignore the small details that a buyer would instantly notice. So the moment you make the decision to list your home then it’s a good idea to put your buyers hat on and walk through your home like it’s the first time.

Here are 10 things that you should do to prepare your home for sale…

Clean. This may seem like an obvious tip but we’re not talking about just the areas you would usually clean. Now is time for a deep clean, get right in to every nook and cranny and give attention to the places that are usually missed out.

Clear the clutter. You want your potential buyer to see how spacious and roomy your home looks and clutter will not only make it look messy but it will also make your home appear smaller. So get rid of the shoes lining up in your hallway, the pile of post on your kitchen table or anything else that detracts from your home’s wonderful features.

Repaint. You may love bold, bright colours but your buyers won’t necessarily agree. Repainting your walls in a neutral colour will allow potential buyers to focus on the space not the colours of the walls.

Pay attention to smells. The smell of your home will be one of the first things a buyer will notice when they enter. So refrain from cooking any pungent or greasy foods as the smell lingers and if you have pets (or teenagers for that matter) make sure that you remove the source of the smell before a viewing happens. Think about investing in an oil diffuser or as the traditional adage goes bake something and brew some fresh coffee to invoke a sense of comfort and home.

Get rid of personal items. A buyer needs to be able to see themselves in your home, so remove anything that’s overly personal such as family photos or your children’s art work.

LIGHT it up. No one wants to step in to a dark room so make sure that you let as much natural light in as possible and if it’s still a tad dark, invest in some bright lamps. A bright room will look more inviting and appealing.

Get rid of furniture. It’s easy to accumulate furniture over time but when it comes to selling your home, you need to make sure that you’re not making your space look smaller than it is because of the furniture. Make sure that your furniture fits the scale of the room and that you’ve nothing in there that you don’t need.

Time to get that to-do list – done. Small jobs make all the difference. If you’ve a leaky tap or a door handle that sticks you may very well have just learned to live with it, but when a potential buyer sees these things, all they see is extra money they have to spend. Set aside a weekend to just do those little jobs that will make all the difference.

Think about curb appeal. It’s not just how your home looks on the inside that counts but also how it looks on the outside. When a potential buyer pulls up outside you want them to think that your home looks smart and well cared for. Small things such as adding a row of potted plants up to the front door, trimming the hedge or repainting your front door can make your home look distinct.

Give each room a purpose. Show buyers how they can use each room buy giving it a purpose. So for example, the spare room that doubles up to your study could be staged to show off that purpose. Or the outhouse that would make a great pantry. Remember that the most important part of selling a house is about selling a lifestyle.

Making sure that you prepare will make all the difference when it comes to selling your home. At Nicol & Co we understand that presentation can be the key to selling your property, and we are always on hand to offer few handy hints and tips, that will make the difference.