There are a number of tips to follow to ensure you achieve the maximum possible sale price for your property:
Presentation is key – you don’t have to spend a great deal of time or money to make sure your home looks its best. A fresh coat of paint, well-tended gardens, minor repairs, professional cleaning and de-cluttering will make a big difference to buyers’ first impressions.
Make yourself a checklist of all the things you need to do well in advance to ensure you’ve covered everything.
Professional styling – this can be particularly beneficial for vacant properties to make them appear more homely and functional.
Detail all of the inclusions or exclusions so that buyers know exactly what’s included in the sale i.e. ight-fittings and window coverings.
OUTSIDE HINTS
You don’t want them stopping out the front then driving off.
Ensure lawns are cut, edged and kept watered. (If restrictions allow).
A “green-up” fertilizer works quickly.
Roll up hoses, freshen up flower beds, plant some bright flowers under trees and degrease driveways.
Enlarge the appearance of the garage with bright lights, clean floor, tidy and organised shelves and no clutter.
TOP SELLING TIPS
Make those minor repairs, no matter how small or simple.
Do some spring cleaning.
Have a garage sale or pack up in boxes all items that clutter.
Create the illusion of spaciousness.
Use colour & lighting to draw attention to the best selling features.
Disguise unsightly views, remove heavy curtains and let the light in.
Eliminate unpleasant odors.
Avoid eccentric items or décor.
Accessories can make or break a room,
avoid photographs of a particularly
personal nature, keep the mood light.
Create a welcoming spot in colour,
a flower pot is nice.
Buy a new (plain) door mat.
Open the curtains to show sparkling clean windows.
Add spaciousness with a mirror.
Clean and tidy any linen cupboards.
Highlight your fireplace mantle or above with a picture or mirror.
Improve traffic flow in living areas.
Don’t let the TV dominate a room.
Set the scene by setting the table and add a centerpiece.
Make a very large dining room into a combined dining room & small library by adding a desk and book case.
Visually enlarge small dining rooms by reducing the table size and removing large pieces and/or extra chairs.
Keep all pets outside and off the
property during inspections.
Clean your pool
and check that the fence complies with the LATESTS LAWS which came into place on 1st October 2008.
The law now states that, "ALL SWIMMING POOLS MUST HAVE A CONTINUOUS SAFTEY BARRIER WHICH RESTRICTS ACCESS."
If your Property contains a swimming Pool and you are placing your property up for sale, you
WILL NEED TO ENSURE THAT YOUR POOL BARRIERS, no matter when the pool was built,
ARE IN LINE WITH THE REQUIRMENTS.
information can be obtained form, www.planning.sa.gov.au/go/building_policy
MORE SELLING TIPS
In the kitchen, use props such as an open cookbook or nice dish.
Make it smell great with a bowl of lemons or brewing coffee.
Expand bench space, put appliances away and out of sight.
Organise shelves and hanging pot rack.
Dress kitchen window sill with plants.
Highlight an eat-in area, set the table.
In the laundry, keep it appealing. Ensure there are no clothes visible and the floor is spotless.
Make sure all stairs are safe with good lighting and clutter free.
In your bedroom, avoid busy patterns. Use a small desk with chair and lamp.
Tidy all walk-in robes.
Place any storage boxes under your bed Depersonalise any teenagers’ room.
Create a look in your bathroom with plants, a glass bowls of shells, fresh towels, pictures and/or magazines.
Use only light colours, if all white, add some accent colours.
Invest in a new shower curtain.
Last but not least for bathrooms,
ensure the floors and walls are clean the shower screen is sparkling and the room smells wonderfully fresh.
INSPECTION TIPS
Be willing for the agent to show at quite short notice.
Most sellers find that once the home is prepared, it’s easy to keep it that way.
Have a last minute plan for a quick get-a-way. On leaving, open curtains and put on heater/air conditioning.
Keep at a comfortable temperature. If cold, light the fire for effect, it sets the mood, Background music only.
At the conclusion of the inspections, expect to hear from your agent within hours, not days.
The visitors and possible buyers feedback is valuable information indeed.