At Refined, we understand the importance of putting the finishing touches to your home in preparation for selling. Styling your home both inside and out shows clean presentation and allows potential buyers to get a feel for the property.
Preparing your home for sale can seem overwhelming and it’s often difficult to know where to start. By implementing a few simple tasks, you can ensure your home stands out to buyers.
Drive up to your property as though you are seeing it for the first time. What’s the first thing you notice? The exterior of the house and the surrounding garden will be the first point of view for potential buyers and will be the ‘front cover’ in the sale campaign, so check the roof, paint, brickwork and overall visual appeal. Paintwork can crack and discolour over time and a coat of paint can do wonders to breathe new life into the property.
Dirt can build up over time on the house exterior and walkways around the property, not to mention the oil stains from years of parking in the driveway. Pressure cleaning is a cost effective and efficient way to remove any build-up and give the house a fresh look. Make sure your windows are also washed well.
Ensure the garden is neat and well maintained. Trim back any overgrown trees, bushes and lawns and remove any weeds, litter and leaves, ensuring that the garden is neat, tidy and well maintained.
It is essential to declutter and de-personalise your home. Buyers want to see the potential of the house to get a feel for what their life would be like living there. Remove all personal items, appliances, excess furniture and anything else that may distract buyers from the house itself.
Staging a home can often make or break a sale and hiring a stylist is a great way to highlight the main assets of the house. A professional stager can also help to increase the value of the home. If you are unable to put money into styling, focus on the ‘heart of the home’ areas such as the main living rooms, kitchen and master bedroom.
A coat of paint is strongly recommended inside the house as it creates a fresh, welcoming atmosphere. Use neutral colours such as white, grey or taupe as homes that appear light and airy are more appealing to buyers. Windows and curtains should be cleaned, dust removed and the house should be thoroughly vacuumed and mopped. Ensure all walls are also free from picture hooks, marks and abrasions.
When preparing the bathroom, ensure all tapware, screens, towel rails, baths, basins and cabinetry is in working order. All mirrors, tiles and glass should also be presented clean and undamaged.
When buyers come to view the house, it is important to create a welcoming atmosphere. Lighting plays a large role in this, so opening blinds and curtains when sunny, or turning on all lights when cloudy is a must. Turn off all appliances that might distract the buyer from your home such as televisions and radios. Thoroughly air out the property before showings to remove any pet, cooking, damp, or stale odours. Burning a vanilla-scented candle or baking cinnamon-coated apples in the oven are inexpensive ways of helping with this and create a welcoming, homely feel.
Following these basic steps will help ensure that your home is presented well and attracts the right buyer for your property, at the right price!
To find out how Adelaide’s largest boutique real estate specialist can help you realise your property goals and dreams, contact us via email at reception@refined.com.au or phone 08 8357 9001 for help with all of your property rental or sales needs.
