1. LET GO
- For most of us your home is the biggest asset you will have in your lifetime – You have one chance to make the most of it – be smart!
- Make the mental decision to “let go” of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon this house will no longer be yours.
- Picture yourself handing over the keys and envelopes containing appliance warranties to the new owners!
- Say goodbye to every room.
- Treat it like a business, look at it as though you are selling a car; you detail it, vacuum it, service it and get an RACV check – do the same thing when selling your home.
2. DE-PERSONALIZE & DE-CLUTTER
- Pack up any personal photos and items on display.
- You want buyers to imagine their personal items in your home.
- Pack up knickknacks, clear kitchen counters.
- Put essential items used daily in a small box that can be stored in a closet when not in use.
- Clean out your garage or shed, make sure the area looks spacious, organised and clean.
3. REARRANGE CLOSETS AND CABINETS
- When you open your kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, linen or storage cupboards a perspective buyer does not want to see your mess!
- A clean and tidy impression is a lasting impression and will give the potential buyer confidence that your home has been well looked after.
4. REMOVE/REPLACE FAVOURITE ITEMS
- If you want to take window coverings, built in appliances or fixtures with you, remove them now.
- Every home shows better with less furniture, rent a storage unit if needed and make sure all cluttered possessions are stowed away.
- Remove furniture that blocks pathways to give the impression of larger areas.
5. MAKE MINOR REPAIRS
- Replace cracked wall or floors tiles, re-grout and re-caulk bath, showers and sinks.
- Patch holes in walls and fix doors that don’t close properly or jam.
- Fix leaky taps or shower heads.
- Re-Paint your walls neutral colours.
- Replace blown light bulbs.
- Clean or replace carpets and/ or re-polish floorboards.
- Replace old drapes with venetians.
6. MAKE THE HOUSE SPARKLE
- Wash windows inside and out.
- Pressure wash sidewalks and exterior and clean off all cobwebs.
- Remove all magnets from refrigerator.
- Vacuum and wash floors daily.
- Don’t forget your skirting boards!
- Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures.
- Clean skylights, range hoods and vent covers.
- Make sure your oven and cooktop sparkles!
7. SCRUTINIZE
- Go outside and open your front door. Stand there. Do you want to go inside? Is your house inviting?
- Invite your friend over to get an outsider perspective.
- Arrange your furniture until it makes sense and makes the rooms feel more spacious.
- Make sure paintings and window coverings hang level.
- Coordinate your colour scheme.
8. FIRST IMPRESSION IS A LASTING IMPRESSION
- If a buyer won’t get of their car because they don’t like the exterior of your home, you’ll never get them inside.
- Go and stand across the street from your home, would you buy it? Does it WOW you?
- Keep sidewalks clear.
- Mow the lawn and weed the garden.
- Trim back trees and bushes and ensure all leaves are picked up.
- Paint faded window trims.
- Make sure visitors can clearly read your house number.
9. AGENT
- Make sure you are comfortable with your agent, they need to be as dedicated and as driven as you are to achieve the best possible result.
- Do not be pressured into anything you are not comfortable with.
- Make sure your agent has a good presence in the area and strong knowledge of the local market.
- Engage in the right marketing campaign for your area, you can’t sell a secret! This means get great photos and advertising.
- Do not be dazzled by the cheapest or the highest quoted price, be smart and don’t be afraid to ask for help!
10. OPEN FOR INSPECTION
- Our one piece of advice is – “presentation, presentation, presentation!”
- Place smelling candles around your home, have fresh flowers on display, play soft easy listening music.
- Turn on all lights and lamps and open all curtains and blinds.
- Hang fresh clean towels in your bathrooms.
- Wash dirty dishes and stow away.
- Place all dirty laundry in your washing machine and put away all clean clothes.
- Vacuum, wash all floors, dust and polish taps and mirrors throughout your home.
- Invest in a new front door mat.
- Keep your house at a comfortable temperature and on a cold day light your fire place so potential buyers will want to stay for longer.
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