Ready to sell? Prepare and spruce up your property using our tips below:
Focus areas
The front door
Great first impressions matter. Make sure the entrance to your home is clean, tidy and looks nice. Weed the front garden, and give the front door has a fresh lick of paint.
Key rooms
The homemaker will want to focus on the kitchen, bathroom and toilet, so make sure repairs and cleaning for these rooms are done. The other rooms of the house can usually be sorted out with a coat paint.
Repairs
Generally, you don’t need to fully renovate your home prior to selling and moving, but it should be in good, working condition.
Little issues like mouldy shower grouting can put off people off. Small expenses and a little effort will go a long way in making your property more attractive to prospective buyers.
Do you need to:
- Re-grout bathrooms
- Fix a front or back fence
- Fix leaking taps
- Replace fixtures, e.g. chipped door knobs, rusty towel rails
- Replace blown light bulbs
Any investment you make prior to selling and moving should be driven by where you’ll get the best return.
If you’re thinking of renovating prior to putting your home on the market, check out the top renovations mistakes to avoid.
Rules and regulations
When selling and moving, there will be a number of rules and regulations that you’ll need to comply with as per your local council. It makes your property more attractive to a prospective buyer if you have these taken care of prior to the sale.
Walls and painting
Check walls for marks, scratches and stains that might require plastering and a fresh coat of paint. Paint walls and ceilings in neutral colours and your property will appeal to a larger market.
Source: Better Homes and Gardens
Declutter and depersonalise
The sale of your property is a great excuse to clean out your belongings! Declutter to maximise space for the open house and inspections. Depersonalise so buyers can imagine their own belongings in the space.
Source: Homey Oh My!
Cleaning
It’s important to give the impression that your property has been kept in good condition all the time (not just for the sale), so attention to detail is a must! For the best results, you should do an end of tenancy clean.
Cleaning inside
Here’s a list to start you off:
- All surfaces, benchtops and cupboards
- Walls, skirting boards, power points
- Windows, window sills, doors, screen doors, fly screens
- Floors, carpets, tiles, timber
- All built in appliances, e.g. dishwasher, oven, stove, range hood, etc.
- Sinks, basins, taps (descaling)
- Baths, showers, shower screens
- Mirrors and wardrobes
- Fans, air conditioners
- etc.!
Source: Pinterest
Cleaning outdoors
Outdoor areas should not be forgotten as that’s the first thing prospective buyers will see. Make sure the:
- Gardens and garage are tidy
- Lawn is mowed
- Garden beds are weeded
- Gutters are cleaned
- Patios and driveways are clean
- Cobwebs are removed
For open houses and inspections, you should also remove all rubbish, empty and wash bins, and make sure pet droppings and pet bedding is removed.
Source: funky junk interiors
Odours
Odours in the home are usually from pets, mould and mildew. Find the source and address the problem, rather than trying to ‘mask’ it.
Furniture and décor
If your furniture is a worn, mismatched, or a little ‘dated’, consider getting an interior designer to spruce up your home during the sale period. It might be necessary to put your furniture in to storage temporarily.
Greenery
Create a calm and inviting atmosphere by adding some healthy, green plants to your home’s indoor and outdoor areas. Little potted herbs perched on the window sill can freshen up the aesthetic of the kitchen. Hire larger plants if you don’t want to purchase them.
Source: BLOGLOVIN’
Good smells
Make your home smell inviting by roasting some coffee beans or baking fresh bread on the day of the open house.
Selling and moving
You’re on the home stretch when you’ve sold your property and the time comes to sort out furniture removal and storage. If you’re lucky, you’ve got access to a van or small truck and the manpower to do the moving yourself.
Need some help with the moving process? Connect with a number of skilled removals professionals in London on Airtasker.
