Tips For Preparing Your Home For Sale
With every house sale, the aim of the game is to create a positive first impression to a wide range of potential buyers. This in turn generates numerous offers and therefore driving the competition higher.
While we all love our own interior tastes, this process is unfortunetly not a time to express our own personal identities. Keeping your home neutral is extremely important to drive as many offers as possible. Home Style Co shares three important areas in the preparation of preparing your home for sale.
Maintenance
The first impression is everything in the successful sale of a property. A well-executed external presentation creates an inviting pathway to explore into the home further. Also the level of internal maintenance that lies behind the decorative artwork, furnishings and accessories is what buyers evaluate.
Quick tips:
Ensure the number of your property is visible from the street. Trim any branches that might block the view.
Make sure any lawn is mowed and remove any dead plants.
Sweep the pathway leading to the front door. The help of professional pressure cleaning could also be beneficial to remove any stubborn stains.
Check and replace any external light globes.
Hide away your garbage bins out of sight.
Cover and patch any holes in the walls.
Replace any chipped or broken tiles.
Give your internal walls a fresh coat of paint to make the space come alive. Keep the colour to white/cream/grey neutrals to create a sense of calm.
Cleaning
Presenting your home in a clean and tidy state is extremely important. An immaculate space displays that the home embodies a high standard and has been well maintained. Simple cleaning practices can be completed before photography and open inspections, however it may be a consideration to hire a professional cleaning service.
Quick tips:
Clean all windows and frames, and remove any cobwebs.
Clean the carpets and wash the floors. This task is where a professional would be helpful.
Make sure the kitchen oven and inside the cupboards are clean and tidy. Many buyers like to take a sneak peek inside to assess the storage space.
Double check there is not any stains, mould, or animal hair on any surface.
Decluttering and Neutralising
In order for buyers to fall in love with your property and make an offer, they need to visualise their future lives in the home. Unfortunately, stepping inside and being greeted with a wall of family photos, personal knick knacks, and specific interior tastes creates a barrier on this ability. A ‘blank canvas’ is necessary for the buyer to not feel they are intruding on your space, and able to make it their own.
Quick tips:
Remove family photos and personal items such as clothing, bedside items, and even fridge magnets and notes.
Remove any colourful bed linen.
Clear the clutter and appliances on the kitchen bench such as toasters, kettles, sandwich press, fruit bowl etc.
Remove personal items and towels from the bathroom.
Hide or tidy any cords in bedrooms or living areas.
Remove any bright or colourful artwork.