First impressions are purely that… first impressions.
How your home comes across in the first few minutes of viewing with a potential buyer can critically determine the outcome at the other end of the sale process. Tasteful decoration, careful presentation, and clever use of space, can all often be the crucial differences between an ‘acceptable’ result and a ‘great’ result.
Here are just a few recommendations on how you can maximise the sale price of your home….
Before a buyer even steps inside your home, they will see it first from the road. Therefore, it’s crucial that the first viewing beckons those buyers in, rather than raising potential objections.
Improving your home’s street appeal encompasses simple gardening and home maintenance tasks such as
Once inside the home, ambience is crucial because it appeals to the buyers’ senses.
When it comes to house shopping, our three primary senses are sight, sound and smell. So how can you positively stimulate those senses?
The smell of polished furniture for example will subconsciously add to the feeling of cleanliness. Space & Light create the impression of space by removing unnecessary furniture and ornaments. Open all blinds, clean the windows and surrounding sills, and assess the need to trim any branches that may be overhanging in the garden. Remove any posters from bedroom walls and magnets or notices from the fridge. Installing 100 watt light bulbs also brightens up dark rooms considerably.
Clean out garages and sheds to show how much storage space is available. Similarly in the kitchen, it can be a good idea to clean out the pantry, while in the bedrooms, clearing out wardrobes creates the illusion of abundant storage space.
Buyers love to snoop and will open closet and cabinet doors. De-clutter and de-personalise as much as you can.
It is rarely necessary to conduct expensive work before selling your home, however do be prepared to carry out small maintenance upgrades such as
With Bayleys, I am intricately networked among the area’s best home décor designers, ‘home staging’ companies, building services, and landscape gardeners – who can all provide you with expert advice on ways to present your home for sale. It’s all part of the outstanding Bayleys customer service experience we willingly deliver at no extra charge.
While some homes require a bare minimum to prepare them for sale, others need a little additional input to really attract the market’s interest.
Make sure the entrance to your home creates a good first impression. Repair or replace old woodwork, clear away rubbish, cut your grass and tidy plants. You may event want to add a few new plants to create atmosphere and charm.
Ensure your bathrooms are attractive as they can be a major selling point. A fresh coat of paint, new mirror, blinds or curtains, green plants or even just a few soft matching towels can give an older bathroom a valuable lift in appearance.
If your kitchen needs a makeover, add some baskets of fruit, flowers, attractive blinds or fresh paint. Put away clutter and old electrical items, particularly if the kitchen is small.
Create a bright atmosphere by opening curtains and blinds, clearing branches or bushes that are overhanging windows and by installing higher wattage bulbs in darker areas.
Generate an impression of space by opening windows and doors, removing any clutter including unnecessary furniture or ornaments and by keeping walkways clear.
Keep your home warm and welcoming in colder months by lighting open fires or putting on the heater. In summer, turn on air-conditioning or let in the breeze through open windows and doors.
It is rarely necessary to conduct expensive structural work before selling a home. Make sure any obvious damage is repaired but take advice before adding extensions, pools or other major features.
Lastly, ensure everything is clean, tidy and smelling fresh. Make the beds, clear the sinks of dishes, put away clothes and have your carpet professionally cleaned.