If you’re on the verge of selling your home, your top priority is always to get as much money as you can; so it’s worthwhile investing in time and money to make sure your house is absolutely ready for sale.
While your property needs to be immaculate, you also need to strike the perfect balance between having a clean and tidy home and one that also has some character and looks completely liveable.
Amir Mian from Prestige Property Agent has shared his top tips for buyers and it all begins with ‘clearing the decks.’
The art of decluttering:
“It’s important to remember that, for most people, the first time they’ve seen your home is on the real estate agent’s website so you would have had to declutter for those professional photos. Make sure your home still looks the same way it does in those photos,” Mian said.
“You need to get rid of a lot of ‘stuff’ which can be handled with a good session of decluttering. Don’t keep personal framed photos around the house, and don’t have too many belongings. Keep it very simple so it’s easy for potential buyers to picture themselves living there.”
Beautify Your Garden:
“Always make sure your garden looks neat and tidy. If you can invest a small amount of money into a landscape gardener, it makes a huge difference as the garden will be the first thing people will notice when they walk onto your property. Make sure the lawn is mowed, the garden beds are weeded,” Mian said.
Don’t forget your Doors:
“If you have nice big doors around your house, particularly bathroom doors, I always ask clients to get them serviced so they open up nicely. It might sound trivial, but potential buyers will notice everything, including doors!”
Mian believes people need to put on their ‘buyer’s hat’ and see things from their perspective.
“They also need to think of selling a house in the same way they’d sell a car. For example, with a car, you’ll get it detailed before you put it up for sale and, if there are any scratches, you’ll dealt with them. It’s the same philosophy for a house. Look at every single detail and, if it’s not perfect, do something about it. It could make the difference between your house selling quickly or being on the market for a lot longer.”
One of the biggest mistakes people make when they are selling a house is giving their home a colour scheme that might not be to everyone’s tastes. Mian said he’s seen it all: from fluorescent yellow to red and purple.
“If your child’s favourite colour is purple, think twice before you paint the entire room in that colour. If it’s personalised too much it really has an impact on the potential buyers because, unless they love purple, they are not going to visualise themselves living there,” Mian said.
“You’d be surprised at the things that can completely turn people off buying a property and, changing the colour of a room is something that’s very easy to fix. Always remember to look at your house through a buyer’s eyes, not the sellers!”
Mian also advises pet owners to remove any signs of them, such as kitty litter or dog food.
“I also advise people not to have too many pictures on the wall as it can make rooms look smaller; also make sure your kitchen benches are completely cleared. And, when it comes to the bathroom, remove most of your personal belongings as people don’t need to see what brand of shampoo or skin care you use. It’s little things like this that can make a huge impact.”