Your house is one of the most valuable assets you’ll ever own, so of course when it comes time to sell, you’ll want the best possible price for it. House prices fluctuate with the market but there are still plenty of things you can do to ensure you get the very best price you can for your home. All it takes is a bit of preparation and some planning in advance so that you can make a great first impression on potential buyers. You only get one shot at getting the highest price you can, so make it count.
Styling your home
You aren’t just selling a home; you are selling a dream of the life the buyer can have. Styling the home in a way that speaks to them on an emotional level will fetch more than a house that has been neglected or is full of clutter.
Home styling is not the same as renovating. It is simply preparing the home for sale with the aim of selling it as fast, and for as much, as possible. You can style your home with furniture and decorative pieces that you already own, or you can go further by hiring a staging specialist. They will bring in their own furniture and props to highlight the best parts of the home in a magazine worthy way.
Once your house is styled and ready, enlist the help of a professional photographer to get your marketing shots. It is important to get great photos as this is what will entice people to come and view your open home. Your house can look as amazing as possible, but if you have dark and shadowy photos to use in your listing, you’ll lose a lot of potential buyers before they’ve even set foot inside the property.
First impressions count
From the moment the ‘for sale’ sign goes up, people will be looking at your house when they drive or walk by. First impressions really count, especially as this first glance is all they are able to judge on until they’ve seen the rest of your house.
Look at the front of your house with a critical eye. Take note of anything that needs fixing that you may have overlooked when you were living there. Leaky downpipes, a broken hinge on the front gate, peeling paint on the façade of the house. All of this adds up to the overall first impression a potential buyer will get.
What about the front garden? A study has shown that the dollar for dollar return on investment in landscaping can be higher than any other home improvement. Good landscaping can increase the perceived value of a home by 5-11%, so it is well worth putting in the time to make sure your garden is neat and tidy.
Keep your house ‘on show’ from the moment it is listed, by leaving warm and inviting porch lights on at dusk and keeping the pathway to the front door clear of clutter.
Kitchens sell houses
Kitchens sell houses, but before you start a major renovation on your kitchen, speak to your real estate agent first. In some cases, just a small fix up will do and in other cases, it’s best not to touch the kitchen at all. Your real estate agent should be able to guide you on whether the investment of a full renovation is worth it in your specific case.
Sometimes all a kitchen requires is a bit of updating; a new benchtop, new taps or new handles for the cabinetry. A quick trip to Bunnings might be all that is needed.
If the entire house needs renovating or could be marketed as a knock-down, it is usually best not to invest in updating the kitchen. Potential buyers won’t want to pay any kind of premium for a new kitchen if they are planning on demolishing the house or doing their own rehaul.
Renovated or not, a kitchen should be useable and clear of all clutter before it is put on the market.
It’s never too early to start working on preparing your home so it is ready for sale. The first step is to have it valued by a professional. Contact us today for your free appraisal.