With the recent tumult in the real estate market, it can be a nerve-racking time to put your home on the market.
But there is no need to get cold feet. While headlines may say one thing, the Northern Beaches remain a stunning and highly covetable place to live. The lifestyle and bushland surrounds mean the area has never gone out of fashion and this year is no exception.
This year, a few steps can ensure you sell your postcode 2101 home – whether it’s North Narrabeen, Narrabeen, Elanora Heights, Ingleside or Warriewood – with little stress.
Make sure it is ready to live in
The number one factor that separates the current market from past markets is that people are predominantly looking for homes that are ready to be lived in.
There was a time when every second buyer was looking to flip a property to make a profit.
This is far from the case in 2023.
Because of the skills shortage in the building industry, people are looking for homes that they can move right into and live in straight away.
The skills shortage means that buying a fixer-upper is a risk. Buyers may find themselves living on a construction site for months on end. ‘Flippers’ can’t expect to get the job done quickly for an easy return, They might be sitting on an empty property for months on end.
Before you list your home to sell it, take the time to make it appear as fresh and livable as possible. We can provide specific advice about which areas to focus on.
Creating a liveable home
Of course, you’re now thinking, “how do I fix up my home, though, when the same skills shortage affects me?”
There are lots of ways that you can make your home look brand new without bringing in outside help.
Paint: the quickest and easiest way to make your home feel fresh and new is a coat of paint. And painting is an easy job to do yourself. Just pick up some paint brushes and rollers, cover the furniture and choose some light, neutral colours so potential buyers can picture themselves living in your home.
Flooring: Another change you can do on your own and that will make your property look slick and new is to lay some new flooring. With new adhesive floorings available, it doesn’t have to be a difficult job. Laying floating floorboards or adhesive flooring gives rooms an instant lease of life.
Gardening: The state of your garden can make a massive difference to the first impressions potential buyers form when they arrive at your property. Tidying up your garden can be done over a weekend or, if it comes down to it, gardeners are usually easy to track down (try the hipages to find someone local). For a small cost, you can make sure your garden beds are neat and free of weeds. Lay some grass if you need to, and make a clear path from the front gate or entrance to the front door of the house. This is also a good opportunity to ensure that you have a clear and easily visible house number to make it easy for potential buyers to find your property.
Fixtures: You can make kitchens and bathrooms feel brand new with fresh fixtures. It can be as simple as new door handles, or you can replace doors altogether, add new taps or go all the way and replace sinks. Whatever you can do to make your home look fresh and ready to live in.
The current market on the Northern Beaches
If you’re nervous about selling in the current market, don’t be.
Listings have been limited this year as long-term home owners hold onto their places. Meanwhile, enquiries continue to come in thick and fast. Keep an eye on the property pages and you will see most listings come and go in a matter of weeks; which is a good indication that your home will do the same. Behind the scenes, many more properties are being exchanged without even reaching the market (and we can discuss this as a strategy if you like).
Even in a tricky economic time, if you have a quality family home or a well-maintained apartment that is clean, well-presented and liveable, you should find selling is easy.
Thinking of selling your home this autumn or winter and want to discuss current market trends? Feel free to get in touch – we’re always happy to help.