More for home sellers at my regular blog here...

So you've made the decision to sell.  The marketing plan is in place and you're ready to have potential buyers walk through your home, but the question remains...are you really ready for this?

Here are some tips that have proven to be invaluable to the successful home seller. The right preparation and just a little investment, whether it be time or money spent on sprucing up your home, can deliver significant financial results.   

    * Consider re-configuring rooms

If you are advertising a three bedroom home for sale then that is what people will be coming to see not two bedrooms and a large home office.  Consider re-organising the rooms for the sale to show them to their best advantage. Think minimal but comfortable. Hire or borrow some bedroom furniture, and put excess items in storage.

    * Tidy up the garden

Keep in mind that first impressions count.  Dig out weeds, put mulch on the garden beds, keep paths and the driveway swept, prune and shape trees and shrubs, and make sure rubbish bins are clean and tucked away. A couple trailer loads of wood chips can work wonders to give your gardens a clean, weed free look.

    *Think light and bright

Make sure the outside of your home is clean and fresh looking by giving the exterior a water blast. Hose down paths, trim back trees and shrubs especially in winter, and especially if they are near to windows. Go through and replace any dead or low wattage lightbulbs with nice bright 100 watters. This is not the time to think power savings! Nothing says that an owner doesn't care about a house like light fittings with dead bulbs. Make sure that the utility areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and laundrys are bright, clean, and clutter free. Clean any windows that have a view.

    * If you don't need it daily, then put it away out of sight

Crowded shelves and drawers can make rooms and storage space seem cluttered and smaller.  Consider putting non-essential items in storage throughout the sale period.

    * Not everyone loves your cat as much as you!

If you have pets, it is also advisable to keep them out of the house, or ask friends or family if they will look after them during inspections.  Remember to air your house as well as store your pets bowls and toys away prior to buyer visits. People who don't own pets are much more sensitive to animal smells, hair, and feeding areas. Smelly and dirty pet areas will kill a potential sale very quickly. This cannot be emphasized enough!

    * Remember first impressions last

Set the scene for your prospective buyer.  Draw attention to your home's best features by displaying fresh flowers and hanging fresh hand towels in the bathroom. Make the beds well and use cushions on beds and sofas to accent your highlight colour of the room.

    * Catch up with any deferred maintenance

If there are missing cupboard handles, scuffed or scratched walls, dirty window sills, mouldy curtain backs, dripping taps, sticking doors, or peeling paint, get it sorted! Buyers will notice. This sounds obvious but these things are too common in homes on the market not to reiterate.

    * Open Home Presentation

An open home is a great way to promote your home to prospective buyers.  With the right preparation, an open home can be very successful. In winter, turn on heaters through out the house before the open home so that buyers feel cosy warmth when entering your home. Also, switch on all lights in the house especially on darker days. Quiet background music can be helpful to create ambiance and make buyers feel more relaxed in your home, but don't choose anything too uptempo as it can make it hard for agent and buyers to talk and distract people from viewing your home. Think the kind of music you would encounter in an art gallery or suburban cafe.

    * Consider getting the Ratable Value revisited

If you have renovated your home at all, then pay to have a  Valuer from Quotable Value come and give your home an urgent valuation update. Read my blog on this subject here.

For more hints and tips to present your home in its best light, call David on 04 9382654 to discuss.