So, you’ve decided to sell! It doesn’t have to be stressful for you, although feeling excited and anxious is normal. Perhaps the best place to start is to have your home appraised. The best decisions are always based on the facts. Find a real estate agent that you like and trust and ask for information. You may have lots of questions and the right real estate agent will be happy to help. It is important that you feel completely comfortable with all aspects of the sale of your home.

Here are a few tips that we know will help you achieve the best price possible.

Pricing your home

Let’s start with the most important tip and get right into it.

1. Do not list your home with the agent that promises the highest price, without factual evidence to back it up. It’s easy for an agent to “buy” your business as we all want to get the best price for our home. However, without accurate, up to date sales data, we recommend caution as it can be very tempting to choose an agent who says they can deliver, yet can’t back it up with comparable sales in the area. While it’s true that you can drop your price if you are not getting the right response from the market, you will lose those valuable first few weeks when a property attracts the most attention from prospective buyers.
2. It’s handy to visit auctions in your immediate area to see what homes are selling for, or not selling for. Don’t judge your homes’ value on what another homes “asking price” is, rather try and find out the actual “sale price”. We can also assist you in finding a property’s sale price.
3. Price your home reasonably and don’t overprice it. A property that is priced reasonably always sells quicker and for a higher price than a property that is overpriced. As per point 1, setting a price you are happy with should be backed up by accurate sales data for similar properties in your area. This is quite often the hardest part as a vendor, because you do not want to undersell your home and will be very tempted to start with a “higher price”. However, the way the market works is as follows: Prospective buyers that know their homework and are ready to buy are watching and waiting for property, and they will also know what other properties are selling for. If you put a higher than market price, you won’t receive the enquiry and inspection levels that you should and the property runs the risk of sitting too long on the market and becoming “stale”. On the other hand, a reasonably priced property will result in several inspections an abundance of enquiry and a better opportunity for competition– and this leads to the best sale price.

First Impressions

Ever walked into a home and have felt it wasn’t the right one for you? It probably wasn’t, but the way it was displayed may have played a part in your decision!
Everything a prospective buyer sees has an impact of their assessment of your home and no it doesn’t mean you have to spend thousands of dollars improving your home for the all important first impression. The following are the most basic and effective ways to ensure your property stands out in the buyers eye:

1. Front of home and back yard:

Gardens and lawns should always be kept well presented. If you don’t have grass ensure that pavements are kept clean and weeds are maintained. Store away visible garden tools or toys.

2. Inside:
De-clutter: Minimise clutter to maximise space. You don’t need to get rid of your lounge suite or dining table – simply maintain a neat and clean interior. This could mean simply taking off all those magnets on your fridge, clearing kitchen benches and shelves, even shifting furniture to create a well ordered layout.
Minor Repairs: A prospective buyer will always notice the slightest crack or loose door knob, so the solution to these is to fix them! Some cracking in plaster work can be more significant to others and you may need to consider investing in some neutral paint colours. Other suggestions are to fix leaking taps, broken curtain rails, particularly vertical blind rails at the bottom and refreshing a room with a feature wall – choosing a modern neutral colour.
Consider This:
Every property is different, and you may feel that spending money on a particular area of your home will have benefit. You may be right, but it doesn’t hurt to get a few opinions. If you spend a lot of money renovating you will want to add this to the price. However, a prospective buyer may not share your taste or perceive the benefit. As specialists in property, we would be more than happy to guide you on any specific questions you may have.

Atmosphere in your Home
No less important when presenting your home for sale is the atmosphere that you want when a prospective buyer walks in. Here are some tips on how to create an appealing atmosphere:

1. Brightness – Are there gloomy areas in your home? Light is definitely your friend when selling and nothing improves the mood of a home more than a well lit home. Open all curtains and switch on lights in areas where you can’t get natural light.
2. Smell – Fresh flowers, baking bread or cake, freshly brewed coffee can all set the right smell tone. Alternatively, if you are a smoker or have pets consider opening windows and room deodorisers for fresh air.
3. Different Temperatures – If it’s a cold day, heat up your home. If it’s hot turn on ceiling fans or a cooling system.
4. Presence – Quite often a prospective purchaser will feel more comfortable looking at your home if you are not present. If you must be, it is recommended that children and pets are kept out of the way.