PREPARING YOUR HOME TO APPEAL TO BUYERS

Here are some ways to create the best possible impression when presenting your home to Buyers.

CURB APPEAL

A house with a well landscaped garden and neatly trimmed lawn makes a good first impression.

The exterior of the house should be neat and in good repair and the house number easy to read. The front door hardware and doorbell should be in good working condition and take the time to clean up any litter, and repair any broken windows.

In summer lawns and gardens must be well kept; beds weeded, mulched and neatly edged. Even if you need to hire a gardener for a time, the end result is probably worth the investment. In winter driveways and walkways should be clear of snow and ice. The garage/car port should be clean and tidy, and the eaves troughs and down spouts in good repair with down spouts discharging away from the foundation.

INTERIOR SPACES

At the front door make sure the foyer is clean and tidy. Put shoes and boots away. Make potential buyers feel welcome by placing a vase of seasonal flowers near the front entry door. The walls, if not clean or freshly painted, should be touched-up, and chips repaired.

Throughout the house all doors and cupboards should properly close, squeaks oiled, leaky taps and toilets repaired and burned out light bulbs replaced. All mirrors, fixtures and taps should be cleaned and polished, seals around tubs and basins in good repair and take the time to clean bathroom grout, clean and empty garbage containers, and clean and organize closets and cupboards.

In the kitchen the appliances should be cleaned and countertops polished and cleared of any clutter. Fresh flowers or a bowl of fruit on the kitchen table is a nice touch. Turn on the air conditioner in the summer, and have the fireplace lit during the winter.

Having a clean house is very important so make sure carpets are vacuumed, hardwood floors dusted and clean, tiled floors nice and clean, halls and stairs cleaned, and the furniture dusted. Remove personal photos and items, jewellery and valuables and take them with you or lock them safely away. Remove family photos from the hallway and living room walls – let the Buyers imagine their own pictures on the walls. Remove all excess furniture and ornaments. This can make rooms seem larger. Make sure that your rooms are fulfilling the function for which they were designed. Use the bedrooms as bedrooms and so on.

Pets should be absent and litter boxes cleaned.

Have a pleasant and welcoming aroma in the house like freshly baked bread or cookies, or percolated coffee.

PATIO AND DECK

All patio equipment, including BBQs, and children’s play swings, fences, decks and patios etc. should be in good repair.