Bespoke Real Estate - Dress To Impress Booklet

Dress to Impress how to prepare your property for profit

First impressions count

We want to maximise your sale price and make the sale of your property a smooth experience.

An integral part of this process is working closely with you to ensure your property is cost-effectively presented for maximum appeal to buyers.

So we’ve put together some great ideas on preparing for sale. If you would like specific advice on your property or to speak with one of our home stylists, please do not hesitate to contact us.

It’s all about the look & the feel

Impressive presentation both inside and out has the potential to heavily influence sale price.

Grand Entrance

Create a ‘wow’ factor entrance and decorate the front garden with pot plants and garden furniture.

Garden Setting

Weed and mulch the garden beds and consider adding a splash of colour to garden beds and any pot plants. Also prune trees or shrubs close to the property to help with natural light.

Interiors

Repair and paint where necessary, clean walls, floors and windows, steam clean carpets and make running repair to items such as dripping taps, sticking doors and drawers – this is the sort of thing that prospective buyers will notice.

Furniture

Less is better. Store excess furniture to ensure rooms appear as spacious as possible.

General tidy up

Remove rubbish from the exterior of the house, ensure pool is pristine and fences are in order. Also think about removing any items that might look uninviting.

De-clutter

Remove all unnecessary articles from rooms to enhance the sense of space.

Cobwebs & dust

Remove cobwebs and dust from inside and outside the house.

A place with space

Simple Tip: One

Storing unnecessary furniture off the property to open up rooms and hallways and rearrange to improve walk-through flow.

Simple Tip: Two

To accentuate the feeling of spaciousness open curtains and big, clean windows to let in natural light.

Simple Tip: Three

The art of creating space within a home can make an incredible difference. Here are some simple tips that can help your home appear spacious and open. 1 2 3

On the outside, trim or prune the trees and shrubs which shade windows and block out important natural light.

Cost-Effective

Dress to Impress checklist

1. Make a list and take photos of the repairs required to your home

Think like a purchaser. The golden rule of thumb is – if something needs to be repaired, fix it!

2. Repair yourself or outsource

Collate a list of your preferred trades’ and their contact details

Invite trades to quote on the repairs

Do your research to find the best price

Major works might not be in your budget but minor changes to the garden landscape or replacing an old fence can make a significant difference and not break the budget.

Our professional team can guide you with possible improvements to your property in preparation for sale.

Look at DIY. Bunnings have some great tutorials on their website on how to fix a leaking tap to planting a veggie garden.

3. Do one room at a time

4. De-clutter, de-clutter, de-clutter

5. Complete general maintenance

See our checklist on the next page

We advise clients to be careful on how much money they spend to improve their homes prior to selling. However, some additions and improvements are well worth the spend.

Be Prepared

General checklist

Inside

• Check smoke detectors

• Clean and disinfect the dishwasher by operating it when it’s empty and putting bicarbonate soda in the detergent tray and vinegar in the rinse holder

• Vacuum refrigerator coils

• Empty fridge waste container

• Check doors and windows for cracked seals and peeling paint – repair as needed

• Dust/vacuum the tops of cupboards

• Move furniture that you don’t normally move and vacuum thoroughly

• Inspect bathroom and kitchen tiles and sinks and reseal where needed

• Clean curtains and blinds

• Clean all of the windows

• Clean light fittings and skylights and if your kitchen has fluorescent lighting fixtures, use ‘warm-white’ bulbs for a bright appearance

• Clean kitchen exhaust hood and filter

• Clean sliding door and window tracks

• Clean debris from ceiling fan blades and air conditioners fan blades before using

• Check taps and supply lines of plumbing for signs of leakage

• Test the pressure relief valve on your hot water system to ensure it hasn’t seized up

• Repair loose knobs, latches or handles on doors

• Make storage areas appear generous and well planned

• Remove any items from the floor area – this will make a wardrobe seem more spacious

• Hang an air freshener in the robes for a pleasant fragrance ensuring wardrobe interiors smell fresh and clean

• Ensure all robe lights are in working order

• Add battery lights to robes that lack built-in lighting, as illuminated robes appear bigger and more attractive

Outside

• Sweep and pressure-wash the driveway and paths to remove debris, dirt and stains. Remove any oil stains if possible. Repair and patch any cracks

• Check your fence for any loose or broken posts and replace any rotted wood

• Check gutters for leaks or damage and remove debris

• Lawn care: mow high and often. Feed the lawn with fertiliser, treat weeds, and aerate the lawn in high traffic areas

• Trim your plants back with secateurs

• Clean out your irrigation system twice a year to ensure your plants get the best quality water and at the

same time remove material that can settle in the lines and block the filters (unscrew the drip or spray outlets, flush the line, then clean the filter)

• Promptly pull out weeds or spray with specialised weed killer as soon as they appear and before they set seed

• Mulch garden beds to prevent soil drying out too quickly and hinder weed growth

• Inspect exterior paint and touch up as needed

• Clean and seal decks if needed

• Cut back overhanging trees from the roof line

• Repair/replace any damaged window screen mesh

• Inspect walls and ceilings for cracks, leaks, mildew or water stains

• Inspect roof for damage

• Winterise the pool (if applicable)

• Reseal concrete areas to prevent cracking and deterioration

Picture Perfect

Here’s some tips on how to best prepare your home for photography and inspections.

Living areas

• Remove all unnecessary furniture and clutter to create an impression of space

• Turn on lamps and ensure they are working

• Replace any faulty light globes

• Ensure all curtains are hooked up properly and open

• Remove sheer curtains all together if possible

• Add fresh flowers

• Depending on the weather, heat or cool your house to make guests comfortable

Kitchen

• Tidy kitchen and remove all items from the bench tops including appliances

• Remove all dishes from sink including drying racks

• Remove all tea towels

• Clear off all fridge magnets

• Add a bowl of fresh fruit to the bench for colour

• Remove rubbish bin to outside

• Remove pet bowls and litter trays

Bedrooms

• Make beds

• Turn on lamps

• Clear all items off bedside tables

• Reduce items on dressing tables and drawers

• Light Candles

• Empty cupboards of off-season clothing and pack them away for the move

• Organise cupboards to demonstrate the most efficient use of space. Cupboards should look as though there is room to add more

Bathroom

• Put fresh fluffy matching towels in the bathrooms

• Scrub and clean shower screens, basins and mirrors

• Remove items from the shower

• Remove all items except for decorative bottles from the basin

• Remove waste and linen baskets

• Light candles

Garden and street

• Mow the lawns

• Remove any weeds or rubbish from footpath

• Store toys out of sight

• Remove pet droppings

• Arrange for someone to look after your pets

• Keep cars out of sight (garage)

• Where possible, ensure the neighbouring properties are well presented and offer to mow your neighbours lawn if necessary

• Clear cobwebs, get rid of peeling paint and grime

• Sugar soap or wash the gutters, eaves, fascias, weatherboards and Colorbond roof

Entertaining areas

• Clear off outdoor settings

• Add cushions, pot plants or a fruit bowl

• Light candles

• If you have a pool make sure it is sparkling clean and inviting