Value adding with DIY jobs in the hinterland

MCGRATH Coast & Hinterland’s area of specialty is homes, so we wanted to share some insights into jobs you can do at home to potentially add value to your property prior to listing for sale.

Step 1: Plan and organise any pre-sale renovations and repairs.

Walk around your property with fresh eyes. Pretend you are a buyer inspecting your property for the first time and write a list of all the improvements you could makes with the property that you spot on your walk through.

Whilst you may not normally notice the broken latch on a gate, or the loose paver on the path or the broken roof tile, potential buyers will, and you want to fix these before your first open home.

Once you have your list, start categorising them into jobs you can do, jobs for another member of the family and jobs that require an expert. It can take a while to find and book a tradesman and some jobs, such as fixing decking, painting the house or fence, sanding and refinishing floorboards etc can take a while so you need to plan this in advance.

Step 2: Declutter, store, donate, sell or discard.

This step is all about decluttering the home and removing some of your personal items and potentially some of your larger pieces of furniture to create a flow through the property.

Pack and purge is what we like to call it. Go room by room and sort items into different piles.

Step 3: Landscaping the garden.

Whether you have a small or large outdoor space, it’s important that you showcase it.

Buyers look at decks, verandahs, courtyards and gardens as extensions of their homes, a place to entertain family and friends and enjoy our beautiful climate.

Weed the garden beds, plant new flowers in the garden beds and spread fresh mulch. Mow the lawn and add top dressing. Trim all the greenery.

If you own a pool, clean the pool fence and around the pool, and if you haven’t already, get the chlorine levels checked so the pool is sparkling.

If your outdoor furniture is looking worn and tired, consider upgrading it, so you have fresh, clean and crisp pieces that really showcase your summer lifestyle. If this seems overwhelming, consider hiring a professional gardener to help you. Depending on the size of your garden, they should be able to get through a lot in a day and this can have a big impact on your sale result.

Step 4: Deep clean & curb appeal.

All ‘Hale’ the cleanest of homes

HALE Carpet Cleaning has been helping locals clean their homes throughout the hinterland for nearly 20 years now.

Maintaining a hygienically clean home environment is a critical factor in maintaining your health and the health of loved ones (pets included).

Hale Carpet Cleaning offers an extensive list of cleaning services – carpets, rugs, lounge suites (upholstery and leather), tile/grout, mattresses, cars, etc, and also applies protection and includes FREE deodorising.

Brad from Hale Carpet Cleaning has successfully performed thousands of jobs, and has the knowledge and experience to get the best result for you.

If you are looking to get those bigger jobs done around the house over the break, make sure you know what you are going to be paying for as prices for carpet cleaning can vary drastically.

Brad explains that the reason this happens comes down to how thorough the technician is and what equipment they use.

Brad says, “I’ve heard of carpet cleaners being in and out of a home in less than 20 minutes. Hale Carpet Cleaning uses a truck-mounted hot water extraction machine along with a thorough ten-step preparation and cleaning process. I will not rush a job.

“I will always give an indication of price over the phone, then give a written price prior to commencement of the job, therefore no hidden surprises.

“Price depends on a variety of factors such as, size of rooms, amount of soiling, stains present, age and type of carpet and when cleaned last, so I recommend a quick phone call to clarify the detail of your job, then I will discuss a price range.”

With the home looking more spacious and it being easier to clean, now is the time to start cleaning every nook, surface, cupboard and drawer. Go room-to-room to dust and clean every surface and nook. Make sure all your windows and window frames are spotless. Vacuum the property and mop the floors. Dust the walls and remove cobwebs high on the ceilings. Make sure there are no stains, mould, or animal hair on surfaces. Clean and tidy

If you want someone you can trust, who

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999 926.

the cupboards inside and out.

Making a good first impression right from the curb is your goal here. Buyers often do a drive past before working out if they are going to come back for an inspection, so the view of your property from the street, is important.

Power wash the paths and fence to ensure they are as clean as possible.

Ensure there are no cobwebs, wasps nest or dirt on fascia and eaves.

Make sure the street number is clearly visible.

Ensure outside lights are working. Step 5: Styling and staging.

With the property now decluttered and sparkling clean this step is all about pulling it together and styling it to sell.

Presentation is a critical part of the selling process. Whilst it is not guaranteed, we have seen styling a property for sale add up to 5% - 10% to sale a price. Of course, you don’t need to hire a professional, however they can help transform a property to ensure it appeals to a wider market.

Final step: Finishing touches.

Walk through your property again right from the curb, into each room and space. Again, take notes of any issues or things you may have missed and action these. This final step is all about finishing off the loose ends.