feel right at home.
Blackshaw has been a leading influence in the region’s real estate landscape since 1988.
As the largest and most respected locally grown brand, our reputation is to serve the needs of our clients, to push the industry with solutions in marketing and technology, and to address the growing demand for information, choice and transparency.
Property markets move fast, and presentation is key. A well-prepared home creates a strong first impression , leading to more interest from potential buyers and ultimately, the best possible sale price .
At Blackshaw, we’re here to guide you through the entire selling process, making it smooth and successful . We’ll work closely with you to showcase your home’s strengths and create a space that potential buyers can easily envision themselves living in .
Turn the pages to discover our proven tips for maximising your home’s appeal and ensuring your property makes the best first impression when we launch to market.
Here's what you'll find inside:
- Phase 1: Pre-sale maintenance
- Phase 2: Getting photo-ready
- Phase 3: Preparing for inspections
At Blackshaw, we recommend smart preparation over extensive renovations – you can easily make a lasting impression without breaking the bank. However, our general rule of thumb is – if it needs to be repaired, fix it.
While you may see or believe the repairs are insignificant, a potential buyer may question the maintenance and upkeep of the rest of the property. Non-critical and minor repairs could indicate other more serious issues in the mind of a buyer and may result in lower offers or lengthen the amount of time on the market.
Many buyers are also looking to escape the maintenance of their previous property, so it’s important to present as neatly as possible. Your Blackshaw agent can assist with advice and referrals to trusted trades.
A well-presented home speaks volumes. Great photos of your property are one of the main ways to draw a buyer in, they are the first point of contact that a buyer has with your property. Therefore, it is essential that you present your property in the best possible way. Excellent presentation and high-quality photos will draw more potential buyers into your home.
Consider this a roadmap to success. We’ll be here to guide you every step of the way, from prioritising tasks to achieving a polished presentation that drives the best sales outcome.
- Declutter and depersonalise: Remove excess furniture, personal belongings, toys, and clutter. Aim for clean, open spaces.
- Deep clean all surfaces: This includes walls, floors, windows, fixtures, ceiling fans, and cabinets.
- Maximise natural light: Open curtains, blinds, and remove any obstructions that block sunlight (tidying and decluttering also goes a long way to helping a space feel lighter and brighter).
- Floors: Steam clean carpets and rugs, treat timber floors and fill any gaps between floorboards if necessary.
- Clean light fixtures, if you can, remove the fixtures and clean with hot, soapy water or run through the dishwasher.
- Dust the tops of ceiling fans, skirting boards, around door frames and any other hard to reach places.
- Clean and organise cabinets and drawers: Remove excess clutter to showcase ample storage space. A functional kitchen is high on the priority list for most buyers so it’s important to tick the boxes.
- Wipe down countertops and appliances: Going the extra mile with presentation can make the world of difference through the sales process.
- Stage the countertop: Add a decorative bowl with fresh fruit or a small potted plant. Tidy away smaller appliances to maximise the appearance of usable workspace.
- Take out your stove’s exhaust fan covers to remove grease and grime gathered from cooking.
- Don’t forget to clean your oven inside and out.
- Make beds with clean linens and inviting throws.
- Tidy away any clutter or personal belongings particularly from corners, bedside tables, or open shelving.
- Tidy and fold or hang clothes in wardrobes to present ideal storage solutions. We also recommend hanging an air freshener in the wardrobe for a pleasant fragrance.
- Keep items off the floor of wardrobes to give the illusion of more space.
- Ensure that excess items such as shoes and school bags are tidied away.
- Dust railings and wipe down skirting boards.
- Make sure your stairs are safe: Check that railings are securely fastened and that there is adequate lighting.
- Arrange furniture to maximise space and flow: Create a welcoming and inviting atmosphere, it may not be how you use the space but arranging furniture to show the room in its best light can help buyers visualise themselves in the space.
- Accessorise with throw pillows and blankets: Add pops of colour and texture to the space without adding additional clutter.
- Display fresh flowers or greenery: Breathe life into the space making it feel fresh and clean.
- Organise storage space: If buyers see that cupboards and shelving are overflowing, they may assume that storage space is inadequate.
- Clean and disinfect all surfaces: Clean tile grout, wipe down shower screens, replace old or dirty shower curtains, clean mirrors.
- Remove clutter from vanity tops: Keep toiletries and personal items tidied away.
- Repair leaky taps and ensure drains are unblocked and cleaned.
- Buy new towels and hang them neatly on rails: Keep them to a minimum for tidy presentation.
- Wipe down washing machine and tumble dryer.
- Tidy away laundry detergents and cleaning supplies where possible.
- Clean laundry sink and ensure drain is clear.
- Organise cupboards, shelving, and storage areas.
- Ensure the ceiling is clean and free from mildew or mould.
- Create a productive and inspiring atmosphere: Tidy desk of clutter, personal items, cables, and organise any shelving.
- Tame overgrown landscaping: Sweep up leaves, prune trees, lay down fresh mulch, and pull up weeds.
- Sweep decks, balconies, and walkways: Remove any excess furniture or clutter to ensure the space feels inviting and usable.
- If you have a wooden deck, ensure that the wood isn’t too faded and treat as necessary.
- Clean windows and tracks inside and out: Sparkling windows allow for more natural light and create a sense of openness.
- Repair or replace any broken or cracked windowpanes.
- Make sure flyscreens are clean and free from cobwebs.
- Sweep or pressure hose front paths, steps leading up to your front door, and remove cobwebs from around the front door.
- Replace or remove a tired door mat and remove clutter from around the front door.
- Organise and declutter the garage: Potential buyers will be interested in its storage space and accessibility.
- Ensure the garage door is functioning properly and repair if necessary.
Property styling can help buyers project themselves into the home. Sometimes it’s hard for them to visualise themselves in the space (particularly if the property is empty). Styling can help provide impact in the marketing campaign and assists in creating a lasting emotional connection. In empty homes, styling helps provide a sense of spatial proportions and flow; property styling can help potential buyers assess the layout, room sizes more accurately.
Both in-home and virtual styling have been proven effective. Virtual styling provides a quick and costeffective solution by using computer modelling to style your property after the photos have been taken. Styling isn’t essential, and may not be right for you, talk to your Blackshaw agent about your options.
Inspections can have a huge first impression on the buyer. They are all about creating the right feeling and drawing an emotional response.
We believe that buyers buy feeling. When they come into the home, they’re looking at how they can live and relax in the space. Anything you can do to contribute to that feeling helps, especially when it comes to the negotiation stage.
It’s a good idea to imagine yourself as a potential buyer walking through your door for the first time, the inspection is their chance to experience your home and envision themselves living there. Creating this emotional connection is key.
Preparing for an open home is all about ensuring prospective buyers have the best possible experience. This often goes beyond what they can see, we want to try and engage all the senses.
By creating a positive emotional connection, you’re more likely to attract buyers who appreciate your home’s unique character. Your Blackshaw agent is here to guide you through this process, ensuring your open house presentations are a success.
If you live on a busy street or there’s traffic noise from the surrounding area, think about the time of day your house looks and feels it’s best. Does it benefit from inviting afternoon sunshine, or perhaps sparkles in the morning light? Where possible, your agent will schedule the open times to the time of day your property is at its best.
If you’re selling your property in the middle of summer, turn on the air-conditioning or ceiling fans before the open home so that’s a cool relief when potential buyers come through. Likewise, if it’s in the cooler months, turn on the heating to take the chill off during open homes.
A scented candle (with a neutral aroma) or freshly baked cookies can create a warm and inviting feeling. Soft music playing in the background can add a touch of ambiance.
Open windows for fresh air and natural light. Turn on lights throughout the house.
Not everyone will love your pets as much as you do. To ensure a welcoming environment for all, kindly remove your furry friend and any related items from the premises.
We know there’s a lot of things to get through and it can be overwhelming to keep track of your to do list. We’ve put together a list to help you out.
Maintenance Checklist
Address any minor repairs
Fix leaky taps
Touch up chipped paint
Deep clean kitchen: surfaces, floors, appliances
Deep clean bathroom: vanity, mirror, shower, bath, floor
Declutter countertops and tidy away personal belongings
Remove cobwebs from windows and corners of ceilings
Wipe down window tracks and skirting boards
Make beds with fresh linens and put excess items in wardrobes
OUTSIDE
Mow the lawn and remove weeds
Sweep paths, walkways, and balcony or courtyard
Clean windows and remove any cobwebs from flyscreens
Declutter around the front door
Vacuum and mop floors
Wipe down all surfaces
Declutter surfaces and put away personal items
Make the beds
Open blinds and curtains
Turn on lights
Turn on heating or air-conditioning
Take your pets with you