21 Top Tips to sell
your home for more!
What Do Home Buyers Look For When Hunting For A Home? In the past 2 years many people have asked us what they should do in the way of presentation before putting their properties on the market and how important is it to have a well presented home. The simple answer is ‌ VERY important. Well-presented properties sell for more in the shortest amount of time. With more than 30 years in selling thousands of properties in your area we have found that there are many tips that will help you add a great deal of value to your property and we would like to share them with you. We hope you will enjoy this guide.
Initial Impressions - aka curb appeal No matter how good the interior looks, buyers have already judged your home even before stepping inside. There’s no second chance to make a great first impression to make people feel warm, welcome & safe as they approach your home. 1
Clean up your landscape and add mulch and colourful flowers.
2
Remove old overgrown brushes and trees. Fix masonry/paver stones around the house and driveway.
3
Paint your front door an inviting colour and add a pretty welcome mat.
4
Get your roof cleaned to give it a brand new, fresh appearance!
Darker stained floors are more popular today 5
If you have traditional honey oak floors or dated pickled floors, think about investing in refinishing. It is relatively inexpensive for the big impact that it will provide. If you have carpeting with hardwood floors underneath, uncover them! This is a huge asset you want to show off. Hardwood floors are “sexy” to buyers today, and can really help sell your home for more money.
Re-paint the house inside & out 6
Painting can be one of the least expensive preparations that can make the most impact. Have colours work in your favour instead of against you. Neutrals, neutrals, neutrals. You want it to feel inviting and evoke the emotions of warmth and joy. For a fresh look, paint the spindles & risers on your staircase white.
Renovated kitchen and baths sell homes You don’t want to do renovations….. But neither do buyers. The idea of giving the buyer a credit to do it themselves just doesn’t work. Even if buyers can get over the overwhelming negative connotation that the house feels old, they will want a discount for the time & effort to do it. On the contrary, buyers will pay a premium for an updated, move-in-ready home. If you aren’t up for a complete re-do of the kitchen and baths, implement simple alternatives to major renovations. Small poignant fixes can really make an impact. SUCH AS BELOW
Kitchens 7
8
9
Change the drawer pulls and cabinet knobs to stainless steel or brushed nickel. Some cabinets may benefit from being painted or re-stained. Consider re-facing if the cabinet boxes are in great shape. Add new stainless steel appliances.
10 Swap out your old counter tops
with granite and a new stainless steel sink. Regardless of our home’s price range, buyers want and expect granite!
Bathrooms 11 Buy some pretty, fresh, white towels. 12 Change out dated light fixtures. 13 Add new, stylish drawer & cabinet
pulls. 14 Remove the big, outdated mirror
and replace with a picture frame mirror. Or, if you’re crafty, paint or stain mouldings & add them around the perimeter to stimulate the look. 15 Add a new shower curtain to add
to the updated décor or consider adding a seamless shower door. Re-grout the tub and shower. Clean the grout on your tile floors.
De-clutter 16 While it’s the least expensive
Maximise the light 17
After location, a home with
suggestion, it is also the most
good light is one of the most
impactful. Plan ahead! If you are
requested qualities.
looking to sell during the height of
Buyers value great lighting.
spring market, don’t wait to start cleaning your property.
18
Remove heavy draperies and clean windows.
6-12 months ahead of time is not too early to start! Too much clutter can make a buyer feel stressed
19
Trim back bushes and trees to
and negative while walking through
maximise the light. Replace
your home. Simplified spaces evoke
light receptacles with higher
positive emotions & help buyers envision
wattage Bulbs
themselves living in your home.
Clean the Unfinished Spaces The unfinished spaces can give as
Clean the 20
Is there a musty smell? Consider adding a dehumidifier to take out excess moisture. Avoid perfumed plug-ins and deodorises. They appear as attempts to mask a water issue.
21
Painting the garage concrete flooring will give the space a fresh, clean look! Battleship grey is my preference colour choice! Think about giving the concrete block foundation walls a fresh coat of waterproof paint. It will give the buyer a sense of security that the house is moisture free.
much of an impact as the staged living spaces. Basements, utilities rooms, garages, and storage closets are typically forgotten when preparing a home to sell. Buyers know to carefully examine basements and attics for the REAL story on how the home has been maintained & its current condition. Super clean these areas like you would your kitchen. Make it sparkle!
Invite us in! We would be happy to make some suggestions to get you started. With the current shortage of properties and a good supply of qualified buyers, you - as a seller - can be in the driver’s seat. Even if you aren’t ready to sell your home this year or even the next, try to do some improvement projects each year so you can enjoy these upgrades yourself instead of just doing them for a new buyer.
Ready to get started? Just say the word.
Sweeney Estate Agents Altona Office: 54 Pier Street Tel: (03) 9398 3799 Altona North Office: Borrack Square shopping centre Tel: (03) 9398 3777 Point Cook Office: 5/73-75 Point Cook Rd, Seabrook Tel: (03) 9360 9399 Email altona@sweeneyea.com.au www.sweeneyea.com.au
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Altona Office: 54 Pier Street
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Tel: (03) 9398 3799
Altona North Office: Borrack Square shopping centre Tel: (03) 9398 3777 Point Cook Office: 5/73-75 Point Cook Rd, Seabrook Tel: (03) 9360 9399