Although the property market is better than it was, it can still be difficult to encourage a buyer to take the plunge and buy your house. Buying a house is, of course, one of the most important decisions you can make – you’ll be living in it for years, if not the rest of your life. No wonder buyers are reluctant! As RogueRealEstate.com points out, nobody wants to gamble with investments like this one.
Luckily, there are steps both you and your real estate agent can take to make sure you sell your house for the best possible price.
- Get an Accurate Valuation
Make sure you consult a reputable company to assess just how much your property is worth, such as with property values in Sydney. Don’t just choose the price you like and put it on the market for that, because unfortunately, the likelihood is it just won’t sell.
In this market, only accurate valuations get buyers interested – no one’s willing to splash out on a rip-off in this economy.
- Show Off Your Storage Space
Don’t worry – we’re not asking you to install new cupboards and cabinets in a home you’re trying to sell. Well, not unless there’s a serious dearth, in which case, you may want to consider it.
But if you’ve got a normal amount of cupboards, and they’re normally full – declutter. Removing excess stuff from your cupboards will convince nosy potential buyers of just how much storage space your property has. It’s a cheap trick that will make your home more expensive!
- Illumination Station
By which we mean, light that baby up!
Before potential buyers arrive, open those curtains wide, and if it is even a smidgeon dark, turn on all the little lamps you can find. Keep those windows nice and clean, and if you have any old lampshades that look a little worse for wear, spruce them up.
Make sure white walls are as white as can be. Anything that makes your house look brighter, buyers are going to love.
- Pick the Right Estate Agent
Whatever estate agent you have, you’re going to want them to be on your side. Although maybe your friend of a friend recommended this one guy, don’t just go with him straight away.
Make sure you shop around and have a look at all the estate agents in your area. Check that they have properties of a similar price and caliber to yours, and most importantly, find out if they sell. If they sell well, they’re the right one for the job.
- Go for Small Improvements – Not a Total Overhaul
There’s simply no point in spending a fortune doing over a home you’re trying to sell – save that for your next property!
While touch-ups to the paintwork might help your home sell faster, massive redecorations will leave you out of pocket.
Go for affordable renovations, like getting all the curtains dry cleaned or renting a carpet cleaner. Don’t decide that now’s the time you need a conservatory or new windows.
- Keep It, Crisp
Now is not the time to be a mucky pup! When you’re selling your home, the best thing you can do is to keep it nice and clean before buyers arrive. Unfortunately, even annoying jobs like wiping the skirting boards make a huge difference to your home’s appearance, so dig in and get ready to clean those nooks and corners.
Leaving plates in the sink at a time like this is a huge no-no; prepare like your parents are visiting tomorrow, every day.
- Where the Kitchen Leads, Buyers Follow
It’s a real estate secret that’s not-so-secret: a great kitchen can often seal the deal on a home for sale. As we’ve said previously, that means keeping it spotless, but there are other little touches you can make to entice the appetite of buyers.
Go for things like aesthetically pleasing fruit bowls, bunches of flowers, and artful cookery books carefully placed – maybe even a cake on a cooling rack – to help buyers imagine themselves cooking there.
Good Luck!
If you follow these tips, you’re sure to get ahead on the competition and make your home stand out in what’s still a crowded market. None of these bits of advice should cost you too much money, but if you play your cards right, they might make you a killing!
Contributor: Zeke Daldy
