So, you’re about to start the challenging process of selling your home and you wish someone can give you an easy handbook to help navigate through the process. Of course, no two sales are exactly the same, so a step-by-step plan isn’t always realistic or relevant. But we can help with one aspect: selling at the best possible price.
Prospective buyers are bound to haggle, trying to get a bargain and force you to come down with your price. But if you can make your home their preferred option—a house they simply HAVE to get—you’ll get as close to the asking price as possible.
Photo by Tierra Mallorca on Unsplash
Start with the Kerb
There’s no denying that clichés carry truth; so realize that first impressions DO last. The moment someone nears your home you want them to be impressed. That means your garden must be impeccable, clean and preferably green.
The reason this is important is that new homeowners want as little effort as possible. Would you like to spend days fixing up the garden when you move into a new place? No.
You also want your possible buyers to be in a positive mindset already once they enter the house itself.
So, use this smart strategy and fix fences, cut grass and plant a few flowers.
The Front Door is the First Impression You Need to Ace
Next up on keeping your would-be buyers happy is to impress the moment they make contact with your home: your front door. Also, consider the foyer and how you can improve this area:
- Give your front door a new coat of paint and visitors won’t think of the building as run down.
- Your front patio or the foyer can be transformed with new flooring or paint.
- If you have money for small renovations, the entrance to your home is a smart area to invest in.
The reasoning behind these tips is that you don’t want house agents or buyers to feel disappointed at the start. Negativity could cause them to filter out other positives about the house, no matter how good a salesperson you are. So, make sure everyone gets off on the right foot.
Upgrade the Security Features
Another area you can invest money in if you have a limited budget for renovations is security. And if you have the cash, go all out and give your building a few smart home features. A selling point at the moment is home automation in South Africa, so help buyers feel that they’re walking into a state of the art building:
- CCTV cameras they can control via their SmartPhones
- Sensors triggered by a movement that you can activate or deactivate online, so you stay in charge even if you’re not at home
- Doors you can control from the office or while you’re away on holiday
Adding modern, innovative features to an older home is a strong selling point because it’s one less thing future owners will have to spend money on to upgrade.
Small, Easy Fixes Make a Huge Difference
Perhaps you don’t have mounds of cash to spend but you know your house can be the perfect home for someone else. You simply need them to fall in love with it. Minor reparations or even DIY tasks can do wonders in boosting the resale value:
- Painting: A new coat of paint, inside and out if you can, improves the look of the home. Buyers will know they won’t have to paint anytime soon, assuring them they’re getting value for money.
- Cleaning: Here we’re talking about deep cleaning. During an open house, some people are bound to judge the sale based on the flooring. Whether you have tiles, carpets or wood flooring, a proper wash will create a fresh feel that visitors will appreciate.
- Nooks and crannies: You’ll always have potential buyers who look behind every appliance and inside each cupboard to find anything that’s amiss. And it’s their right to do so. So, make sure they’re not disappointed. Make sure each door handle works and remove dirt from the deep recesses under the sink or at the back of the storage cupboard. This improves the overall feel that’s a house that was well looked after. Buyers will be less apprehensive and make that offer.
[Conclusion]
Your home is worth much more than the price on the property agent’s website, because of the happy memories you created. But in order to persuade others to start making their own memories there, you need to appeal to their senses first. Now your know-how.
