Selling your Home?

I have spent a life time in sales, marketing and design. I love to look at homewares, furniture, fabrics and all things that make a house a home but I hate shopping!

I can’t think of a better way to spend a boring Saturday afternoon than visiting the latest release of Display Homes, looking at their Design and Decoration (and a lot of then time picking up their faults in my eyes) or perusing the internet Real Estate sites to see what’s on offer. 

This is a passion I grew up with being the fifth generation of a Building family (we now call them Developers). My Aunt from the other side of the family only mentioned recently that she used to feel sorry for me as a child being carted in and out of these Displays, Lighting Shops, Hardware Stores, Timber Suppliers and the like; she had no idea it was more enjoyable to me than most other things.

Most of us at some stage in our life will have to sell a property. Whether this is our own or a parents and after viewing so many properties both in the flesh and via the internet I see so many not presented well especially in photographs so I decided to make a few pointers that may help without spending a fortune.

·         Make sure it’s clean. Sounds simple but so many are not. This means skirting boards, light fillings, walls, windows, curtains/blinds, the insides of cupboards (yes perspective buyers look in cupboards), driveways, gutters, garages – everything!

·         Remove clutter. Nothing makes a room look smaller than a load of clutter. You may love it but from the moment you decide to sell your home it becomes an investment and it’s about pleasing others.

·         Make sure the gardens are neat and tidy even if they are not landscaped. I would love a dollar for every time I have seen a lawn mowed and the edges not done.

·         Take the wedding portrait down especially if it’s above the bed in the main bed room. You want perspective buyers to look at the room and picture themselves in it; hard to do when the loving couple are staring at you.

·         Smell – make sure it’s inviting not overwhelming whether good or bad. We all know about baking the scones and brewing the coffee before an open house but nothing will cover the curry from the night before. The same goes for automatic air fresheners set to go off all the time. Apart from frightening the living daylights out of those who don’t use them they can be overpowering.

·         Fresh nicely folded towels in the bathroom. (I have used a new set that was only put out for display purposes – makes the process easier. Put the wet ones inside the washing machine)

·         De-clutter the cupboards. Pack up what you don’t use and store it during the sales campaign. Pay special attention to the linen cupboard.

·         Remove most things from the kitchen surfaces. A bowl of fruit or the like is fine but don’t leave the rice cooker, slow cooker, blender etc they just make the preparation surfaces look smaller. This also goes for Bathroom vanities.

·         Move all the power cables that can be. I have seen beautiful lounge areas with a pile of laptop and phone cords sitting in the corner or the Hairdryer/ straighter left out in the Bathroom. Spoils the total look.

·         Make sure rubbish bins are out of sight as so many people leave them in convenient areas which are fine but not when you’re selling.

·         Children’s toys need to be off the floor. If you are selling a family home the likelihood of a family inspecting your home with their children in tow is normal; children will be children and if they see toys on the floor they are likely to start playing which causes a distraction to their parents. We want them all to have a good look around not have to leave because their children are misbehaving.

·         Always remember the front of your home is the first impression so make it as inviting as possible.

There are many other things that can be done like fresh flowers inside and annuals in the garden a fresh coat of paint to make a property look inviting, the sky is the limit but the basics are essential.

Lastly take a million photo’s yourself before the Agent gets there and view them carefully. This is a great way to check how other people will view your home.

Have a wonderful weekend xoxo