Selling Property? 6 Things to Do Before You List Your Home

Selling a home is a stressful venture. You want the right price, and you want the deal to be finalised as soon as possible so you can move on with the next chapter of your life. Did you know there are multiple ways to increase your chances of making that sweet deal happen?

Your potential buyers will look at your home with a very critical eye. Especially in large cities with many properties to pick from, everything from your front door and your roof to the odour inside and even your garage doors Melbourne, Sydney or other large towns’ buyers will consider every detail before signing that contract.

However, if you’re planning to get rid of the property fast, CashQuickBuyers and similar businesses will purchase homes in their condition as is. This means you don’t have to make any improvements or renovations to your property before putting it on sale. Also, you don’t need a real estate agent in this option, and you get everything that your property is paid for. 

If you’re not in a rush to sell your property and would rather maximize the amount you can get from it, there are some things you can do. Give yourself a fighting chance to have the home others are queueing to see and sign for. Do these few tasks, and you can look forward to a smooth listing and selling process.

1. Walk Around the Garden

Many homeowners only think of how the house itself impresses a buyer but what’s the first thing someone will see when they arrive? Your exterior which, depending on the type of property you’re selling, could include a garden. You don’t need a landscape artist, but neatness and tidiness will be essential. If you leave clutter such as broken toys lying around, it could make people doubt how well you cared for the property in general. 

Gardens also play an important role if people have kids or pets. Cut the grass or plant grass where there’s mud, so people can imagine their children running around and having fun. Those images in their minds will sell your house fast. 

2. Fix What’s Broken

Home buyers would like to check and test a home. Expect them to turn things on and off, open drawers and doors, and more. Know that they want to ensure that they’ll be buying a home with unpleasant surprises. So, it’s a good idea to make little repairs around the home. Think about that leaky faucet or that drawer that’s difficult to open. Maybe you have a closet door that squeaks and doesn’t close properly.

Check around the house yourself for details you may have missed. Check if the gate hinges need some oiling, or the cabinet hinges need tightening. Although you may think that these aren’t a big deal, these may have an impact on a buyer’s impression. Some buyers may also set a dollar value on these details.

3. Drive Down the Street

Take the ‘first impression’ one step further and drive down your street to your house and identify what you notice first about your property. If it’s the roof, make sure it’s painted and if it’s a tree you can trim it so it looks neater than before. Even a mailbox or the picket fence may need some paint to spruce it up if it’s the first image people will associate with the potential buy.  

4. Think Like a Criminal

Another important factor for most families these days is security. So, look at your property and imagine if it’s a soft target for intruders. 

Parents want to know their children are safe and the easier and more affordable it is to create such an environment, the better. This means a house with security features will be more sought after. What does your property offer to help people fulfil the need of safety?

Of course, you don’t want to invest a lot of money if you’re not going to stay in the house anymore, but something like security features may give you leverage to increase the asking price. To improve security on a budget, consider the following:

• If you have no cameras or alarm systems in place, at least repair or install a few lights that light up dark corners of the garden. Buyers will feel more at ease when they know they’ll be able to see what’s going on.
• On an existing security system, look for affordable upgrades or add an additional component that’s a bit more high-tech. 
• Look at all gates, walls, doors and windows and make sure to fix anything that could provide easy access to a criminal. 

5. Upgrade Where it Matters

As mentioned, you may not want to spend too much money just to get your house sold, but you should see certain upgrades as a wise investment. Buyers want to imagine moving in and having as little as possible to do before it feels like the home of their dreams. Here are some changes that will go a long way in ensuring them they’re making a wise buy:

• Changing kitchen and bathroom fittings will give the home a more modern look, so buyers don’t feel they’re buying an outdated building that will require a lot of upkeep. 
• By painting the roof or doing a new garage door installation Melbourne and other cities’ locals will have a different opinion about the age and condition of the home. Such a large feature of the building impacts people’s opinion more than you think. 
• A new front door or painting the existing one gives people a feeling of walking into a very well-maintained building. That puts them in a positive frame of mind while they look at the rest of the house.

6. Final Tip: Get into Character

From the start of this process, you need to get into character. Imagine you’re the buyer and view your property from his or her perspective. This is easy if you’re currently also looking for a new home. How are your rating each property you’re viewing?

Just remember that people’s needs aren’t the same, so you must use your imagination and also consider what others may want. Now, get creative with these tips and you’ll know how to turn your property into the one your neighbours are envious of.