Preparing Your Home For Sale? Tips Direct From a Sales Agent

Selling your home can be one of the most stressful things you can do especially when you think of what is involved even before your home hits the market such as:

1. Choosing which agent or agency to sell your home
2. Organising your contract of sale with your solicitor or conveyancer
3. Deciding on renovating or styling your home
4. Basic preparations inside and outside the home
5. Communicating the possible sale of your home with your finance institution

When trying to achieve the best price for your home, if you are thinking of renovating or just sprucing it up consider the following as a rule of thumb. Renovating can be a great way to add value to your property, but it is important to keep in mind that the cost of renovations may not always be recouped in the sale price. Don’t ‘overcapitalise’, or spend a lot of money on expensive renovations – like building on a new bedroom or re-tiling the roof – which you won’t get back when the house is sold. It is best that you consult your agent before you plan to start any works, such as repainting the outside of your home, is it worth your while.

Some tips to think about when preparing your home for sale include:

• Do a complete spring clean, try to de-clutter as much as possible throughout the home
• A fresh coat of paint can make a big difference: choose light colours to brighten up darker rooms.
• Make sure all the fixtures and fittings are in good working order, and clean.
• Polish your wooden and tiled floors and have your carpets professionally cleaned.
• Make sure your bathroom, laundry and kitchen are spotless.
• You want to give the impression of a healthy, luxuriant, colourful garden. Keep your lawn mown and raked, and make sure your driveway and paths are swept.
• Thoroughly clean the outside of the house, including guttering and windows.
• Clean up your garage and garden shed.