“Unclutter, unclutter, unclutter! Anything that doesn’t need to be in the house store it in the garage or get a friend to look after it. The unsightly clutter on the bench, the TV, top of the fridge or on any flat surface is a real no no. Put it in a cupboard or, dare I say it, shove it under the bed.
The less unnecessary furniture and clutter you have in the house the more spacious and fresh it becomes. Potential buyers will appreciate the actual size and inherent features of your beautiful home and that means more dollars for you.”
“When selling your home the cardinal sin is dirty bathrooms and toilets – believe me these are major sale killers.
Bathrooms and toilets must be kept scrupulously clean – the scum on the shower basin and screen, the stains in your basin, the mould on the grout. Keep the toilet lids down – there’s nothing worse than a smiling, open toilet inviting you to take a peak – God forbid that the kids haven’t left any surprises! If you reckon you could eat off the floor I’m betting you did a great job and that means more dollars for you.”
“Take a good look at your windows. In many ways they are the heart and soul of your home.
They reflect your attitude and your standards. Dirty windows are like dirty shoes – it doesn’t matter how well you dress up if your shoes are dirty your new dress or suit is not going to cut it for you.
Clean windows are like the facets of a diamond – make them sparkle and everything else simply shines. That means – more dollars for you!
“A fresh, clean smelling home is an absolute delight to inspect but there’s nothing worse than gagging at the overpowering waft of strong air fresheners.
The first thing that enters my mind when I’m greeted by the “smell buster” is “What are they trying to hide?” Don’t try to disguise odours by saturating them with aerosols, just clean up and open the windows.
You don’t want to give a buyer, or worse still your agent, an asthma attack!
Don’t cook food that will leave an offensive odour – fishy smells are pretty off putting.
Do have the coffee percolating.
The subtle hint of essential oils such as bergamot and geranium supplemented by mood music will help relax potential buyers.”
So the agent calls you and says he wants an inspection in fifteen minutes.
The breakfast dishes aren’t done, there’s dirty washing all over the laundry floor and in the kids bathroom, and there’s newspapers, magazines, books and even shoes on the floor in the bedroom.
Your immediate reaction is to freak out and wish the unthinkable upon your agent. However, you can save the day and save face, by simply piling all the washing into the washing machine and closing the lid.
The dirty dishes can be hidden in the dishwasher and yes, with a simple foot action, you can shove the books magazines, papers and even the shoes under the bed. Out of sight is out of mind!
“Some places I go into are so dark I swear I need a seeing-eye dog to find my way around.
“Natural light” is a major consideration in modern design and the majority of us just love it.
Open your blinds and curtains and let as much light into your home as possible – long gone are the days of emulating that dark and dingy restaurant.
This may be difficult to achieve with older homes so the strategically placed lamp will certainly suffice and present your property in the best light.
Talk about giving advice I went to a client’s place the other day took off my shoes and too my horror there was my big toe sticking out of my sock.
Well I copped both barrels, “Agents should never, ever get around with holes in their socks!” I covered my embarrassment with some lame joke and my client reminded me that for someone who’s been giving advice to others I’d better pick up my game.
From now on I’ll be keeping my holed socks well and truly covered by my shoes.
My advice to you, however is, never leave your shoes at the doorstep. Just like my toe, they should be kept out of sight. Keep them in a shoebox out the back.
First impressions count and like my big toe; an assortment of dirty shoes at the front door simply doesn’t cut it.
Before putting your house up for sale, always do the minor maintenance.
A dripping tap can easily be fixed with a new valve. Adjust the hinges and catches on cupboard doors so that they line up and open and shut smoothly – a little machine oil comes in pretty handy as well.
Replace the broken fly screen. Adjust the drapes that are sagging on one corner. Adjust the door that doesn’t shut properly. Have the broken or cracked window replaced and please make sure all your light switches are working.
A dripping tap may keep you awake at night but nonattendance to the above will cost you money.
Purchasers are entitled to a final inspection.
Unless specified otherwise there is an underlying assumption that all appliances are in good working order.
Finding defective appliances at final inspection can delay settlement.
Check the hotplates, oven, dishwasher, heater, air conditioner, hot water system, incinerator, spa bath, security system, fans and remote for the garage door.
Don’t let stuffed appliances stuff up your sale!
When selling your home feel free to make use of your friends – borrow their hall stand, large ceramic urn, some of their lovely paintings, perhaps a Persian rug, pot plants or even their outdoor setting.
These items will certainly add to the overall ambience assuring that your property will have maximum impact.
Yes and don’t forget to present your wonderful friends with a bottle of red at the end of the process.
We all love our pets but unfortunately not all buyers share our sentiments.
In fact, some buyers are completely turned off when they discover pooch or moggy inside the house. Things rapidly deteriorate when they can actually smell the dog or the cat food or for that matter the dog or cat!
You may not smell it but sure as hell they do.
Lock your animals up or take them for a walk and please clean up their eating quarters and pick up all the doggie doo’s. Even a little air freshener might make a difference.
Don’t let your adorable pet get in the way of a sale.
“I’m often fascinated to see grass growing out of your roof guttering - getting my lawn mower up there would be a sight to see!
Grass should only be seen on terra firma where you can actually get a mower to it.
Clean your gutters thoroughly and make sure your down pipes are not clogged up. I’ve often gone to an inspection when it’s bucketed cats and dogs and you guessed it – major flooding! If this occurs prospective buyers will just walk away from your property.
Avoiding this potential disaster means more dollars for you.”
Keeping your yard tidy need not be a terrible experience.
Simply rake up the leaves, mow the lawn.
Get rid of all dead and dying plants, whipper snip the edges and cover the weeds in the garden beds with fine pine bark (better than coarse because the birds don’t get at it.)
Also pick up all the doggie crankiest – wrap your hand in a plastic bag or skewer them with a sharp stick – you don’t want to be left with skid marks on your carpet during an inspection.
Say it with flowers.
The mood of your home is set the moment a buyer steps through the door.
When the first thing they feast their eyes upon is a beautiful floral arrangement, the “feel good” mood is immediately established and subsequently sustained throughout the duration of the inspection.
So you’ve taken all my tips on board and you’ve sold!
O.K. that’s good but don’t get caught up in the excitement of the great price you got because there’s still some work to do.
Let everyone know of your change of address– banks, accountants, insurance companies, ATO, Centrelink, schools, vehicle rego, license, electoral office, Medicare, medical practitioners, club memberships, newspaper subscriptions, phone provider, internet provider – Oh I nearly forgot and the kids !
