Selling Advice

Preparing Your Property

Little touches can generate big returns

Some of these changes may be cosmetic, involving literally no expense on your part. It might be something as simple as moving out some of your furniture and adjusting window coverings to best display desirable qualities of the home. Other changes might demand an investment, but the cost will likely more than pay for itself in the final sales price or the timeliness of the sale. It’s critical to keep all these aspects of pricing in mind, regardless of whom you choose to list your home with.

16 ways to help buyers fall in love with your home

1. You only get one chance to make a good impression:
Make a good impression from the first moment that a potential buyer enters your property. A freshly cut green lawn, manicured shrubs and a clutter-free verandah all welcome prospects. So does a freshly painted - or at least scrubbed - front door. The fewer obstacles between prospects and the true appeal of your home, the better. And remember the front yard is the first and last thing the buyer will see so be sure to keep it tidy. Simply, there is nothing more important than presentation.

2. Invest a few hours for future dividends:
Here’s your chance to clean up in real estate. Clean up in the living room, bathroom and kitchen. If your floors are scuffed or the paint is fading, consider some minor redecoration. Fresh wallpaper adds charm and value to your property. Buyers would rather see how great your home really looks than hear how great it could look, “with a little work”.

3. Check taps and bulbs:
Dripping water rattles the nerves and implies faulty or worn - out plumbing and may even discolour sinks. Burnt out bulbs leave prospects in the dark. Don’t let the little problems detract from all the things a buyer will love inside your home.

4. Don’t shut out a sale:
If cabinets or closet doors stick in your home, you can be sure they will stick out in a buyers mind. Remember that prevention is the best cure. Don’t try and explain sticky situations when you can easily plane them away. A little effort on your part can smooth the way towards a successful sale.

5. Think safety:
Home owners learn to live with all kinds of self-made hazards: extension leads, low hanging overhead lights, toys on the staircase. Make sure your residence is as non-hazardous as possible for uninitiated visitors.

6. Consider your closets:
The more neatly organised a closet, the larger it appears. Now’s the time to box up those unwanted clothes and donate them to charity.

7. Make your bathrooms sparkle:
Bathrooms sell homes, so let them shine. Check and repair damaged or unsightly caulking in the tubs and showers. For added allure display your best towels, mats and shower curtains. Eliminate any nasty odours and ensure there are no dirty clothes or towels in sight. Make sure the bathroom is as uncluttered and roomy as possible - this will give a feeling of increased space and make your bathroom seem larger.

8. Create dream bedrooms:
Wake up potential buyers to the cosy comforts of your bedrooms. For a spacious look, remove excess furniture. Colourful bedspreads and fresh curtains are a must, as are clean carpets and/or sparkling floors.

9. Open up in the day time:
Let the sun shine in! Pull back your curtains and drapes so prospects can see how bright and cheery your home is.

10. Lighten up at night:
Turn on the excitement by turning on all your lights - both inside and outside - when showing your home in the evening. Lights add colour and warmth, and make prospects feel welcome.

11. Avoid crowd scenes:
Potential buyers often feel like intruders when they enter a home filled with people. Rather than giving your house the attention it deserves, they’re likely to hurry through. Try to keep the company present to a minimum.

12. Watch your pets:
Dogs and cats are great companions, but not while we’re showing your home. Pets have a talent for getting underfoot. So, do everyone a favour and keep animals outside, or at least out of the way, and definitely under controlled supervision.

13. Think volume:
Rock - and - Roll will never die... but it might kill a real estate transaction. When it’s time to show your home, it’s also time to turn down the television or radio. Soft, classical music is the best choice for putting buyers in a positive frame of mind. “Soft” is the operative word.

14. Keep a low profile:
Nobody knows your home as well as you do. However FMR Sales Staff know buyers - what they need and what they want. If you are in the house at the time of inspection make sure you keep a low profile. Your FMR Staff will have an easier time extolling the virtues of your home if you stay in the background.

15. Defer to experience:
When prospects want to talk price, terms, or other real estate matters let them talk to an expert - your FMR Sales Staff.

16. Help your agent:
Let your FMR Sales Staff discuss price, terms, possession and other factors with the customer. Your FMR Sales Staff is better qualified to bring negotiations to a favourable outcome. Remember, what’s good for you is also good for your appointed agent.

Current tenants can use this form to contact us regarding rental matters, excluding repairs. A repair request form can be found on our website under repair request.

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