So, you have made the decision to sell your house. Yes, that is a big step.

For most people like us, a house is not just a mere ‘property’. It is actually a ‘place’ where you have built countless memories with your loved ones. You have your routine works and personal touches attached all over it.

But once you decide to sell, it is important that you start to look at your house from a buyer’s point of view. And that is why it is time to get your precious home prepared for sale.

Yes, soon your “home” will no longer be yours. It is time to detach yourself from your house and think about what buyers will be looking for. We all know, first impressions last, and your property could be on a long list for sale in your area.

In this article we will talk about some tips for preparing your house to step foot on the selling market.

Give It a Thorough Clean
The first look always matters, and if the potential buyer sees a dirty and dusty rooms in your house, it will be very hard for you to get the deal. So, you need to do some preparations for it.

Give your house a ‘good clean’ from top to bottom. Make sure that the walls are neatly washed and the skirtings are fully dusted. If there are mould stains in the walls of the bathroom, make sure they are removed.

It is also recommended that you wash the floor carpets neatly and remove any unpleasant odours and stains from it. Besides, wash your windows inside and out.

You can use a pressure cleaner to spray down the pathways and exterior of your house.

Remove Any Personal Touches
Obviously, when you live in your house, there will be a lot of memories, personal treasures, and belongings which would reflect your lifestyle. Yes, all these things can make your home livelier, but for a potential buyer, if those things are there at the time of inspection, it can make it very hard for him/her to imagine himself/herself living there.

So, it is always a good idea to remove or reduce those personal items from the property. Family photographs, children’s artwork, collectibles, souvenirs, and highly personalised décor should be packed away and stored elsewhere.

Besides, photo frame collages should also be stored. If you have blank walls, try to find some inexpensive neutral modern art or mirrors to fill the void and give a sense of space. A plant here and there is a nice touch and still gives a homely feel.

De-Clutter Every Room and Create More Space
The most important area to de-clutter is the kitchen bench. As a kitchen is known as the “Heart of the Home” buyers will want to feel like they are getting the most amount of bench space for their money. Put away the appliances, the cookbooks, the fruit bowls – Anything that is interrupting that feeling of space. In the lounge arrange your furniture to show the maximum amount of space for that room – even if that means storing a couch or two in the meanwhile.

Within the smaller bedrooms you may like to swap double beds to single beds to emit the feeling of space. While in the master bedroom store away any extra pieces of un-necessary furniture – like bookcases, which can make a room feel busy and cluttered.

Take Out Any Pest Issues Early
There’s no deal breaker like an infestation of cockroaches or spiders! Get rid of them now! Also have your pest inspector find any potential termite issues before a potential buyer does. Prevention is always better than cure and it is always better to have any problems cleared up before your house goes on the market.

Boost Your Street Appeal
If your front yard doesn’t look neat tidy and clean, then a buyer is going to wonder if it is even worth looking inside! Mow your lawn, trim your hedges and bushes, weed the garden. Remove any cobwebs and tidy the front porch. Make the entrance to your house feel as inviting as possible.

Complete Minor Repair Works
Patch up holes in walls, and repaint brightly coloured feature walls. Fix leaky taps and cracked tiles. Doors that don’t close properly and loose handles should be attended to. Any general maintenance items that can detract from the beauty of your house should be done.

The Value of a Pre-Sale Building Inspection

Many times, it happens that a property seller does everything right – gives his/her property a good wash, and also puts focus heavily on the presentation. But unfortunately, they overlook one of the most valuable steps of property preparation: getting a pre-sale building inspection before putting his/her property on the sale-list.

A pre-sale building inspection is much like a certificate which ensures the property is fully ok and it is ready for sale. With this both the seller and a potential buyer would get a clear idea of the home’s current condition. Besides, if there are any defects, maintenance concerns, or structural issues present in the property it can be brought under attention.

This knowledge and information you as a seller get from a building inspection report is like an opportunity to amend the problems before buyers conduct their own inspections. With this, you will actually reduce the chance of a ‘price negotiation’ or a ‘called-off deal’ if any issues are found in the inspections from buyer’s side.

Any potential buyer would appreciate ‘transparency’ in a home buying process and will feel much more confident if the seller has taken the initiative to understand and maintain their property.

A professional inspection can provide valuable peace of mind for both parties and contribute to a smoother, less stressful sales experience.

FAQS

Q) Why should I prepare my home before putting it on the market?

With proper home preparation, you can actually create a positive first impression to the potential buyers. This always attracts more buyers, and can potentially increase the real sale value of your property.

Q) Is a pre-sale building inspection really necessary?

No, pre-sale building inspection is not legally ‘mandatory’ part of the selling process. But it is definitely a recommended process for sure as a pre-sale inspection can identify many hidden issues early. Thus, it gives you time to fix them before buyers conduct inspections from his/her end and finds various issues.

Q) How much decluttering should I do before selling?

To declutter your home, you need to look to remove any unnecessary furniture, personal items, and excess belongings so that all the rooms can look a bit more spacious, well organised, and appealing to the eyes of the potential buyers.

Q) What are the most important areas to focus on when cleaning?

Kitchens, bathrooms, floors, windows, and entryways are some of the important areas in the house which put the biggest impact on buyer impressions. So, you must focus on these areas greatly.

Q) Can small repairs really make a difference?

Yes. In property buying and selling, even a minor maintenance issues can create doubts about the overall condition of the property and lead to a bad or broken deal. Therefore, fixing them beforehand is always a good idea to improve buyer confidence.