Selling Tips

Presenting Your Property For Sale

The art of presenting a property for sale is an important one to master. Presentation is often the reason that two properties that appear the same on paper sell for vastly different prices.

We do not always recommend that you spend substantial amounts on major improvements. However, each home is different and your Lodge representative will discuss what improvements are necessary to maximise your value.

At Budget Realty we have identified space, physical presentation and the atmosphere you create as the three critical factors which effect the emotional response of a buyer to your home. Below we have listed some general handy hints you may wish to consider.

1. Physical Appearance

First impressions count...

How does your house look from the road?
What would you think if you viewed it for the first time?
These are the two questions that should be considered when assessing your homes desirability to a buyer.

Create an entrance or decorate a dull garden with pot plants & garden furniture that can be taken with you.
Prune trees or shrubs close to the property to help with natural light
Clean walls, floors & windows
Clean dust & cobwebs from the exterior
Repair items such as dripping taps, sticking doors & drawers, cracked windows & stained carpets
Repair paint where necessary
Ensure fences are in good order
Remove rubbish
Weed & cultivate the garden beds
Add a splash of colourful flowers to gardens

2. Atmosphere

Never under estimate the role emotion plays when buying a house.

Neutralise cooking & pet odours
Introduce vases of fresh flowers
Take pets with you during inspections
Wash & store dishes
Clean bench tops
Open curtains & blinds to let the light in
Turn on lights in dark rooms or passage ways
Put children's toys away
Make up beds
Keep a warm house in winter if possible

3. Space

More often than not, particularly with people trading up, buyers are looking for more space. It is very important to make each room appear as spacious as possible.

Store some furniture with a friend, self storage company or in the garage to open up rooms & hallways
Open curtains & blinds to allow as much natural light as possible in accentuating the feeling of spaciousness
Prune shrubs & trees close to the house which shade windows
If a property is vacant the use of decorator furniture for the period of the sale can be advantageous. This can help in both delineating spaces and in creating atmosphere in an empty space.