In this blog post, I am talking talking about the things that people often overlook or don’t realise have such a big impact on potential buyer perceptions of their property. This is a short but impactful list to keep in mind the potential mistakes when preparing a home for sale. These come from our own experience working with variety of clients on projects from small 2-bedroom units to large two-level homes.
Mistakes when Preparing Home for Sale
#1 Not fixing or improving lighting in the house to create better ambiance.
Here are the most important reasons why you need to improve the lighting of your home before putting it on the market:
- if a home is darker, it feels less welcoming, less clean, and suggests potential future problems like fix-ups that you can’t see immediately
- mismatched colour (warm vs cold) lighting not only makes a space feel confusing but also shows a lack of care
- improving lighting is especially important if there in not enough natural light coming in
The other benefits of updating the lighting in the home before selling it are:
- updated light fixtures are often a quicker and easier way to update a home
- you don’t need to update your home with costly light fixtures; there are many on the market that look stylish but are very affordable * to make a home feel cosy, always prefer a warm white colour lighting; exception can be for service rooms like laundry
#2 Not cleaning properly the out of sight spaces in your home , such as:
- the kitchen rangehood filter,
- oven,
- bathroom fan covers,
- behind toilets,
- etc
When preparing a home for sale, we often forget about the functional but out of sight places in our homes that tend to gather a lot of dust and dirt.
First impressions count and many people would feel that the home is not very pleasant even if they don’t consciously understand why they feel this way.
The other big thing to remember is that when deciding on a home purchase, it is most often the woman that has the final saying. And we know that for women, in general, cleanliness is very important.
#3 Not decluttering enough when selling your home while still living in it
Potential buyers need to be able to see themselves in the home, and to be excited about the prospect of living there.
Otherwise they will either not be interested in buying it, or will expect to get a deal, i.e. to get it at reduced price.
- Remove all personal belongings like family photos
- Clear most surfaces like benchtops, cabinets and tables
- Reduce the number of items you have in display cabinets and shelves
- Keep the minimum while selling, just the things you need to live daily, and the rest store somewhere or give away
Moving house is a new chapter in your life. Start fresh by getting rid of all unnecessary or the things that hold you back!
#4 Not refreshing the front door and improving the street appeal.
No matter of the location or the size of the house, the front door instantly sets the tone. Every person visiting a property with the interest to buy will start creating opinion, a feel really, about it from the moment they step on the street in front.
The least you can do to make it a positive feeling is to:
- refresh the paint on your front door
- clean / declutter your front yard
- trim overgrown plants
- plant some plants if you don’t have any or at least add pot plants
- put a new front door mat – some with neutral but positive, cheerful design
#5 Not improving the landscaping and outdoor spaces to add usability.
What I mean by that is that your home’s outdoor spaces do not need only look good. They are should be able to be enjoyed by the next home owners.
To do this, make sure:
- To create spots where an outdoor seating can be set up comfortably – under shade, even if it the shade is only at certain time of the day.
- Does not need to be something fancy, just a spot in the garden where people would enjoy having their morning coffee, having friends over for drinks, reading a book or playing with their kids. You get the idea.
- When creating that space, think of what landscaping or outdoor furniture goes with the style of your home. You need a cohesive look and feel.
Preparing a home for sale can be an exhausting and stressful, and to some an impossible task. If you need help, or at least an advice where to start and what’s important, give us a call. You can also have a look at the different packages and services we offer our clients.