You don’t have to embark on massive, expensive or time-consuming projects before you put your home on the market. In fact, in most cases we’d advise against it.
There are a few simple and cost-effective changes which can have a huge impact on the appeal and sale price of your home. Here are some cheap ways to improve the value of your property:
1. Furnish your home
Leaving a house empty before you sell can be a big mistake. Without furniture, it’s hard to see how to use the space and potential buyers may struggle to visualise themselves living there. Furniture can amp up a home’s appeal, showcasing its scale and creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Furniture is also crucial for photos, as these will likely be the first thing that potential buyers see. Having furniture in photos will make it easier to gauge the size and functionality of a space. Therefore, it’s important to get furniture – even if you need to hire it.
2. Declutter
Furniture is good, but clutter is not. There’s the old real estate adage that when selling a property, you should strip it of everything that isn’t nailed down. This is because unnecessary clutter can make the home appear smaller and less appealing. A cluttered home can make it more difficult for prospective buyers to visualise their own belongings in the space and can distract from the home’s best features.
If you plan to continue living in the home while it’s on the market, remove or store everything that doesn’t need to be there. Think about making your home look like a show home and store items that people may not want to see or aren’t necessary to show the functionality of a space.
3. Tidy the garden
Curb appeal is crucial when selling a property. A well-maintained garden can add value to your property and help create a great first impression. The front of your house will also be the first photo people see online and when they drive up to an open home.
Simple landscaping changes like planting flowers, trimming hedges, and adding mulch can make a significant difference. Look at your house from the street and search for holes in the garden. Now’s the time to fill them. Ask your local landscape shop what’s flowering in the next two months and fill these gaps with colourful, flowering plants.
Additionally, consider pressure washing driveways, patios, and sidewalks to enhance their appearance. Remember, a good first impression may help a buyer overcome those little imperfections on the inside of the home.
4. Clean up, make it sparkle
If you’ve made a good impression with your well-presented garden, you don’t want to undo that with a dirty bathroom, bad smell or pet fur. Your house doesn’t need to be completely immaculate, but having a clean and tidy home can help the home look its best and showcase its best features. Eliminating dirt and odours can help create a blank slate for potential buyers, making it more attractive.
If your home is in reasonable condition then hiring a cleaner or embarking on a time-consuming deep clean may not be necessary. However, cleaning up before an open home is. People will look wherever they are allowed to, and if you leave cupboard doors or toilet lids open, you can bet they’ll look there, too. This can have a huge difference to a potential buyer’s perception of your property. Right before an open home, make sure you give your home a quick once over, which includes washing and putting away dishes and clearing clutter off the benches.
5. Don’t embark on a huge project
Although some people think they need to embark on a huge clean-up or renovation before putting a house on the market, you’re unlikely to get every dollar back on projects like these. Unless the house is in terrible disrepair, we wouldn’t normally recommend projects like repainting the whole house, renovating the kitchen or installing new carpets. Leave that choice and freedom to the buyer, who will want to make the space their own.
If you’re left confused and can’t decide if a project will be worthwhile, the best person to ask is your real estate agent. They can inspect the property and give advice based on what they’re seeing in the market and what buyers are looking for. With a little bit of effort, you can increase the attractiveness and value of your property, without spending huge amounts of money.
Need help?
If you are considering the sale of your property and would like to speak with an experienced property professional, our four offices have experts on hand to assist you. Simply call today for a friendly chat and a listening ear.
Prudential Real Estate Campbelltown | (02) 4628 0033 | campbelltown@prudential.com.au
Prudential Real Estate Liverpool | (02) 9822 5999 | liverpool@prudential.com.au
Prudential Real Estate Macquarie Fields | (02) 9605 5333 | macquariefields@prudential.com.au
Prudential Real Estate Narellan | (02) 4624 4400 | narellan@prudential.com.au
