Selling Property - Preparing your home for sale

There are two ways of getting your home sold:

1. Lowering your asking price

This could be effective but very costly and regrettable.

2. Helping people fall in love with it

People buy property on emotion then use logic to rationalise their decision after they have decided to buy. Helping perspective buyer's fall in love with your home will make it more likely that they will overlook the negative, emphasize the positive and then no one will be able to talk them out of buying your property.

How? - By making sure your house shows well! Increasing the emotional appeal of your home is done by improving the visual perception of your property.

Sell faster for a higher selling price

Are you looking to increase the value of your home while staying within your budget? Full remodels, even for one room, can cost many thousands of Rands, and while the cost may be worth it if you're planning on staying put, the effort may not when you're panning on moving out. Most remodelling projects increase your home's value by, at most, 70 cents for every Rand you invest. Thus, if you're looking to sell your home right away, or if you're buying and selling a home for profit, you want to keep your improvements simple and cheap.

Make the necessary improvements before you put your home on the market. Not only do you want the first prospects to see the best possible product, you want to make sure that you can get the highest price possible.

YOUR 3 STEP HOME STAGING GUIDE

•  Declutter ad Depersonalise

•  Deep Clean and Repair

•  Design and Sell

“You never have a second chance for a first impression”

PREPARING THE OUTSIDE

Curb Appeal sets the tone for how the prospects will view your home. Inexpensive and effective changes using the 3 step system to lighten and brighten the outside will set the tone in no time.

The garden

Well kept landscaping is an easy and inexpensive way to add curb appeal.

1.  Declutter and Depersonalise

•  Get rid of trash and yard waste.
•  Keep your lawn in good condition and mow it. This includes using a weed whacker to get in the tight corners and along the edges of sidewalks around the house.
•  Trim the hedges, get rid of weeds, and mulch the flower beds. If you don't have much to work with, plant some flowers or install some landscaping appropriate for your home and climate.
•  Pick up all tools, toys, excess furniture and all other clutter that might be lying around in your garden or drive way.
•  Get rid of any personal items like birdhouses, flags or other yard art. Keep in mind that possible prospects may not like your taste in décor.
•  Take the opportunity to get ready to move by boxing up and packing away everything that you have decided to keep, and removing all else preferably off the property.

2. Deep Clean and Repair – Fixtures

•  Hammer down loose roof tiles
•  Fix the gutters
•  Repaint the outside walls if possible
•  Clean all the windows
•  Mow, fertilise and edge the grass and plants
•  Trim over grown trees and bushes to get a better view from the outside and more light on the inside
•  Wash off sidewalks and drive ways

3.  Design to Sell

•  Curb appeal vs. Mass appeal – Weed it out and Trim it up

TIPS AND TRICS

• Add colourful and full bloomed flowers to add curb appeal
  
• Plant twice as much to have it filled up immediately
  
• Keep flowers in a pot and bury the pot so that it is not obvious
  - All you have to do to keep them fresh is to simply replace the pot of flowers
  
• Mould must be thick and fresh looking
  - Compliments the flowers and makes them stand out

The entry way

•  The entry way is critical as it transitions from outside to inside
•  Replace the old welcome mat with something new and natural
•  Add well placed potted flowers to brighten it up
•  Check door knobs and surroundings to make sure they shine and updated if need be
•  You could add a sitting area if room allows
•  You want the transition to be inviting and even “Welcome Home”

PREPARING THE INSIDE

The Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart and soul of any home, therefore it is imperative that it shows well. We eat, cook and entertain in this room about 3 times a day, so the first thing to do is:

1. Declutter and Depersonalise

•  Start with the cabinets, they need to be roomy and organised
•  Put all small appliances in the cupboards and out of sight
•  Remove all the appliances that you don't use – Makes the kitchen looks bigger
•  Everything needs to be moved so that you would be able to clean/repair and get everything ready to showcase the kitchen
•  Clear out all areas and work stations
•  Remove all magnets from the fridge, “Clutter Magnets”

2. Deep Clean and Repair

• Scrub and scrub until you cannot scrub anymore
  
• Clean tile and grout
  
• Clean fans, filters and hoods
  
• Clean your sink, have that new look
  
• Dust and clean window ledges and blinds
  
• Empty the trash
  
• All appliances should be cleaned inside and out
  
• Cover broken fossils

3. Design to Sell

• Give it a “model home” look, make it appeal to as many people as possible
  
• Replace wall paper or repaint with a natural colour
  
• Replace any out of place colour with a natural colour in the kitchen

TIPS AND TRICS

•  Painting gives you the most “bang for your buck”
•  Painting is inexpensive and the best way to change your rooms appearance
•  Be careful not to get paint on the trim or anywhere else it does not belong
- Use caution and painting tape
- If you don't want to do it – Hire it out
•  Add fresh flowers to the room
- Always adds a nice touch
•  Remember – Less is More

Bedrooms / Dining Room and Family Room

It is always important to concentrate on the vocal point of the room – That part that is unique or appealing like: a Fireplace, bay window, wooden floors or even the bed.

This basic concept and our 3 Step Plan can convert tired looking resting / entertainment areas back to vibrant, fresh rooms that will impress.

Master Bedroom

1. Declutter and Depersonalise

Use this as an opportunity to start packing away all your sentimental / personal items. Box them up, clear all unwanted goods and pack them out of sight.

2. Deep Clean and Repair

•  Have your carpets cleaned professionally, or replaced if necessary
- Carpets must look new and clean

•  If you are going to replace the carpets, be sure to swap it with something clean and natural that will fall in with any kind of décor

3. Design to Sell

• Paint the room a natural colour – Clean and Neat
  
• Furniture arrangement makes a big impact on the way that your room is perceived by prospect clients.
  - It may sound practical to align all your furniture against the wall, but that actually makes your room looks smaller
  - Angling your furniture makes the room look more interesting
  - Adding chairs to e.g. fire places or bay windows is a great way to add flow to the vocal point

TIPS AND TRICS

Updating Accessories

• Updating is a great way of making the room look great without putting money into someone else's home
  
• Start packing your accessories away
  
• Replace the Bed set, Curtains or Towel Set if need be
  
• Draw Bed and Bath together with Colour
  
• Update hardware to match faucets

Closets

•  Make your closets look roomier – Even if they are not
•  Shelves should be clean and organised
•  Floor should be cleared
•  Thin out hanging clothes

Bathrooms

• Consider replacing the toilet and vanity, especially if they are stained or particularly outdated
  
• Buy a two-light wall fixture or a light bar for over the sink
  
• If the tub is stained, hire a professional to refinish it
  
• Replace water-stained shower doors or clean them with a lime dissolving detergent
  
• Buy a new shower curtain and tie it back with ribbons
  
• Hang fresh towels and lay down a new bath rug
  
• Place scented candles near a basket of tightly rolled wash cloths to create a spa-like environment
  
• Stash all personal items under the bathroom sink