Selling Tips

Correctly presenting your home for inspection is critical if you're serious about achieving the highest possible price.

Let's start with street appeal. Lawns should be freshly mowed, trees should be trimmed, leaves should be raked and paths should be swept. Any potential buyer should enter your front yard with a feeling that there's nothing to be done and that the house has been loved.

Once inside, walls, floors and surfaces should be immaculate, and rooms should be free of clutter. Remember, too much furniture can make a room seem smaller than it actually is. Remove any stains from carpets and make sure there are no lingering cigarette or pet odours. Bathrooms and toilets should be spotlessly clean.

If you are selling in summer, make sure that the house is a cool and refreshing respite to the heat outside. If you are selling in winter, a warm and cosy feel is always a welcome relief. Make the most of your home's amenities. If you have an open fire, have it lit for inspections. If you have air conditioning, make sure it's turned on.

Lighting is also very important. Open northern blinds or curtains to let in natural light. If you have feature lighting, now is the time to make a feature of it. Also, why not set up your dining table as if you are expecting guests? Have a plunger of coffee brewing. Display some fresh flowers. Put a beautiful book on your coffee table.

One important consideration is the fact that your taste in paint colour may not necessarily be the same as those of a potential buyer. Therefore, uniformity in paint colour is very important.

The state of your backyard could very well be the deal clincher. It is usually the last stop for prospective buyers and your last chance to impress. Enough said.

Buying a home is all about emotions. Your job is to make sure that the presentation of your home hits all the right emotional buttons of those who inspect it. It's pretty safe to say that any money you spend in preparing your home for inspection is a smart investment in potentially increasing your home's selling price