”Power-dress” your property for [selling] success!..
So, you wish to sell your property, which inevitably means you will move your household. Get a head-start! Lighten the load. A good start is half the battle…
Step 1 Declutter!
Overstuffed closets and clutter are really off putting to potential buyers, looking for a spacious new home. Start your journey by sorting and re-evaluating your possessions, deciding on what constitutes:
• must have’s,
• functional items that take up space and can easily be stored to make your property look less cluttered,
• which items will only be needed next season (pack away or store),
• borrowed items that need to be returned to their rightful owners,
• sentimental-do-not-want-do-without-items,
• nice-to-have-but-have-not-used-in-more-than-12-months-and-probably-never-will (re-gift or donate-it)
• sell-it (valuables that could be sold to 2nd hand stores, or on online marketing / advertising websites),
• donate-it (outdated décor, ill-fitting or out-of-fashion clothes, toys your children have outgrown, extras, etc) (1)
• recyclable items (paper pick up, old plastic bottles, cups, plastic bags, glass containers, tins) (2)
• discard-it (rent a 6 cubic meter skip for a 7-day period and get rid of unwanted, broken items / rubbish) (3)
Step 2 Fix-it & Clean it!
Now that all clutter is out of the way, ensure that you turn your attention to the property you wish to sell. A first impression is most certainly a once-off luxury, never to be repeated again. 50% of clients will make an instant decision on whether or not they are interested in your property just by what they see at the onset and from the outside.
Outside:
Check, wash, paint or repair gutters, woodwork, window frames & ledges, garage doors, roof, roof tiles, gates, burglar bars, outside light fittings & bulbs, fences, steps, sprinklers, leaking taps, mend fences / border walls;
Wash windows & exterior walls, replace broken windows, varnish / treat wooden frames, oil squeaking hinges;
Clean garden furniture & display with bright cushions / umbrellas (remove dirt, rust, torn cushions, etc);
Ensure the garages, courtyard & outside quarters are clean & not smelly;
Ensure the dish or TV antenna is securely fixed, the roof does not leak and there are no loose or unsightly wires hanging from your property on the outside. Give the roof a good hose-off & remove mould;
Keep your swimming pool sparkling clean. Ensure the pool does not leak, the pump, creepy, etc is working;
Tidy up your garden – cut the grass, trim edges, clean flowerbeds, trim shrubs & overgrowth, discard dead plants & garden rubbish (you do not need to have a designer garden – just a well kempt, neat one);
Clear the pathway from your entrance gate to the front door of your property – buyers want to access your property without effort. Ensure the doorbell is working (or remove it);
Neatly pack away garden tools, kids’ toys, bicycles, other loose items;
Remove your pets’ droppings, garden refuse / all rubbish lying around and keep it clean.
Inside:
Spring clean your house, freshen up appearances (wash carpets, mats, curtains and linen throws);
Clean, repair and/or replace blinds
Vacuum all animal hairs from your furniture & carpets. Frequently wash & clean animal bedding & cages;
Fix up what is broken / faulty – lampshades, bulbs, switches, electrical plugs, leaking taps & toilets, loose door handles, window arms & latches, curtain rails, oil squeaking hinges & doors, unclog drains, broken mirrors & tiles, damp.
Repair fine cracks with filler & paint where necessary. Wash off dirty marks on walls;
Ensure bathrooms are gleaming and clean – no grime, no mould, no odours, etc. Fill in or replace grout, if necessary;
Maximize natural light in your home - Open all curtains and windows to let fresh air and sufficient light into the house. Place mirrors strategically in dark corners to reflect light.
Ensure all globes are in working order.
Wash tiled floors & windows with added cup of vinegar to water bucket to deter flies and insects;
Deep clean the kitchen. Cupboards, oven, sink, counters & floor must be spotlessly clean. Make space on counter tops. Store away excess kitchen appliances
Step 3 The Viewing Appeal to all the senses of the potential buyer – they want a new home & you wish to sell yours Lock pets away safely so that they do not annoy or threaten visitors; Unlock all outside doors, garage and gates so that the agent & potential buyers have unhindered access to the property; Make sure the entrance to your house leaves a good impression! Be welcoming and friendly; Neutralise cigarette, tobacco or stale odours – brew some coffee, bake a pie, fry some onions… Ensure there are NO dirty dishes standing around; Ensure towels in bathrooms are fresh and clean; Put some potpourri, essence or good smelling soap in the bathrooms, but do not over do it; Put fresh linen on beds and ensure all beds are made; Ensure all rubbish bins inside the home is emptied and odour free; Turn the TV or music down (restful music or nature program will create ambience). Create a warm, homely feeling. Do not shout at your animals, your kids or your spouse – you can do that later… Switch on all lights - especially at night; Control inside temperature if at all possible – especially during winter’ months or very hot days; Put some fresh flowers in a vase or do a fresh fruit / vegetable arrangement, if possible;. Do not tag along and do not allow your children to tag along either – your agent is well equipped to inform buyers of all the features of your property. Do not interfere. Allow the agent to do his / her job.
Ask yourself – would I fall in love with this property if I saw it for the first time?
Liane Ellis Principal agent (MPRE) 082-580-1338 www.ellisrealestate.co.za www.ellisrealestateblogs.com
(1) VEK Wolmer Clothes’ Bank / Solidariteit / Hospice Louis Botha Avenue (Lynnwood) / Local Church Bazaar / Homes for Disabled Persons (2) Tasha Paper Pick Up 082-502-7576 / Glass Banks (Orange domes) (3) Skip Logic 012-808-2300 / Gyor Pols 082-888-7777 (4) Handy Man / Gardener / All Rounder – Andrew 074-713-4465 (5) Carpentry & Tiler – Tshepo Mokoena (Home Décor) 079-747-1116 (6) Electrician Paul Badenhorst 071-213-8108 (7) Patricia Smith Bargain Blinds – 083-488-3001 / Mix & Match EP Shopping Centre www.elardus-park.co.za