These tips are manageable and cost-effective - just what you need when you're low on time.
While it is always advisable to take some time to get your house in tip top shape before putting it on the market, there are times when it is just not possible. You may be in a hurry to sell because you have found a new property that you would like to acquire. Or, you may need to sell quickly because you are experiencing financial strain.
Either way, chances are that you want to get ready to sell quite quickly and cost effectively. If you have put an offer in elsewhere or find yourself in a financial predicament, then time will be of the essence. Your starting point should be to quickly call in your local estate agent to chat about a possible price and to find out what you can and should do to make your house more marketable.
Then, be sure to heed the advice from your estate agent. Remember, they are professionals and will give you the best advice, do not take it personally if they ask you to repaint that purple wall. Bright colours can be very off putting to buyers.
The faster you need to sell, the more you need to listen to your estate agent. Seeff’s agents give a few tips on getting your home market ready quickly and cost-effectively:
1. Basic repairs
– bad maintenance is a deterrent in most instances. You should always keep your property in a good state of repair. It tends to be cheaper to fix than replace, so don’t let maintenance get away from you. Do a regular check and be sure to budget for home maintenance. If you want to sell, you will need to at least fix the basics.
2. A fresh coat of paint does wonders
– often, a fresh coat of paint can make the difference between getting good offers and a good price. This can be a very inexpensive way of giving you a head start in the bidding race. It will also give a clean and neat appearance and a freshly painted house is far more attractive than one with dirty walls. Be sure to go with neutral colours.
3. First impressions count
– the front of your property and the yard and garden in particular should be neat and tidy. It often costs nothing more than a bit of work to tidy up the yard, mow the lawn and weed the flower beds, all important things to make a good first impression. Ensure that the gates are in good working order too.
4. Clear the clutter
– pack away as much as possible. Trinkets and other goodies around the house may be your taste, but too much clutter will be off putting for buyers. If they walk in and feel claustrophobic, they will walk right out, especially if there are other properties on offer in the neighbourhood. We cannot overemphasise just how important a neat house is when it comes to selling time.
5. Clean the home
– if you are unable to paint the interior, then wash the walls and all aspects of the home. Give the bathrooms and kitchen a thorough spring clean to ensure it looks good for potential buyers. Fill any unsightly cracks or holes and patch up missing or dirty tile grout. Fix any hinges in the kitchen. Don’t forget to give the stove and oven a good clean too.
6. Air out the house
– be sure to also air out your house thoroughly in the week leading up to your first show day and especially on the morning of the show day. Be sure to wash your curtains in the week leading up to your show day as well to give the home a nice clean smell. Put clean, fresh towels in the bathrooms on show day too.
7. Right price
– if you need to sell quickly, you need to heed the advice of your real estate agent and set your price expectation at the right level, otherwise you are just going to delay getting the right offer and price for your home.