How to Sell Your Property in Australia

Focusing on home presentation is an absolute must when selling your home. After you’ve spent some time looking at the market, make sure to take the time to try and look at your home through fresh eyes – think about what potential buyers will see. Obviously, buyers are going to pay more for a property that not only looks but feels clean, fresh and well maintained – basically ready to move straight into and enjoy from day one. So, how can you make your property as attractive as possible (without breaking the bank)?

We’ve compiled a neat list of nine things you can do that will make a real difference to the look and feel of your home, and that are likely to improve its selling potential.

1. Remember that when selling a home, first impressions count

Start from the outside in, because they don’t call it kerb appeal for nothing. You need to make sure that all potential buyers like the look of your property before they even turn up to inspect it. For example, pressure clean driveways and pavers, focus on adding new plants and blooms, paint outside doors, add a new modern house number, and clean your gutters and windows. It’s the small things like these that signal to potential buyers that your property has been taken care of and maintained throughout your ownership.

And, if you plan well and give yourself enough time, doing all this might only cost a few hundred dollars, plus a few weekends of work. But all that work could add thousands to the final selling price.

2. Eliminate clutter to showcase your home’s potential

Let’s be honest with ourselves, no-one’s home is a perfect, minimal paradise. We all accumulate things over time, but you need to understand that buyers can be really fickle, and even the slight pile of mess can cause them to see your home in a negative light. They’re not going to like seeing piles of laundry, toys strewn over the yard, 20-year old football trophies, or family photos stuck to the fridge. Be ruthless when clearing out the clutter, because it’s important that you showcase to buyers what they can do to the place. They need to be able to see beyond the mess, and personal effects, to see the potential.

If any rooms look cluttered, consider taking out some furniture and/or decor and putting it all in storage during the selling campaign. Lastly, you should clear out and organise cupboards and closets to make them look spacious (because yes, buyers are going to scrutinise every nook and cranny). The last thing you want is a buyer thinking there’s not enough storage space in a property because all the cupboards are crammed full, or that you’re trying to conceal problems like mould, or pests, by jam-packing every bit of storage with stuff.

Creating an open, uncluttered living space is very important. It allows potential buyers to “move in” (in their imagination), clearing the path for a smoother sale.

3. Kitchens are important to sellers

Kitchens are a major selling point of a home. While you might not have the budget for a reno, you can still add a lot of value by making minor repairs and concentrating on some of the more inexpensive cosmetic changes. This can transform the all important kitchen zone into a nice and inviting modern living space.

The first order of duty is to scrub every last millimetre of the whole kitchen (yes, even the ceiling) so it sparkles brightly. Second, you might consider painting tired looking or old fashioned cabinets white or some other light and neutral colour; a step further would be to update the knobs and handles on all the cupboards and draws. Third, the kitchen sink: replace old grimy taps with a simple and inexpensive new ones; paint or replace splashbacks and think about re-grouting dirty old tiles. Last but not least, clear everything off the kitchen bench and dress it up with a handful of smart, tasteful items, such as a bright bowl of fresh fruit, a pretty bunch of flowers or some shiny new appliances.

4. Deep clean the bathroom to impress potential buyers

Realistically, many prospective buyers will be forgiving of an old bathroom but absolutely no one forgives a filthy one. So roll up your sleeves, get down on your knees, and scrub every surface like your life depends on it. Ensure that there’s no trace of scale or mould, and make sure your grout looks fresh — a grouting pen is a great investment, as it will whiten up that old tile grout like nothing else. You definitely need to fix any leaking taps and, just like in the kitchen, if your budget can stretch you should consider buying a new set of taps.

Again, paint the walls white or some other neutral shade, and (if you can afford to take it a step further) consider replacing old cupboard handles and even towel rails. For the cherry on top you should put out some nice new fluffy towels and maybe a few fancy touches like a scented candle or luxury soap. A word of warning though: don’t go overboard with the air freshener — if your bathroom is perfectly clean what could you possibly have to hide?!

5. Keep your space neutral to appeal to a wider pool of buyers

After prospective buyers come through your home you want them talking about how great the spaces and finishing touches were, not your neon pink feature wall. If you do have an “out there” taste in décor, some odd kitsch collections or even just some unusual furniture, you might want to consider swapping them out for something more neutral. The idea is to let the house come across as a blank canvas to which new owners could add their own personal touches, like you have. The other thing is to try to make your house appeal to as many buyers as possible. Sometimes it helps to think of your house as something like a display home for the time that it’s on the market.

6. Maximise natural light to impress at open homes

Natural light always makes a house look great, so let it in wherever you can to make your home feel light and spacious to potential buyers. Be sure to open all your curtains and blinds (it’s also a great idea to clean them first), wash all your windows, prune any plants or trees that might block light out, and think about replacing heavy or dark drapes with some lighter ones, which are usually inexpensive.

Another hot tip is to use mirrors to reflect natural light into the darker areas of your house. One last tip is to switch on some floor and spot lamps to make all the rooms brighter and feel more welcoming. But be warned: don’t just go and turn on every last light in your house. When you do turn lights on, choose ones with at least 100 watts, since lighting that’s too dim might actually have the opposite effect.

7. Freshen up your home with paint

If you’ve heard it once you’ve heard it a million times, but paint will always be one of cheapest and simplest ways to quickly transform a house. The added bonus is that if you’re even just a bit handy, you can do this all by yourself. If any part of the house, inside or out, is looking worse for wear or even just a little drab, get yourself a brush and get into it. Or you could call in some professional help. Either way it’s probably worth it as a fresh lick of paint can add literally thousands to the final sale price for a relatively small investment of time and funds.

8. Get rid of any odours

Even if you’ve come to find them homely, odours around the house such as those from smoke, cooking or pets might leave potential buyers with wrinkled noses during an open house. To avoid the embarrassment be sure to clean all soft furnishings that might hold odours, and air out your house thoroughly before inspections. While it might be obvious to some, do not forget to clean up after your pets, and take them away with you during inspections. For the finishing touches you could also put some fresh flowers around the place and even a fresh pot of coffee, which will help to make your home smell clean and welcoming.

9. Maximise the potential of your outdoor space

For most Australians outdoor spaces are not just something outside the house, they’re like another room of the house – so don’t forget to tend to your garden if you’d like to see your selling price to grow! On the list of must do’s is to fix all the fencing, use a high pressure hose to clean paths and pavers, and toss out any rusty old junk lying around the house. For an added touch you could scrub and oil wooden decking and any lacklustre outdoor furniture.

Last but not least, add some new plants, prune the old ones, do the weeding and throw some new mulch or good soil on the garden beds and pot plants. It certainly won’t cost you the earth to get your garden looking dapper, but it might be the difference between watching your house sell fast or wither on the vine.

In conclusion, preparing your property for sale involves focusing on home presentation, making a good first impression, eliminating clutter, improving the kitchen and bathroom, keeping the space neutral, maximizing natural light, freshening up with paint, getting rid of odors, and maximizing the potential of your outdoor space. By following these tips, you can make your property more attractive to potential buyers and increase its selling potential. Remember, first impressions count, so take the time to make your property as appealing as possible.