PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR SALE

The most important point of all to remember in preparing your home for sale is what impression it will create on the potential buyer.

Following these suggestions will ensure you maximize the ability to achieve your selling price.

OUTDOORS

• Make sure that the point of entry is clean, neat and inviting - give the gate a fresh coat of paint, tidy up garden features and ensure the pathway to the house is clean and weed free
• Repair any broken fences and paint if looking old and tired
• Clean the walls of the house to be free of any marks, invest in a coat of paint if necessary, remembering that neutral colors are more acceptable to most people
• Spend a few dollars on a new door mat and ensure that the front door and any glass is clean
• Clean windows with glass cleaner and wipe down insect and / or burglar screens
• Clean awnings and external window blinds and replace cords where necessary
• Clean gutters and make sure downpipes are secure
• Keep lawns mowed regularly and garden beds and features neat and weed free
• Roll up garden hoses neatly and repair any broken or leaking taps
• Clean out fountains and water features and fill with fresh water
• Repair any cracks in driveway and ensure it is clean and swept
• Place bins behind shed or our of site and make sure they are clean and not smelly
• Ensure garage and shed are tidy - store junk neatly in boxes or in hired storage locker
• wash down patio or outdoor furniture
• Place some colorful pot plants strategically in the garden - you can take them with you once your home is sold
• Clean tracks of sliding and bifold doors making sure they open and close easily

INDOORS

• Have carpets professionally cleaned and deodorized, especially if pets have been allowed indoors
• Clean and dust walls, tiled floors, ceilings, light fittings, fans, skirting boards, doors, window sills, switches
• Clean windows with glass cleaner
• Clean kitchen and bathrooms with streak-free products to ensure all surfaces are shiny
• Replace light bulbs where necessary
• Polish wooden furniture and natural timber doors
• Remove excess furniture, clutter and ornaments to present rooms as spacious and tidy
• Remove and store family photographs - the idea is to get the buyers to picture themselves living in your home
• Place freshly laundered sheets and covers on beds and buy some new color co-ordinated towels for bathrroms.

Once you have completed these tasks, as your real estate agent and a friend to give you an honest impression of how they see the home.

This document has been developed and produced as a community service and is offered as a guide only. Please use the information provided in this document as a prompt to further discuss this information with your preferred Real Estate agent.