The most common question I get asked when discussing the prospect of selling with homeowners is “what can we do to maximise the sale price?”

One word – PRESENTATION!

Price and presentation correlate directly with each other, the end result is often a reflection on how well the home was presented and the agent’s skills.

There are a number of things you can do before you go renovating kitchens and bathrooms to get the most out of the sale, now while I am an advocate for renovating it doesn’t suit every house/campaign. Here is a list of things you can do to get the most out of your presentation:

De-Personalise
Removing your personal items is purely psychological and makes your home more appealing to a buyer. It can be difficult for buyers to imagine themselves living there.

De-Clutter
Remove unnecessary items from bench-tops, vanities, drawers, tables or any visible surfaces. It will open the space but also draw the buyers attention to where it should be. Also arranging shelves, cupboards & pantry’s will add to the desired effect.

Gardens & Exterior
You never get a second chance to make a first impression, so why not get it right the first time! Mow the lawn, mulch the gardens, pressure wash the driveway, paths, gutters, walls and screens. Clean the outdoor furniture and BBQ.

Maintenance
Attend to as many items possible around the house that requires repairs or touch ups. I encourage you to walk around your home as if you were a buyer and make a list of things that need doing. The less things buyers can pick at, the fewer negotiating points they have to bring your price down. If it is not as simple as changing a light bulb or a little out of your realm of expertise, we can help with our qualified trades list and get the right people for you.

Clean
This one is pretty straight forward. Clean windows inside & out, clean the carpets & rugs, clean all surfaces including ceiling fans, air-conditioners & pendant lights and the pool. An extra little tip is make the home smell nice.

Accessorise & Style
Remember you’re styling to sell, not to live in it. You can have a lot of fun in this part of preparing the home for sale, either you can do it yourself or seek the assistance of a professional. If you choose to do it yourself make sure you set a budget and stick to it otherwise you can end up spending as much as what it would have been to just hire a professional & save yourself a lot of time and headache. Target, Kmart, Bunnings are great places to start your search if you are doing it on a budget.