How to present your home for sale
To get the best result, it is essential to showcase your home in the best possible light. First impressions are everything. We know from experience that well presented homes attract more buyers and higher prices in a faster time.
Standout homes appeal to our 5 senses:
Sight
- De-clutter: pack away items you don’t use often
- Throw away old magazines and papers
- Tidy inside wardrobes / closets – buyers sometimes look!
- Remove cobwebs inside and out
- Wash windows inside and out
Sound
- Soft music can be relaxing
- Light the fireplace during wintertime
Scent
- Arrange fresh flowers
- Consider aromatic candles
- Hang clean bathroom towels
- Eliminate pet odours
Touch
- Vacuum and clean daily - sparkle and shine
- Make sure your home is dust free
- Polish hard surfaces
- Steam clean carpets if needed
- Inside temperature should be comfortable
- Make space by removing excess furniture
Taste
- Brew fresh coffee for an aromatic drift
Your garden & street appeal
Tidying up your garden can go a long way to improving your home’s street appeal. Consider raking fallen leaves, trimming hedges and trees and weeding garden beds. If your garden has seen better days, add a splash of color with some new plants. Look out for wholesale nurseries where plants are available ‘dirt cheap’. If you are short on time, consider hiring a gardener to help - they can be surprisingly good value.
It is important to make sure your street number is clearly noticeable
About home repairs
Minor repairs like these have a positive impact on home appearance:
- Replace burnt out light bulbs
- Touch up wall dints & scratches
- Scrub tiles and grout
- Fix stiff doors & broken handles
Larger improvements
It is not often necessary to make larger upgrades to your home before selling. In selected circumstances it may be necessary. An example would be if your home has an obvious defect like a leaking roof or the deck would look much better with a new coat of oil. Ask your Pilot agent for their opinion.
Home staging
If your home is vacant or if you are a property developer selling brand new properties, staging the home is essential to producing the best sale price.
Where home staging is required we suggest hiring a professional interior decorator.
Often furniture retailers have a free design service for their customers. They can usually put together a standard furniture package which can be sold to the home buyers. Alternatively your PILOT estate agent can refer you to a professional.
