Helpful Tips on Getting Your
Home Ready For Sale

Okay, so you are now ready to list your home for sale (or perhaps you're already listed) and now you're wondering what's next?

Well, even though it may seem like an obvious point, the presentation of your home is critical.

Terry Ryder in his book "Real Estate without Agents", says that it’s still amazing how little effort some home sellers put into the presentation of their home.

A home that looks "loved in rather than lived in” will have a much better chance of selling ...and a higher chance of getting the price you want.

So let’s start with the basics:

Painting the exterior, or interior, of your home can make drastic improvements.

Having said that, don't go for overly extravagant colours (unless you have an interior decorator, or truly trust your design judgment) Remember, your getting your home ready for as many people as possible and not just a select few, light natural colours will be the best option.

So while bright orange may suit some people, for the general population you may end up turning off buyers. Best to go with natural tones and lighter colours (especially in units, or small rooms) You'll find that by toning down the colour of the walls, and simply adding some nice prints on the wall, or by adding a colourful rug, etc. you'll gain far more appeal.

Tidying up the garden is also essential. Store or organize items that make the yard look messy.

Think about what your homes best feature is/are and then how you can show them off. These are easy to find once you know how to look, and the best way I have found is to grab a magazine (something like "Better Homes and Gardens") and then find pictures that are just focused on one thing. Typically, you'll find that they will take a nice photo of a cool looking bench in the garden, with a unique pot plant ...or even the way that they have hung saucepans above the stove, rather than shoved in a drawer. All of these things should guide you to the "little touches" you can add to your own home.

Little things will make a big difference.

Remove excess furniture to make rooms more spacious, and declutter every part of the house. If you have already moved out think about hiring plants and furniture to make the house more appealing.

Remember, you usually only have on shot at impressing potential home buyers, so take the time to prepare your property and you will reap the rewards.

Good luck.