How to Prepare Your Property for Sale: Expert Tips from Sapphire Estate Agents

2024-07-31

At Sapphire Estate Agents, we understand that selling your home can be an emotional rollercoaster, filled with excitement, nerves, and the hope of achieving a great outcome. Whether you’re upsizing, downsizing, or moving on to your dream home, presenting your property in the best possible light is crucial. Here's how you can ensure your home appeals to prospective buyers and secures a high sale price.

- Enhance Your Curb Appeal

Your home’s external appearance has less than 60 seconds to make a first impression. To captivate potential buyers, focus on improving your property’s curb appeal. Fresh-looking cladding materials or new colours on the facade can instantly grab attention. Likewise, painting trims, gutters, and the front door adds a modern touch. Moreover, simple landscaping, such as mowing lawns, weeding flower beds, and updating fences, can also make your home more inviting.

Consider these exterior improvements:

  • Front fence: Repair, paint, or remove vines.
  • Front lawn: Keep it lush and tidy.
  • Pathway: Fix any cracks and consider paving paint.
  • Front door: Replace or paint for a fresh look.
  • Windows: Clean and repair surrounds.
  • Facade: Pressure-wash or repaint.
  • Back yard: Trim plants, and weed garden beds.
  • Pool: Ensure it’s clean and properly fenced.

- Interior Transformation

 1. Clean and Declutter

A clutter-free, clean home appears larger and well-maintained. Remove personal items, excessive toiletries, and daily clutter to allow buyers to envision the space as their own. Hallways should be clear of shoes and coats to create a welcoming entryway.

2. Depersonalise

Similarly, depersonalising your home helps buyers imagine them living there. Store away personal photographs and belongings to create a neutral space.

3. Make Repairs

In like manner, address wear and tear such as chipped tiles, cracked windows, and stained carpets. Visible damage can deter buyers or result in lower offers. Discuss with Sapphire’s Agents which repairs to prioritise for maximum impact without overcapitalising.

4. Secure Your Pets

While many people love animals, pets can be intimidating. As such, it’s best to secure them or relocate them during inspections to ensure buyers feel comfortable.

5. Freshen Up

Additionally, you should also eliminate bad smells from pet beds, rubbish bins, and carpets. Use subtle fragrances from perfumed candles or scented plug-ins to create a pleasant environment.

6. Maximise Natural Light

Open curtains and blinds to let in natural light. Furthermore, for evening or winter viewings, add floor and table lamps to brighten rooms.

7. Set the Right Temperature

In the same vein, ensure your home is comfortable by adjusting the temperature. Use heating during cold months and create airflow during hot weather.

8. Add Life

Fresh flowers, bowls of fruit, soft background music, and pleasant cooking smells like freshly baked bread can create a warm and inviting atmosphere for the buyers. 

9. Secure Valuables

Likewise, keep valuable items in a safe location and carry or secure cash, identification, and credit cards with you.

10. Allow Full Access

Finally, provide the agent with keys to all locked areas, including garden sheds, garages, and granny flats.

11. Avoid Common Turn-offs

Ensure your home doesn’t have any of the following issues:

  • Animal odours
  • Evidence of damp or moisture
  • Strong cigarette or food smells
  • Sticking doors, windows, or gates
  • Cracked glass
  • Excessive furniture and clutter
  • Stained carpet
  • Messy gardens

At Sapphire Estate Agents, our approachable property agents provide a complimentary property appraisal and expert advice on effective renovations or repairs to enhance your home’s value.

For most individuals, selling a home might occur once or twice in a lifetime. At Sapphire Estate Agents, however, we navigate numerous properties on a weekly basis. We understand precisely what buyers seek.

From the first impression at the open house, our goal is to ensure everything is impeccably prepared. We offer guidance on staging and tidying up, and we handle negotiations with prospective buyers on your behalf, aiming to secure the best possible price for your home.

With our expertise and advice, you stand to benefit significantly. After your open house, you can relax and trust that we will manage all the details for you. Contact us today to get started on your journey to a successful sale. You can also read our magazine for more details.