Getting your home ready for buyer inspections requires teamwork with your agent, an eye for detail and a willingness to put in some hard work.
Short-cuts only hurt the chances of finding a buyer and getting your desired price.
As your agent, I have years of experience to ensure any inspection goes smoothly, attracts the right buyers and puts your home in the best light.
As a guide for you, I thought it would be useful to share a few little traps that are easily avoided. But, but by falling into them, you could easily turn off a buyer, lose a sale, or even take away your momentum in a price negotiation.
Rest assured that won’t happen if I’m your agent.
I can’t find you: If a prospective buyer can’t find your property, they’re lost. And so are you. Put a number on the gate or fence so it’s clear from the roadside.
Declutter… and declutter again: Buyers love the feeling of space. Ultimately, it’s a major component of what they’re buying. So make sure your home feels spacious. Don’t fill it up with furniture so a walk-through feels like tackling an obstacle course. Create comfortable, clear walking paths through your home and avoid the common objection of “it’s too small”.
Freshen up: Give your home an airing beforehand. Smells can be trapped in any home, especially after a long winter insulated against the cold. Common odours that turn off buyers include cigarettes, fireplaces, cooking and, most commonly, pets. Open the windows and spray quality air fresheners or burn oils to neutralize this negative impact.
Let there be light: Don’t starve your buyers of natural light. It gives the impression of space and airiness. Get furniture away from the windows and pull back the blinds and curtains. Check the windows are clean. You’ll be amazed how grime on window panes can filter the light and detract from the rest of your home.
Bedside story: The strangest issues stay with buyers. One can be your taste in furnishings. Even your bed linen has a huge impact on what buyers remember. So, get rid of the floral bed set or whatever you personally like, and dress the bed for success with clean, crisp white linen and a contrasting throw rug.
Keep it clean: Possibly the most common sin is to take a short-cut with cleaning. Don’t – it can be fatal for inspections and even your whole sales campaign. Bathrooms and kitchens need to be spotless. Vacuum – everywhere. The garden can be a great asset, especially for family buyers, but not if it’s a mess. Mow the lawn, tidy the flowerbeds and put away garden tools and kids’ toys.
Bin the bins: Get your trash cans out of sight. It leaves a bad impression and eats up the feeling of space on the property. Everyone knows you have them but they don’t need to see them.
Don’t go overboard: Some sellers get fanatical about making the right impression, but it can backfire. For example, setting the dining table for a silver-service dinner looks ridiculous. Also, taking away too much furniture in the decluttering process leaves the impression of an empty, cold house. Keep perspective and you’ll give yourself the best chance of a sale.