With the spring sales season around the corner, it’s a fabulous time for apartment owners to consider their next real estate move.
Whether you’re planning to stick with your apartment lifestyle or move into a house, the most immediate consideration is to maximise the value of your existing property.
As you’ll no doubt know from your own research, there is usually a good selection of apartments on the market. So, your goal is to stand out from the crowd to achieve the best possible price.
Recent data suggests that while house prices are beginning to accelerate in value everywhere but Hobart and regional Tasmania, unit prices are also experiencing strong quarterly growth.
Some 44% of suburbs across Australia are now transacting at record-high values, so there’s good reason to be optimistic that you’ll achieve a desirable result if you invest your time and energy in a five-star presentation.
Here are 10 tips for preparing your apartment for sale this spring:
Showroom ready – This is a great philosophy for selling an apartment. Unlike houses with gardens, an apartment’s appeal is almost entirely reliant on its interior and balcony or courtyard. Every detail matters.
Create a stage – Consider professional staging. Stylists know how to maximise perceived space, highlight features and create an aspirational lifestyle. It’s an investment, but it usually pays dividends.
Make it sparkle – It’s hard to clean the outside of the windows of some apartments. But if you can, make them sparkle. Natural light is such an important element of an enjoyable apartment lifestyle. Bathrooms and kitchens should be perfect. If you have blackened grout, replace it with fresh silicone or grout. All the surfaces must be immaculate.
Be ruthless – When it comes to decluttering, you need to focus. There are far fewer places to hide your belongings in an apartment, as compared with a house. Buyers want lots of space, and clutter signals insufficiency. Your wardrobes and cupboards should be neatly organised and not overflowing.
Blank canvas – It’s important for buyers to be able to picture themselves living in your apartment. You don’t want them to feel like guests in your home. So, remove family photos, personal memorabilia and anything that screams “you”.
Quick brush-up – Do not underestimate the transformational effect of a fresh coat of paint. Choose an off-white or cream as these colours will make your apartment feel bigger and brighter. Heavy colours suck in the light.
Light it up – Spring offers longer daylight hours, so use them. Open all curtains and blinds wide for inspections. Swap heavy curtains for lighter ones, and add lamps to darker corners to create a glowing warmth.
Just fix it – Small repairs make a big impact. Something as small as a leaking tap can persuade buyers that your property isn’t well-maintained, and therefore it is a risk to buy it. So, double down on small details like a dripping tap, sticky door, chipped paint and loose handles.
Clean and green – Sweep, scrub and pressure-wash outdoor flooring. Add fresh, vibrant potted plants or herbs. Even on a small balcony, position seating with outdoor cushions. A string of fairy lights can be a nice touch, especially if you have inspections in the twilight hours.
Photo focus – Once you’ve completed all this work, you want to invest in professional photography to grab the attention of prospective buyers online. Our agents will be delighted to help you with all your marketing requirements.