Perry Beebe
15 Apr 14
If you want to get the best possible price for your property in any market conditions, presentation is everything. Don’t be fooled into thinking that a great view or a perfect position will make up for an overgrown garden, shabby exterior and clutter everywhere. First impressions really do matter and you are likely to get much more immediate interest if buyers find their very first look at your property appealing. In addition, buyers generally don’t want to do weeks of backbreaking work just to move in.
There is a lot of information available about the impact of presentation, but people sometimes ignore it all in the belief that their house is different, and everyone will fall in love with it just the way it is. We know this isn’t the case, as our sales staff here at All Residential Real Estate see this all the time. Chances are, a shabby property will receive less interest and lower offers, so your price could suffer if your property is poorly presented. Here are a few presentation tips based on our experience that will help you present your property to its best advantage.
Tone it Down
Neutral is the key word when selling your house. Both the exterior and the interior should be painted in neutral tones to appeal to the largest number of buyers. Colour is a personal choice, and bright colours can be very off-putting, especially if they are unfashionable. Buyers want to see their perfect real estate property, and they may not see past a very personal colour scheme that you love, but which doesn’t appeal to them.
Tidy Yard and Fencing Creates Kerb Appeal
Regardless of the size of the yard, it must be tidy. Cut back overgrown branches, trim hedges, thin out underbrush and add mulch for a fresh, clean look. Keep the lawn mowed and free of weeds. Fences and gates should be in good condition, freshly painted, standing straight and with no missing panels or palings.
Please, Please De-Clutter!
The bane of a real estate agent’s life is clutter. We tell our sellers all the time that buyers are looking for space, and too many large furniture pieces and clutter use up that space. A buyer wants to imagine their furniture and belongings in your property and it’s harder to do that if there are lots of your things taking up the space. You will have to pack it all up to move anyway, so do it now. Include personal knick-knacks, family photos, collectibles and excess children’s toys—in fact, everything you don’t need for day-to-day living. Also, don’t store it in the garage, as buyers want to see that space too. If you can rent storage space, do it.
Fresh, Clean Lines at the Windows
Look objectively at the blinds and curtains, and take down anything that looks worn, old-fashioned or overdone. Windows look better with modern blinds that let in lots of light. Old- fashioned light fittings should also be removed and replaced with modern ones.
Finally, your property must be clean. It must look clean, smell clean and be dirt and grime free. Nothing will put buyers off quicker than a dank, musty smell or a dirty house. It is worth putting in the work to ensure your property is well-presented, tidy and clean - you will be rewarded with more interest from day one and your property will achieve the best possible sale price. If you would like to discuss presentation tips for your own property to enhance its appeal to buyers, one of our experienced sales team would be very happy to help! Give us a call 02 4228 2555 or send us an email (sales@arre.com.au).