How to improve your home for sale

When selling your home, you obviously want the best possible price. Especially if you’re looking to move to a larger place or a more affluent neighbourhood.

So how do you beautify your home to increase its sale value?

Sometimes you need to commit to big upfront costs. Sometimes, you can make dramatic changes on a small budget. It’s important to consider how certain changes will impact the final sale price. In some instances, spending $10,000 upfront could translate to making an additional $500,000 upon selling.

We’ve put together a list of five key ways to improve your property’s worth.

1. Renovate

If your property is a little outdated and needs a facelift, renovations can make a massive difference to your sale value.

Updating the bathroom/s and the kitchen are good places to start. These are rooms that experience the most wear and tear. They’re also the spaces people look to most when house hunting and could make or break the sale.

If you decide to renovate, start with a plan. Decide what you want to change and research the costs. You may consider replacing:

• Cupboards
• Taps
• Benchtops
• Sinks
• Appliances
• Lighting

Write a list of what must be changed (like cracked tiles) and consider what would be nice to have (like adding a spa bath). Then speak to your real estate agent for feedback on the profit margins. Some improvements will add considerably more value than others.

Apart from renovating the bathroom/s and kitchen, you could also modify the floor plan. For example, if your home is closed off with multiple walls, you could knock down a wall or two and create an open-plan living space.

2. Change your decor

If you’ve been living in your home for a long time, you’re probably comfortable with your old dining table and much-loved cosy couch. But will they appeal to your ideal buyers?

To freshen up your home prior to sale, approaching an interior designer or decorator can be beneficial. They can provide an outsider’s opinion of what works and doesn’t work in your living spaces and offer suggestions for improvements.

Alternatively, you might immediately acknowledge some items that need replacing. Through buying or hiring, you could easily improve the atmosphere yourself. For example, you might decide to replace some lamps, add new artwork, or update the couch.

3. Give it a massive clean

When was the last time your home was cleaned from top to bottom? Before putting your home up for sale, ensure it’s as bright and sparkly as possible. It makes the place inviting to walk through and keeps buyers focused on the spaces, not the dust.

After a thorough clean, you’re also able to pinpoint any possible issues, like cracks along the wall behind the couch. You can also eliminate mould prior to house inspections.

Decluttering is another form of cleaning. Start removing excess items you don’t need, room by room. It will result in more space and make it easier to walk around.

4. Repaint

If it’s been a while since your house was painted, now is the perfect time to add one or two new coats. It will make your home look fresh and more universally appealing.

Sticking to neutral colours, like beige or creams, is usually the safest colour option.

You can ask your real estate agent or interior decorator for advice if you need further assistance.

5. Improve your landscaping

Buyers love attractively landscaped gardens. And the front yard is usually the very first thing they see at an Open Home, so you want to create an initial ‘wow’ factor.

Consider investing in new soil, adding new mulch, and replacing sickly plants. Depending on your budget and land size, you might prefer to give it a total revamp by a professional landscaper.

We're here to help

Have you optimised your home for sale and ready to bring in the buyers? We're always happy to help with all the dramas and stressors of house buying and selling.

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