Ready to sell your home? Here are the steps you need to take to ensure a speedy sale at the best possible price.
A recent report by John Loos, FNB’s Household and Property Sector Strategist, indicates that the average length of time a property will remain on the market is three months. While that isn’t necessarily big news, what is concerning is the percentage of sellers who drop their price in order to sell. At this stage 93 percent of sellers have sold their homes for less than the asking price.
This indicates one of two things: either sellers are pricing too high or buyers are currently in the pound seats and in a strong position to negotiate. All current indications point to it being the latter – in other words, it’s a buyers’ market in which house-hunters are spoilt for choice by the sheer number of homes on the market.
Pricing your home correctly is always important, but it’s absolutely vital when the market turns. However, it’s not the only thing that sellers need to focus on to ensure their homes sell reasonably quickly. Showcasing your home in the best manner possible in this type of market is paramount. Buyers tend to be far more critical of a home they are thinking of buying than they may be of their own, and while their homes may not be in tip-top condition, they do expect a seller’s home to be perfect.
Here are some tips to help sellers show their homes off in the best possible light.
- Evaluate the home room by room.
- Remove the clutter – yes, we know we’ve said it a thousand times, but decluttering a room won’t only make it appear larger, it will help the potential buyer imagine living in the home. Most of us have accumulated things we no longer need, and getting rid of these before you move will save you money and ensure that your new home remains clutter-free.
- Clean the home thoroughly and keep it clean while it’s on the market. Focus on things such as carpets, blinds, doors, door frames and handles, light fittings, light switch covers and ceiling fans.
- Get out the duster and remove any cobwebs. Wipe down the skirting boards, and clean the windows and the outside of your air conditioners.
- Turn your home into a showpiece and make it as inviting as possible by pruning or sprucing up your houseplants and removing as many personal objects as possible. Pack away any furniture that is surplus to requirements. Add lamps or use a higher voltage lightbulb to brighten dark spaces or rooms.
- Living room: Polish the coffee table and side tables. Wash the cushion covers and throws. If you’re a smoker, remove ashtrays.
- Dining room: Remove all objects except the centrepiece from the table. Remove additional chairs if they make the room seem crowded.
- The kitchen: Pack away all appliances. Wipe down all the cupboards and clean the handles if necessary. Give the worktops a good scrub. Clean the tiles, paying particular attention to the grouting. Give the oven a good clean (many buyers will take a peek inside the oven). Clean the outside and top of the fridge. Empty the rubbish bin and remove pet dishes when buyers are coming to view. Give the sink a good scrub. Pack things such as vacuum cleaners, dusters and mops away. Spring clean the inside of the cupboards and repack if necessary.
- Bedrooms: Keep your dressing and bedside tables free from clutter by packing personal items away. Give any lamps a good clean. Make the beds daily and if possible replace old or stained duvet covers. Tidy the inside of the cupboards.
- Bathrooms. Give the bath, shower, shower door and the sink a good scrub, ensuring that any mildew or mould is eradicated. Pack away all personal items including face cloths, shampoos, bars of half used soap and cosmetics. Bring out your best towels and hang them neatly on the rails. Clean and repack the medicine cabinet, ensuring the mirror is dirt and streak free. Replace old, broken toilet seats.
The exterior of the home is as important as the interior.
- Take an objective view of the outside of your home before you put it on the market.Repaint or replace a tatty looking front door. Replace any broken fascia boards. Sweep around the home regularly and pressure clean any stained concrete. Tidy up the entertainment areas and wash dirty patio cushions. Give the outside furniture a good clean. Ensure the pool is crystal clear and that the pump housing is free from dirt and grime. Clean all light fittings.
- The garage: Spring clean the garage by removing old tins of paint and broken tools. Sweep the floor and remove any oil stains. Pack away your tools.
- The garden: Prune bushes and plants, ensuring that no plant or shrub blocks any of the windows. Weed the entire garden. Mow the lawn regularly. Remove dead plants and plant seedlings if you’d like to add a splash of colour.
It may seem like a lot of work but in a crowded market, it’s highly probable that a well-priced, well-maintained home will sell faster than its overpriced, under-maintained counterpart.
