5 Things To Consider Before Putting Your Home on The Market
When it comes to selling, there is often a mental cycle that goes through one’s mind. The selling process can be different between selling an investment property, deceased family member’s estate and your own home. Often with your own home or close member deceased estate there can be a strong emotional attachment, the fond memories of the years of being there, or maybe you renovated, extended over the years and the effort you went through to bring it to its loving state either inside or outside has a great value in your eyes. And even your investment property maybe you went through hard work getting it to its current level.
But once you have made the decision to sell, you need to be ready to, let it go. Even when it’s listed on the market you may still have an attachment to it and not really want to sell it, but you know logically it’s time. The value you have on it could be very different to the next buyer.
So when the time comes to let it go to the new owners, here are 5 key areas to keep in mind before you begin the process:
1. See it from the new buyer’s eyes
- On First Approach: the front of your property and try to see things from a buyers’ perspective. Are there shoes lying around? Is the door-matt a bit past its best? The addition of a flowering plant or two can drastically improve the first impression of your home.
- Tidy up: It can sound obvious but some sellers are reluctant to see that cluttered areas do put buyers off.
- Personal Items: Remove personal items from your home, for example your sporting trophies, toys, shoes, family photos etc. You are going to have to pack such items away, anyway. Why not start now? Seriously consider your agent’s recommendations in this regard they know what they’re doing. It’s in their interests to sell your home for the highest value. They will not make suggestions just for the fun of it.
- Detach: Try to keep emotions out of the process. You need to detach yourself, emotionally, otherwise you could be unintentionally sabotaging your agents chances of selling your home.
- Your Feelings: Acknowledge that the process of selling a home is usually stressful and emotional.
- Home vs House: Realise that your home is simply a product for sale.
- Trusting Agents: Trust that your agent knows the market and therefore, the price which you’re likely to get for yours (Select your agent based on a criteria that works for you).
- Open Homes: Do NOT attend your own open home.
- Feedback: Negative feedback is NOT personal, it can be very constructive
- Advice: Don’t be on your agent’s back. You picked them because theyknow how to sell your home; they are the experts, not you.
2. Emotions
- Detach: Try to keep emotions out of the process. You need to detach yourself, emotionally, otherwise you could be unintentionally sabotaging your agents chances of selling your home
- Your Feelings: Acknowledge that the process of selling a home is usually stressful and emotional
- Home vs House: Realise that your home is simply a product for sale.
3. Trust
- Trusting Agents: Trust that your agent knows the market and therefore, the price which you’re likely to get for yours (Select your agent based on a criteria that works for you)
- Open Homes: Do NOT attend your own open home
- Feedback: Negative feedback is NOT personal, it can be very constructive
- Advice: Don’t be on your agent’s back. You picked them because theyknow how to sell your home; they are the experts, not you.
4. Stylise for Success
- Main Areas: Kitchens and bathrooms sell a home. Ensure that yours is clean and sparkling…. really Remove the clutter!
- Windows: Clean the windows and ensure that window covering are pulled back, let some light in.
- Furniture: Declutter your rooms. You may have had your furniture placed in a specific way because it suited your lifestyle, but could it be moved around to create a larger feel, more spacious etc.
- Colour: Can you buy colourful cushions, flowers, etc that suite the season you are selling, in, spring-time, bright colourful colours, summer – cooler colours. You can buy fresh flowers, throw rugs cushions, fruit bowls with lemons, limes, apples, pineapples, be creative and yet stick to a budget.
- Unsightly items: Lastly, make sure the wheelie bin has been put away!
- Hiring Furniture & Stylist: Does your furniture or soft furnishings bring your home down a little, is the home empty? Have you considered having it professional furnished or stylised? Depending on the value of your home and location, this could be a small outlay for a large reward.
5. Letting go
- Know your property value: Do your own research, look at similar properties around your area, go to open homes, and get congruency what your agent says and what you want and make it a match
- Offers: Remember, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush; if there’s an offer worth considering on the table, grab it.
Happy selling and if you need that additional consulting, we would be happy to provide professional guidance.
About the Authors:
Danka is one of Australia’s most successful, award-winning, interior designers.
Danka Sivevski and her team are the consummate interior design professionals.
Her work is in great demand and she only, personally, accepts a small proportion of work which comes her way. If you have a complicated, major project and want Danka’s input, we advise that you make the necessary arrangements, well in advance.
Danka Interiors handle every aspect of interior design and exterior design for refurbishment and redevelopment of prestige homes, commercial buildings, renovations and up-grades, landscaping, project management and hotels – from conception to completion.
Commitment, innovation, imagination and flexibility are what we have built our reputation on.
Award Winning Danka Sivevski champions the use of bold colour and pattern to create warm, layered, livable spaces.
With extensive experience in the building and renovating industry, a passion for attention to details and access to exclusive fabrics, Danka can advise you on the next step of your design process to transform your ideas from paper to reality.