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Decluttering, Staging, Facelifts (and Boosting Selling Potential)
Picture: Tim Turner / Design: Bayon Gardens
Decluttering – The Easy One
Many people attempting to sell their home don’t recognize the difference between cleaning and decluttering as it relates to a home’s selling potential. Most people are attached to their possessions, so advising sellers to remove certain items (because those items are devaluing the sale of their home) can be tricky — you don’t want to offend people.
Nevertheless when it comes to the decluttering process, improving liveability and maximizing your home’s ultimate listing potential, follow these steps:
Understand The Value Of A Decluttered Home
Opening the conversation concerning decluttering can be fairly straightforward if you go about it the right way. One easy way we find is to simply ask if you would like our advice on how to raise the listing price of your home. After all this is why most people hire real estate agents.
- Buyers can visualize more easily with emptier homes. It is important for potential buyers to be able to see themselves living in the home, as it makes them more likely to make an offer.
- Full homes can seem smaller than they really are. Although the buyers will be aware of the actual square metres of the home, it can be difficult to comprehend when the home they are viewing is still full of your belongings.
- A clean, crisp appearance is key to securing viewings. Nowadays, many buyers investigate homes online before contacting an Agent. Homes that present a clean, inviting environment in photos are the ones viewed most often and they tend to sell faster.
Removing Items
The decluttering conversation can get difficult once it’s time to advise clients about which items should be removed from their home.
Although it may be clear to an Agent that the wilting houseplants and stack of magazines need to go, it may not be so obvious to our sellers, who might get defensive when these things are pointed out.
The easiest way to help you declutter is to create a checklist broken into two parts. The first part of the list should address items that need to be removed from the property to free up visual space. Some items on this list can be:
- Remove non-flourishing plants, and trim remaining plants.
- Store all books evenly on bookcases, and remove newspapers and any magazines not stored on the shelves.
- Remove all photos.
- Minimize items left on kitchen counters.
- Clear all knick-knacks and display items.
- Keep closets and pantries organized and no more than 75 percent full.
We can also help you can create a checklist to follow prior to any open house or showing. This kind of basic staging can greatly affect the overall impression a buyer has of the house.
- Make all beds every day.
- Wipe down counters and furniture.
- Vacuum area rugs.
- Spot clean high-traffic rooms such as living room, dining room, etc.
- Ensure bathrooms are clean.
- Empty all rubbish bins.
Improving Street Appeal
We live on the Gold Coast with a marvelous climate that screams for outdoor living during the day and in the evening. You should be pressure cleaning concrete and pathways to take them back to new, Nothing ages a house more than a lot of mould on the concrete surface areas as you walk up the path. If you don’t own a pressure cleaner you can rent one easily.
Are the planting beds in need of some fresh mulch, rock, etc.? Are there any overgrown tree limbs hanging over the house or blocking the home’s view? For a relatively inexpensive investment, you can transform how your exterior looks by trimming back and freshening things up with new plants and landscaping.
Photo: Pinterest
Liveability
Once you get past this there are a lot of inexpensive liveability steps you could consider.
Back Patios
This might be a concrete pad or a tiled area, but the key is for the patio area to be a place that looks like it’s ready for family and friends to gather and hang out.
It should look manicured and neat, but should also be warm and welcoming. This is easily achieved by adding seating, outdoor cushions and potted plants. They don’t have be new either for what you are trying to achieve.
Marianne / Pexels
Vertical Gardens
If the yard is on the smaller side or you simply want to add some interest to the home’s outdoor space, vertical gardens are the way to go.
Vertical gardens don’t take up much space but they allow buyers to imagine growing their own herbs or flowers close to the back door of the home. For beauty, install arbors or arches and plant beautiful vines that bloom throughout the growing season.
You can buy the materials for a vertical garden at Bunnings, any other large hardware or nursery.
wiccahwang / Flickr
Succulents
Succulent plants are all the rage right now. These plants are easy to care for but beautiful to look at. They are very forgiving in dry soil conditions and if you forget to water them. They add a lot of curb appeal to an otherwise plain exterior.
While you can plant them in the ground, they do very well in pots, allowing you to add a pop of color or unique elements that give your listing charm and character AND you can take them with you when you sell.
Photo by Mike Marquez on Unsplash
SOURCE: INMAN, Kayla Matthews, 14 June 2018.
by David Hamilton
Decluttering, Staging, Facelifts (and Boosting Selling Potential)
palmbeachfn.com.au June 2018 First National Palm Beach Cnr of 6th Ave & Cypress Terrace, Palm Beach, QLD 4221
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