Selling Tips

Your Property

Why use Raine & Horne to market your property?

Your choice of property consultant always reflects your expectation of results.

When choosing a Raine & Horne Property Consultant we believe that these points will help with your decision

• Your enquiry will be promptly attended to
• The marketing presentation will be of high quality and thoroughly researched
• We have an excellent knowledge of the area
• We have a large range of quality marketing tools at our disposal
• Raine & Horne is highly regarded and we value our great reputation
• We have connections throughout Australia and throughout the world

 

Base your decision on facts and you will make the correct one.

 

Timing when to sell

Buying for good quality property in all price ranges can be found all year round.  As the marketing process has become more sophisticated than in previous times, the issue of timing is less critical today than in the past.  Our local market is strong all year round however we do find the warmer months are ideal to highlight outdoor living.

The time required to sell property which is accurately priced will typically vary between two and seven weeks.  Prior to placing your property on the market, allow an additional two weeks to prepare both the property and the marketing material (ie photography). 

Presenting your property for sale

Presentation of your property is a critical factor in achieving the highest possible price, remember that first impressions are very important. The emotional appeal required to promote interest in the property will not be maximized if the property is poorly presented.

There are a number of things that you can do to help increase the value of your home. Remember, the idea is to present the property as being cared for and well-maintained, and to remove doubt from the mind of the buyer that any maintenance is required. 

As the homeowner, you can make a difference of thousands of dollars when it comes to the final sale price just by following these suggestions below. Many people have taken advantage of making the most of their home to secure a good price. These tips will raise the value of your home and make it even more desirable before it is placed for sale.

Take a look around - Try to be objective and see your rooms through the eyes of a prospective buyer. Try to emphasis any good features and try not to personalize the rooms too much. Look around to see if there are any design choices in your home that you should change to make your house more desirable to the wider market.  You might even look at other people’s home to get ideas on what you can do to make the most of your home. Sometimes your neighbours can be a good source of information or inspiration.

Clear Clutter - It's always a good time to clear internal clutter but this is a must when you are selling. While it is still your home and you have your personal items, try to keep these to a minimum to allow the prospective buyer the opportunity to picture their own things in the house. You need to give any potential buyers the chance to imagine what it would be like for them to live in the home. Removing the excess items in a room also gives a better impression of room size.

The kitchen - This is a very important room, as it’s where the meals are prepared and where the family comes together. Also, if there is any entertaining, it will be most likely linked to this room. Therefore check that your kitchen is stylish and clean. If the style of your kitchen is out of date, think of ways to refresh the look. Talk to your property consultant about what the best options might be before any major renovation.

The bathroom - Keep bathrooms looking and smelling clean. A bathroom should be a relaxing and calm environment. Therefore make sure that your bathroom is spotlessly clean. Reduce any clutter, bottles, lotions or personal effects as these can make the room appear messy. Contact professionals if you have any tiles in need of repair, or if you would like to redecorate your bathroom.

Freshen the fittings - Replacing existing carpets is another way to increase value.  In some cases removing the carpets and polishing the floors can add greater value or just re-polishing the floors might be applicable.  Having the existing carpets steam cleaned can give them a big lift. And check the window treatments particularly in the main living area and entrances at the front of the house. Maximize the natural light coming into the home to create a pleasant, warm, airy atmosphere. Make sure the windows are shining clean and allow as much light into the home possible. Timber blinds can exude quality or sleek micro-Venetians might be more suitable so consider the decorating theme in the home.

Modernise Furniture - In some cases the furniture may not suit the style of the home. Throws can be a great way of changing the look of a  lounge or you might add a personal touch with a focus ornament in a feature spot. It may even be beneficial to reduce the amount of furniture in a room to create more space.

Paint - Freshen up rooms, it’s amazing how a fresh coat of paint can transform even the dullest of rooms. Freshly painted walls look clean, inviting and well maintained. Pale coloured walls (for example, white or beige) give the illusion of space, helping smaller rooms to look bigger. This illusion works vice versa: if you paint your walls in a dark colour it will have the appearance that it is smaller. Use colours wisely to make the most of your rooms.  More neutral colour on your walls will help the prospective buyer to see what they might wish to do with the room.

Create an Outdoor Area - A home with an outdoor entertaining area or barbeque area will rate more highly on buyers wish-lists.  It is important to present your outdoor areas as attractively as possible by clearing cobwebs, cleaning driveways/paths and taking away any rubbish.

Landscape - Good landscaping will set  your house apart from other homes and can add thousands of dollars    to the eventual sale price.  Make the most of your garden, it is one of the first things people see. Regular mowing, raking, edging, weeding and watering will preserve a neat and clean garden.  Adding colour to the garden with plantings and potted plants will also help make your garden an attractive environment and can effectively increase your overall home value.

Maintain the Exterior - The exterior of your house is also a very important aspect. Items like fences, front lights, patio furniture and garden lighting should be attractive to the eye. Make sure that if you have a clean and polished look for the outside of your home. It is this that adds aesthetic value to your home. More importantly, the front path that leads to your house should be well paved and safe with no loose stones. These small details are very important in giving the impression of your style and character, whether that be simple, smart, casual or elegant. If the paintwork is tired, you may want to look into re-painting the exterior even just painting the exterior trimmings (window-frames and door frames) will freshen the look of your home.

In Working Order - Repair and repair! If you have anything in need of repair, make sure this is attended to. If you have a leaking pipe, dripping tap or cracked roof, or a wall that needs to be plastered and painted, the best option is to hire a professional tradesman. Prospective buyers like to feel as if everything is intact and ready for them to just move in. If they see anything that is broken, you can be sure they will be wondering if there is anything else in need of repair, and how much it will all end up costing. It will be their bargaining chip for a price reduction. Be sure to ward this off by ensuring that your house is well-maintained.

Present Well - “Make your house a home” and add those finishing touches. A vase of fresh flowers, gentle music or freshly brewed coffee all enhance the senses and create that feeling of desire that you want any prospective buyer to experience.

These helpful tips will not only increase the value of your home, but often you don’t need to spend a lot of money in order to make significant home improvements. This will help to sell your house quickly and will also allow you to achieve a good price for your home.